Mitchell ties for lead at Valspar Championship with 67

In the opening round of the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook, Keith Mitchell managed to navigate challenging conditions, finishing with a 4-under 67 and a share of the lead alongside Stephan Jaeger, Jacob Bridgeman, Ricky Castillo, and Sami Välimäki. Mitchell faced strong winds and rain, which contributed to his late-round struggles where he dropped two shots, feeling the sting of potentially having a better score. Despite these setbacks, he expressed that he was generally satisfied with his performance, noting that in such conditions, bogeys are to be expected. Only 21 players managed to break 70, with Kevin Velo also in contention before play was suspended due to darkness. Xander Schauffele showed signs of recovery from a rib injury with a 70, while Justin Thomas finished with a 40 on his front nine but played hard to the end. Mitchell, who is seeking redemption after a disappointing finish last year, aims to capitalize on his strong start.