Sungjae Im in pole position for wire-to-wire victory at Valspar Championship

The world number 82 signed for a second consecutive 69 around Copperhead on Saturday, moving him to 11 under for the tournament, two strokes ahead of Americans Brandt Snedeker and David Lipsky.

With birdies on the first, seven tand eighth, he made the turn in three under. While Im bogeyed the par four 12th and par three 13th, and drained a left-to-right putt to fall on the last to get to 11 under.

"I wasn't able to practice for two months," the 27-year-old told AP about his wrist injury.

"So I think a lot of my shots that I didn't like from last year I was able to, once I started practising, I was able to correct and it's just been consistently getting better.

"I was really happy that my play was good on the finishing stretch, 16 through 18. And I'm really thrilled about the birdie on the final hole, and to have a two-shot lead going into tomorrow.

"It's been a while since I've been in the lead like this. I'm sure I will be nervous, but the best I can do is just to play my own game."

Im is looking for his first PGA Tour title since the 2021 Shriners Children's Open.

Snedeker, meanwhile, switched to a mallet putter a few weeks ago and has been on a tear on and around the Copperhead greens the last few days.

"Rolling the ball so good, chipping the ball so good, if I can kind of get my long game under control a little bit we're going to have a good chance tomorrow," he said.

Further down the leaderboard, Matt Fitzpatrick, second last week in the Players Championship, was eight under while Brooks Koepka was tied for 16th at three under after a 71.