Herman opens with a 62 to lead at Innisbrook

PALM HARBOR, Fla. - Jim Herman was persuaded to play the Valspar Championship by an influential acquaintance and he made it pay off Thursday with a 9-under 62.

And this time, it wasn't President Donald Trump.

Herman was playing in the Seminole Pro-Member in Florida two weeks ago when former General Electric chief Jack Welch came along and told him he was playing well and that he should play at Innisbrook.

He played bogey-free, missed the course record by one shot and had a two-shot lead over British Open champion Henrik Stenson and Russell Henley.

Herman, who won the Shell Houston Open last year, once worked as an assistant pro at Trump National. It was there that Trump told him he belonged on the PGA Tour and not in a golf shop.