PALM HARBOR — Keegan Bradley doesn't have much of a history at Innisbrook's Copperhead Course. His lone start before Thursday as a PGA Tour professional was in his rookie year of 2011. He missed the cut.
His only other memory of Copperhead was from 1998, when Bradley, then 13, caddied for his father, Mark, in the JCPenney Classic. Mark was paired with his sister, LPGA player Pat Bradley, in the mixed-team event.
Lack of experience on the course didn't seem to matter for Bradley on Thursday in the first round of the Valspar Championship. He fired a morning-round 4-under 67 despite gusty winds and was tied for the lead with veterans Ken Duke and Charles Howell III. Bradley's 67 was his lowest round of the season and only his fourth round in the 60s in 13 rounds this year.
Defending champion Jordan Spieth had a rough day. He shot 5-over 76 and was nine shots back.
"Just one of those days," Spieth said.
Bradley, 29, said he thought the course was "so cool" when he caddied for his father and "Aunt Pat."
"It's fun to be back out here," he said.
And it's fun to shoot a round that included five birdies and just one bogey. Bradley has won three times in his career, including the 2011 PGA Championship. However, he hasn't won since the 2012 Bridgestone Classic, a World Golf Championships event. He has only four top-10 finishes in his past 32 events.
With 54 holes to play, Bradley said it was nice to at least be in the hunt.
"It's no fun playing poorly out here," Bradley said. "I see all my buddies up there doing well, and it's no fun to feel like you're on the outside looking in."
Duke and Howell have plenty of experience at Innisbrook. Duke, 47, finished tied for fifth in this tournament in 2012 and was one shot away from being in a five-way playoff. But for most of his career, he has been what would be characterized as a grinder. He turned professional in 1994, when Bradley was 8. He has just one tour win, the 2013 Travelers Championship. In 2011 he had to play on the Web.com Tour to earn back his PGA Tour card.
His experience on the Copperhead Course was a factor Thursday. He said his goal was to not do anything fancy on a difficult day to play.
"This golf course is so tricky with the wind, and we just tried to keep the ball in front of us," said Duke, who also played in the morning group. "That's what you have to do here. I got it up and down a few times. Chipped in a couple of times. It was tough."
Howell teed off in the second-to-last group of the day and shot the low afternoon round. He had four birdies and avoided bogeys; only he, Duke and Chez Reavie (69) had bogey-free rounds. He birdied both of the par 5s on the back nine.
Howell, who hasn't won since 2007, figured he had to be steady in order to survive.
"This golf course has always felt kind of major-esque to me," he said. "It's because pars are a good score on a lot of holes. I was surprised to get out of (Thursday) with no bogeys. I don't expect much more of that.
Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene
Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter
You’re all signed up!
Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.
Explore all your options"You never really know what to expect. I've had some nice finishes, but I haven't been near the top. It was nice to get off to a good start at a place like this. … Getting off to a start like this is good for my confidence."
Only 24 golfers in the field of 144 broke par. Chesson Hadley loomed one shot back at 3 under. Reavie was two shots back with Charley Hoffman and Greg Yates.
A group of 17 that included former Seminole Daniel Berger was three shots back at 1 under.
Contact Rodney Page at rpage@tampabay.com. Follow @RodneyHomeTeam.