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 for a two-shot lead.

Herman putted for birdie on all but two holes on the tree-lined Copperhead Course at Innisbrook.

He wound up missing the course record by one shot, but still had a two-shot lead over British Open champion Henrik Stenson and Russell Henley.