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Cameron Champ (left) and Chandler Phillips (proper) are in competition on the Valspar Championship.
Getty Photographs
Heading into Sunday’s final round on the 2024 Valspar Championship, the leaderboard is crowded with contenders on the high. Two of these contenders are accustomed to one another. Very acquainted.
PGA Tour veteran Cameron Champ and rookie Chandler Phillips each enter Spherical 4 on the Copperhead Course inside hanging distance of Keith Mitchell’s lead. Additionally they share one thing else in widespread. They have been school roommates for 3 years at Texas A&M College.
Even crazier? Not solely will they be preventing one another for the victory on Sunday, they’ll be doing it alongside each other in the same pairing.
Justin Thomas takes the lead Saturday, then ejects 65 spots down the leaderboard
Champ opened up about their lengthy relationship after his third spherical on Saturday at Innisbrook.
“Oh, we return. We have been roommates in school for 3 years. Chandler’s a superb dude. It was superior to see him lastly get out right here,” Champ shared in his press convention. “I do know he’s struggled for just a few years on the mini-tours and lacking Q-College by a pair photographs yearly. Then he lastly made it via and I knew that’s all it took… and I’m not shocked that he’s taking part in properly right here. So, once more, Chandler’s an ideal participant.”
And at the very least based on Champ, Phillips isn’t cowering in Champ’s shadow as they battle one another for the win this weekend. Phillips was even feeling assured sufficient to throw a dig at his extra skilled former roommate by way of textual content.
“He texted me final night time, I informed him, Nice taking part in, and he mentioned, ‘Man, attempt to catch me.’ And I mentioned, I’ll strive,” Champ revealed on Saturday. “However tremendous excited for him, him and his household and I feel he’s, I noticed he was main, so hopefully he can stick with it in the present day.”
Tour rookie Chandler Phillips won’t touch his clubs for months. Yes, really
Phillips had an ideal season on the Korn Ferry Tour final 12 months, ending tenth within the standings to earn his PGA Tour card for the primary time, and he’s made probably the most of it. In six begins thus far in 2024, Phillips has two top-25 finishes and just one missed minimize.
Now he’ll strive put collectively his breakthrough second on Sunday on the Valspar. Simply don’t anticipate him to disclose an excessive amount of within the winner’s press convention if he does pull it off, as Champ defined Saturday.
“We’re very comparable. I feel we’re form of quiet simply round individuals, however form of after we’re collectively or after we’re round individuals we’re comfy with, we’re all joyful and joking and messing with one another,” Champ shared. “Like I mentioned, Chandler’s a superb dude, tremendous blissful for him and hopefully he can stick with it.”
Champ and Phillips tee off for his or her ultimate rounds at 1:20 p.m. ET.
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