PGA First Look: Valspar Championship

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2018-03-13 20:16:10

The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.

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Event Preview

Phil Mickelson finally broke through with a win in Mexico City. It was his first victory on tour since 2013. Believe it or not, before last week Tiger Woods had a more recent win than Mickelson. I suppose that means it is Tiger’s turn to return to the winner’s circle. This week the PGA Tour heads back to Florida for the Valspar Championship. We have an extremely stacked field including Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, and of course Mr. Eldrick Tont Woods. Golfers are hoping to round into form in time for the first major of the year, which just so happens to be my favorite. The Masters is officially less than a month away, so it’s time to start earning tickets to the Millionaire Maker.

The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort is located in Palm Harbour, just outside of Tampa Bay. This is a Par 71 course, but it features four par fives and five par threes. It measures 7,340 yards on the scorecard, but the length doesn’t tell the whole story. This is an extremely challenging track that features skinny, tree-lined fairways. The greens are also small and are fairly difficult to hit. The fairways and greens are both Bermudagrass and water is in play on five of the wholes. This isn’t your typical Florida course, as there are plenty of elevation changes and dog legs, which many have compare to courses in the Carolinas.

In terms of difficult, this course ranked inside the top ten in four of the last five years. Last season was the exception thanks to some perfect conditions. This year will likely play to the norm, as winds are expected to be up on both Thursday and Sunday. The Snake Pit (holes 16 to 18) is difficult enough without the wind, so it will provide quite the cut sweat on Friday afternoon. Speaking of the cut, it is typically two or three-over par, which goes to show how tough the course is. We should expect the winner to finish in the seven to ten-under range.

As for the type of golfer to target, we can throw out the strokes gained off the tee metric. These are the skinniest fairways golfers have seen all year and most will choose to keep their driver in their bag on most holes. This course is all about patience and precision, you do not need distance off the tee to be competitive. This doesn’t mean that bombers can’t contend here, but they better club down to find fairways. This course is all about approach shots, putting on these Bermuda greens, and being able to get up and down regularly. In other words, we have ourselves a plodder’s course.

Best of luck this week. Make sure to check out the Drive for Show, DFS for Dough live video and the rest of our great premium content.

Cut Rule:Top 70 and ties will move on after the first two rounds. The MDF rule is in effect if more than 78 golfers make the initial cut.

Recent Winners of this Event:Adam Hadwin (2017), Charl Schwartzel (2016), Jordan Spieth (2015), John Senden (2014), Kevin Streelman (2013)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Approach
2) Birdie or Better %
3) Par 5 Scoring
4) Driving Accuracy (or Fairways Gained)
5) Strokes Gained Putting (Emphasis on Bermuda)

Hole by Hole Breakdown

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2013-2017)

Golfer	DK Salary	FD Salary	FDRFT Salary	OWGR	Odds	DK Odds	FD Odds	FDRFT Odds	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013
Jordan Spieth	$11,800	$12,400	$17,800	4	8	0%	0%	0%	500	18	1	20	7
Rory McIlroy	$11,300	$11,800	$17,100	12	13	0%	33%	0%	500	500	500	500	500
Sergio Garcia	$10,900	$12,000	$16,700	11	15	0%	-50%	0%	500	500	500	500	7
Henrik Stenson	$10,200	$11,600	$16,000	14	20	-25%	0%	0%	7	11	4	500	500
Justin Rose	$10,000	$11,700	$16,300	5	17	20%	0%	0%	500	500	95	8	500
Paul Casey	$9,800	$11,400	$15,700	17	23	0%	0%	0%	500	500	500	96	500
Tiger Woods	$9,500	$9,700	$14,900	388	29	-14%	60%	20%	500	500	500	500	500
Tony Finau	$9,400	$10,800	$15,400	34	27	13%	13%	0%	5	71	133	500	500
Ryan Moore	$9,100	$9,700	$14,700	68	41	-44%	35%	0%	18	3	5	500	144
Gary Woodland	$9,000	$10,300	$14,800	26	40	-20%	14%	-9%	58	42	103	8	78
Adam Hadwin	$8,800	$10,200	$15,200	44	32	18%	40%	-13%	1	94	71	500	500
Adam Scott	$8,700	$10,900	$15,000	58	39	17%	-43%	-11%	500	500	95	500	30
Branden Grace	$8,600	$10,700	$14,200	28	50	-62%	-133%	5%	500	37	500	96	500
Webb Simpson	$8,500	$10,700	$14,800	42	41	0%	-56%	-27%	41	85	500	96	17
Byeong-Hun An	$8,400	$9,400	$14,700	86	40	27%	59%	15%	49	500	500	500	500
Matthew Fitzpatrick	$8,300	$9,600	$14,600	32	44	0%	27%	-7%	500	500	500	500	500
Matt Kuchar	$8,200	$10,600	$14,400	20	49	-12%	-73%	-6%	22	11	33	38	14
Louis Oosthuizen	$8,100	$10,400	$14,300	30	50	-11%	-54%	0%	500	7	103	96	78
Kevin Na	$8,000	$9,500	$14,600	65	42	21%	38%	0%	93	22	10	2	500
Cameron Smith	$8,000	$9,400	$14,200	52	49	11%	37%	23%	49	42	500	500	500
Chez Reavie	$7,900	$9,400	$14,400	47	52	-5%	19%	-22%	27	22	127	500	63
Jason Dufner	$7,800	$10,100	$13,900	46	63	-23%	-59%	0%	11	22	24	14	21
Luke List	$7,800	$9,000	$14,300	73	49	18%	57%	10%	27	104	500	500	121
Zach Johnson	$7,700	$10,000	$14,000	59	67	-25%	-67%	-15%	500	500	500	500	149
Jason Kokrak	$7,700	$9,200	$13,700	122	67	-29%	14%	3%	58	85	7	14	111
Patrick Reed	$7,700	$10,200	$13,900	27	57	-4%	-67%	7%	38	7	2	500	132
Ollie Schniederjans	$7,700	$9,200	$13,600	83	72	-42%	6%	0%	70	500	95	500	500
Ross Fisher	$7,600	$9,600	$13,800	29	65	0%	-27%	3%	500	500	500	500	121
Bill Haas	$7,600	$9,500	$13,800	71	66	-4%	-21%	0%	41	2	500	14	500
Martin Laird	$7,600	$9,100	$13,800	102	68	-18%	13%	-14%	99	85	33	500	70
Kevin Streelman	$7,500	$8,800	$14,500	132	53	23%	50%	-41%	18	131	40	38	1
Steve Stricker	$7,500	$9,300	$14,200	133	52	26%	28%	-5%	80	7	500	500	500
Russell Knox	$7,500	$9,100	$13,500	98	75	-16%	5%	-3%	80	56	33	25	500
Charl Schwartzel	$7,500	$9,800	$14,100	50	57	16%	-37%	-4%	6	1	500	500	500
Brandt Snedeker	$7,500	$10,500	$13,700	74	67	-3%	-167%	0%	500	500	53	58	500
Charles Howell	$7,400	$9,300	$13,400	64	75	3%	-9%	3%	49	5	10	14	500
Chesson Hadley	$7,400	$9,300	$13,200	72	86	-11%	-25%	-5%	500	69	44	14	500
Bryson DeChambeau	$7,400	$9,300	$12,700	94	95	-25%	-41%	-5%	27	500	500	500	500
Ryan Palmer	$7,400	$9,100	$12,700	106	97	-31%	-24%	-9%	500	42	500	500	30
Jimmy Walker	$7,400	$8,700	$12,900	89	91	-17%	21%	0%	500	500	500	500	30
Jim Furyk	$7,400	$8,700	$11,900	235	144	-86%	-26%	0%	41	500	40	20	7
Charley Hoffman	$7,300	$9,500	$13,200	25	78	10%	-58%	0%	109	11	141	25	75
Jamie Lovemark	$7,300	$9,400	$13,200	100	78	10%	-41%	0%	27	37	500	500	500
Scott Stallings	$7,300	$8,800	$13,400	140	78	12%	23%	-3%	68	71	122	119	149
Lucas Glover	$7,300	$8,400	$13,100	95	86	2%	37%	0%	18	104	24	96	38
John Huh	$7,300	$8,500	$12,700	229	104	-19%	19%	-16%	9	22	33	96	91
Graeme McDowell	$7,300	$8,700	$12,600	214	107	-24%	2%	-4%	14	71	500	500	500
Sam Burns	$7,300	$8,500	$12,200	386	133	-52%	-3%	-5%	500	500	500	500	500
William McGirt	$7,300	$8,900	$12,200	116	134	-55%	-48%	-7%	500	500	72	85	137
J.B. Holmes	$7,300	$9,100	$12,400	91	117	-36%	-50%	-2%	500	500	500	54	500
Patrick Rodgers	$7,300	$8,600	$12,400	157	118	-40%	-4%	-5%	136	94	500	500	500
Bud Cauley	$7,200	$8,900	$12,500	119	110	-6%	-25%	-4%	58	500	500	500	500
Kyle Stanley	$7,200	$8,900		55	93	15%	0%		27	53	500	132	500
Ian Poulter	$7,200	$8,800	$12,500	63	112	-8%	-17%	-6%	41	67	24	500	500
Aaron Baddeley	$7,200	$8,100	$11,600	205	184	-48%	-7%	-3%	70	500	500	119	56
Si Woo Kim	$7,200	$8,600	$11,700	53	175	-38%	-26%	-1%	500	134	500	500	500
Derek Fathauer	$7,200	$7,900	$11,800	258	175	-38%	10%	-4%	121	94	85	500	500
Ted Potter	$7,200	$7,700	$11,600	77	188	-52%	8%	-5%	500	500	500	20	78
Scott Brown	$7,200	$7,800	$11,500	138	196	-60%	0%	0%	139	7	72	85	27
Kelly Kraft	$7,200	$7,600	$11,600	199	183	-46%	19%	-1%	65	500	500	500	500
Benjamin Silverman	$7,200	$7,300	$10,700	257	304	-104%	4%	-5%	500	500	500	500	500
Abraham Ancer	$7,200	$7,000	$10,400	246	381	-121%	7%	-3%	500	500	500	500	500
Austin Cook	$7,100	$9,400	$12,700	115	102	22%	-81%	-14%	500	500	500	500	500
Chris Kirk	$7,100	$8,800	$12,700	165	100	24%	0%	-12%	109	42	500	500	500
Dominic Bozzelli	$7,100	$8,000	$12,600	237	108	16%	31%	-6%	3	500	500	500	500
Beau Hossler	$7,100	$8,600	$12,600	205	106	19%	11%	-2%	70	500	500	500	500
Shane Lowry	$7,100	$8,900	$12,500	75	108	16%	-20%	0%	500	500	500	500	500
Tyrone Van Aswegen	$7,100	$8,000	$11,200	331	242	-41%	-16%	-2%	27	71	500	500	500
Retief Goosen	$7,100	$7,600	$11,500	335	199	-33%	11%	-1%	131	11	69	44	105
Tom Lovelady	$7,100	$7,600	$11,000	308	263	-52%	-2%	-5%	500	500	500	500	500
Chad Campbell	$7,100	$7,600	$11,000	264	263	-54%	-3%	-7%	11	94	24	500	78
Talor Gooch	$7,100	$7,600	$10,700	207	297	-63%	-10%	-2%	500	500	500	500	500
Sang-Moon Bae	$7,100	$7,900	$11,600	918	193	-27%	0%	-7%	500	500	67	14	43
Sean O’Hair	$7,100	$8,200	$11,000	131	250	-49%	-36%	-3%	500	500	2	74	69
Keegan Bradley	$7,000	$9,000	$12,700	69	92	43%	-2%	0%	58	71	500	500	500
Brandon Harkins	$7,000	$8,400	$12,400	203	117	23%	11%	-4%	500	500	500	500	500
Sam Saunders	$7,000	$8,200	$12,200	201	132	16%	9%	-3%	99	22	24	500	500
Stewart Cink	$7,000	$8,600	$11,700	146	175	4%	-26%	-1%	27	134	60	96	14
Harris English	$7,000	$8,100	$12,700	222	96	39%	36%	-7%	27	85	10	38	7
Nick Watney	$7,000	$8,800	$12,400	327	120	20%	-25%	-7%	14	500	53	500	43
Brian Gay	$7,000	$8,100	$11,700	147	178	0%	-4%	-6%	70	139	500	77	121
Cheng-Tsung Pan	$7,000	$7,800	$11,900	181	148	8%	17%	-3%	109	500	500	500	500
David Lingmerth	$7,000	$7,600	$11,200	163	242	-20%	4%	-3%	27	500	500	58	51
Luke Donald	$7,000	$8,200	$11,800	174	168	5%	-3%	-3%	80	22	53	4	4
Danny Lee	$7,000	$7,600	$10,700	151	303	-40%	-12%	-4%	22	500	7	96	500
Jimmy Stanger	$7,000	$7,100	$10,700		297	-36%	14%	-1%	131	500	500	500	500
Ben Martin	$6,900	$8,700	$12,000	208	143	24%	-25%	0%	52	500	500	128	500
Aaron Wise	$6,900	$8,100	$12,200	191	129	29%	14%	-2%	500	500	500	500	500
Grayson Murray	$6,900	$8,600	$12,100	117	127	30%	-7%	6%	131	500	500	500	500
Billy Horschel	$6,900	$8,300	$11,700	82	166	20%	-4%	1%	121	500	500	500	56
Harold Varner	$6,900	$7,700	$11,100	171	246	-6%	-7%	-3%	93	104	500	500	500
Ryan Blaum	$6,900	$7,400	$10,600	342	336	-28%	-5%	-3%	41	500	500	500	500
Martin Piller	$6,900	$7,300	$10,900	230	283	-15%	9%	-1%	500	500	500	500	500
Padraig Harrington	$6,900	$7,100	$11,000	178	259	-9%	20%	-4%	500	33	116	65	500
Colt Knost	$6,900	$7,000	$10,200	748	483	-41%	1%	-4%	500	94	103	500	70
Richy Werenski	$6,900	$7,400	$10,200	316	461	-39%	-14%	-3%	109	500	500	500	500
Camilo Villegas	$6,900	$7,400	$10,700	408	316	-24%	-2%	-7%	500	42	500	85	91
Rod Pampling	$6,900	$7,800	$10,300	277	384	-33%	-40%	-2%	41	500	85	500	500
Jonathan Randolph	$6,900	$7,000	$10,300	267	411	-36%	5%	-4%	500	500	72	500	500
Rory Sabbatini	$6,800	$8,100	$12,300	269	147	32%	6%	-13%	500	42	72	70	27
Seamus Power	$6,800	$7,900	$11,400	352	200	15%	-6%	0%	27	500	500	500	500
Hudson Swafford	$6,800	$8,500	$11,600	112	185	22%	-26%	-4%	38	56	72	500	500
Robert Garrigus	$6,800	$7,700	$11,600	213	203	14%	0%	-15%	52	500	47	4	56
Nick Taylor	$6,800	$7,700	$11,600	200	193	20%	7%	-7%	62	94	24	500	500
Ryan Armour	$6,800	$8,000	$11,000	166	247	7%	-21%	-2%	500	500	500	500	500
Sung Kang	$6,800	$7,700	$11,600	93	196	18%	5%	-9%	93	22	500	500	500
Peter Malnati	$6,800	$7,600	$10,400	636	375	-14%	-21%	-2%	70	85	500	500	500
Blayne Barber	$6,800	$7,300	$10,700	414	292	-1%	8%	0%	41	42	133	500	500
Michael Kim	$6,800	$7,400	$10,700	350	300	-4%	2%	-3%	52	138	500	500	500
Matt Every	$6,800	$7,000	$10,200	769	486	-24%	0%	-5%	139	42	138	8	78
Chris Couch	$6,800	$7,000	$10,000		875	-38%	-11%	-2%	500	500	500	500	500
Fabian Gomez	$6,800	$7,000	$10,200	563	578	-33%	-7%	-13%	500	500	500	500	500
Bob Estes	$6,800	$7,000	$10,200		550	-32%	-6%	-12%	500	500	500	500	137
Tom Hoge	$6,700	$7,600	$11,100	193	238	23%	6%	1%	500	71	500	500	500
Martin Flores	$6,700	$7,500	$11,000	276	263	15%	6%	-7%	80	500	72	96	51
Vaughn Taylor	$6,700	$8,300	$11,300	243	203	24%	-30%	-1%	500	71	500	500	500
Brian Stuard	$6,700	$7,700	$11,000	219	271	13%	-15%	-9%	38	500	85	115	43
Kevin Tway	$6,700	$7,700	$10,600	209	306	6%	-24%	1%	500	500	500	500	500
Brice Garnett	$6,700	$7,200	$10,500	218	337	2%	2%	-1%	500	500	127	500	500
Troy Merritt	$6,700		$10,800	370	317	4%		-9%	121	104	6	500	500
Robert Streb	$6,700	$7,500	$10,600	189	334	4%	-7%	-2%	121	500	500	500	51
Greg Chalmers	$6,700	$7,200	$10,300	444	425	-4%	-4%	-4%	70	500	47	44	4
Ernie Els	$6,700	$7,000	$10,200	643	487	-10%	-1%	-6%	80	128	95	85	500
Billy Hurley	$6,700	$7,000	$10,100	297	684	-18%	-8%	-2%	70	116	17	119	500
Geoff Ogilvy	$6,700	$7,100	$10,200	356	531	-14%	-9%	-10%	121	116	500	96	61
D.A. Points	$6,700	$7,000	$10,100	307	697	-18%	-9%	-3%	500	500	47	96	111
Tyler Strafaci	$6,700	$7,000			903	-22%	-12%		500	500	500	500	500
Alex Cejka	$6,600	$7,500	$11,000	226	242	30%	13%	1%	14	500	53	500	500
Tyler Duncan	$6,600	$7,200	$10,200		456	6%	-5%	-2%	500	500	500	500	500
Mac Hughes	$6,600	$7,700		177	347	12%	-31%		500	500	500	500	500
J.J. Henry	$6,600	$7,000	$10,200	496	500	1%	-2%	-8%	22	500	138	96	51
Xin-Jun Zhang	$6,600	$7,000	$10,200	315	491	2%	-2%	-7%	500	500	500	500	500
Stephan Jaeger	$6,600		$10,100	299	500	1%		3%	500	500	500	500	500
Nicholas Lindheim	$6,600	$7,100	$10,300	317	392	9%	2%	-3%	500	500	500	500	500
Whee Kim	$6,600	$7,200	$10,200	141	462	5%	-7%	-3%	500	53	500	500	500
Davis Love	$6,600	$7,300	$10,200	732	500	1%	-15%	-8%	500	500	500	500	500
Smylie Kaufman	$6,600	$7,100	$10,100	293	733	-6%	-14%	-4%	99	500	500	500	500
Dou Zecheng	$6,600	$7,000	$10,000	407	764	-7%	-10%	-1%	500	500	500	500	500
Dylan Meyer	$6,600	$7,200	$10,200		533	-2%	-15%	-11%	500	500	500	500	500
Rod Perry	$6,600	$7,000	$10,000		1333	-9%	-13%	-4%	141	94	133	96	154

Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside of the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.

Legend