PGA Tour Brunch | Valspar Preview
PGA Tour Brunch Previews the '26 Valspar Championship
By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk
PALM HARBOR - The 25th edition of the Valspar Championship will be contested at Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course), the host course since the tournament’s inception in 2000.
This week’s field features:
Eighteen of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, highlighted by six in the top 20: No. 7 Xander Schauffele, No. 12 J.J. Spaun, No. 14 Justin Thomas, No. 15 Matt Fitzpatrick, No. 16 Ben Griffin, No. 18 Viktor Hovland
Seven past champions: Viktor Hovland (2025), Peter Malnati (2024), Taylor Moore (2023), Adam Hadwin (2017), Jordan Spieth (2015), Kevin Streelman (2013), Gary Woodland (2011)
Four players who finished inside the top 10 at last week’s PLAYERS Championship: Matt Fitzpatrick (2nd), Xander Schauffele 3rd), Jacob Bridgeman (T5), Justin Thomas (T8)
Sponsor Exemptions:
Adam Hadwin
Henrik Norlander
Brandt Snedeker
Jackson Suber
Players in their 20s have won eight of the 10 tournaments on TOUR this season, including last week’s PLAYERS Championship winner Cameron Young. Four of the last five winners of the Valspar Championship were in their 20s (Sam Burns/2021-22, Taylor Moore/2023, Viktor Hovland/2025).
Valspar | Tournament Facts
COURSE: Innesbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) - Palm Harbor, FL
YARDS/PAR: 7,352 yards/Par 71
ARCHITECT: Larry Packard
PRIZE Money - Purse: $8,700,000; Winner: $1,566,000
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Viktor Hovland
TOURNAMENT SITE: (link)
PAST RESULTS: (link)
OVERVIEW: (link)
FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 500
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @ValsparChamp
How to Watch: In case of changes, visit: (PGATourCom)
Valspar Leaderboard: (link)
Valspar | The Basics
The Tee Times at Copperhead will run from 7:30am (ET) to 2:00pm (ET) today.
Weather: Forecast for Thursday calls for sunny skies with a high of 74 degrees. Winds at 14 mph. Only a 3% chance of rain.
Tournament Hub: (link) and Official Site (link)
FedEx Cup Info: (link)
PGA Tour Brunch will post at 7:00am (EDT) Thursday.
Tee Times, Field & Updates:
Tee Times: (link
Field: (link)
Updates:
Keith Mitchell WD / Doug Ghim IN
Robert MacIntyre WD / Andrew Putnam IN
Monday
Sudarshan Yellamaraju WD / Kris Ventura IN
Field expanded from 133 players to 135 to round out threesomes:
Seamus Power IN
Matt Kuchar IN
William Mouw WD / Justin Lower IN
Tuesday
Max Greyserman WD / Joel Dahmen IN
Media Coverage at the Valspar Championship
Thursday, March 19, 2026 - All Times Eastern Daylight
7:30am -6:00pm PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ - Streaming
12 Noon-6:00pm - PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM Radio or Online
2:00pm-6:00pm, Golf Channel
How to Watch: (link)
Valspar Odds
Odds Courtesy of CBS Sportsline
Xander Schauffele +1000
Matt Fitzpatrick +1300
Akshay Bhatia +1700
Jacob Bridgeman +1700
Viktor Hovland +1700
Justin Thomas +2200
Brooks Koepka +2500
Patrick Cantlay +2500
Jordan Spieth +2700
Ryo Hisatsune +2700
J.J. Spaun +2700
Sahith Theegala +3000
Corey Conners +3000
Nicolai Højgaard +3300
Ben Griffin +3500
Nick Taylor +4000
Austin Smotherman +4000
Taylor Pendrith +4500
Keegan Bradley +4500
Davis Thompson +5500
Alex Smalley +5500
Aaron Rai +5500
Wyndham Clark +5500
Ricky Castillo +5500
Matt McCarty +6000
Rasmus Højgaard +6000
Max McGreevy +6000
Bud Cauley +6000
Mac Meissner +6000
Taylor Moore +7000
Pierceson Coody +7000
Christiaan Bezuidenhout +7000
Patrick Rodgers +7500
Kristoffer Reitan +7500
Max Homa +7500
Richard Hoey +8000
Thorbjørn Olesen +8000
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen +8000
Marco Penge +8000
Sungjae Im +8000
Billy Horschel +8000
TL’s Wedke for an Edge: This week, as the PGA Tour Fantasy Game turns over for a new segment, the starting four will be: Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Jacob Bridgeman, and Viktor Hovland. The two reserves: Brooks Koepka and Patrick Cantlay.
For One & Done: Schauffele
What They’re Saying
Power Rankings Going into Copperhead (PGATourCom)
Morikawa Back Improving (ESPN)
How to Watch Round 1 & 2 (PGATourCom)
CBS Sports Golf HQ (CBS Sports)
Golf Gambling, Fantasy & Industry News
Tiger Working, but Masters Unclear (ESPN)
Expert Picks for Valspar (PGATourCom)
Sleeper Picks for Valspar (PGATourCom)
TGL Playoffs (PGATourCom)
On This Day in Golf History
March 18, 2001- Hale Irwin won his 30th title on the PGA Champions Tour, breaking the record of 29 set by Lee Trevino. Irwin set the mark with a five-stroke victory over Tom Watson and Allen Doyle at the Siebel Classic in Silicon Valley, California. (Courtesy of Randy Walker), Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
Parting Putt
Golf is Hard …
This Week
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