Valspar Championship
Where: Innisbrook Resort-Copperhead course (7,340 yards, par 71), Palm Harbor, Florida, just outside Tampa
Defending champion: Kevin Streelman
Winner’s share: $1,026,000
TV: Golf Channel: Thursday and Friday: 3-6 PM ET/2-5 CT; Golf: Saturday and Sunday:1-3 P<M ET/12-2 CT; NBC: Saturday and Sunday: 3-6 PM ET/2-5 CT.
Weather: Today: Sunny, windy, 63, Wind N 2o MPH; Friday: Sunny, 72, wind E 10 MPH; Saturday: Sunny 74, wind S 7 MPH; Sunday: Scattered T-storms, 50 % chance, wind S 14 MPH.
Key holes:
The “Snake Pit” 16, 17 and 18.
No. 16 is a 475 par 4 with a long lake on the right off the tee and a narrow fairway and numerous pine trees on the left. You’ve got to right to left it with a draw off the tee to get it in the fairway. Maybe a left to right cut would work, so you wouldn’t have to flirt with the water. Just depends on what you do better. The second shot requires accuracy as there is a narrow opening to a deep but angled, narrow green that has bunkers on the right and left. This is a dogleg right. Par looks like a good score here.
No.17 is 215 yard par 3 that has another deep yet narrow green surrounded by bunkers, one long one on the right, two smaller ones on the left, and one behind the green. This course requires accuracy and this hole demands it off the tee, Could be a birdie hole if you hit a good iron in, probably a five or six iron for the pros.
No.18 is a classic 445 yard par 4 with trees on both sides off the tee and a pair of bunkers on the left side. The pros second shot is uphill to an elevated green that is surrounded by traps, one of the front left which can be a bear. I saw Ernie Els three putt on 17 and 18 in 2012 to lose the tournament. It was a tough moment for Ernie afterwards, but he did come back to win the British Open that year, two years ago .
Contenders:
Harris English
Just a really fine young player who is always in the hunt. Excellent ball striker and accurate with length. Putting is always the difference in tournaments and if Harris can drive it accurately, which this course requires, and have 27 or so putts each day, this Georgia Bulldawg could very well be in the winner’s circle on Saturday.
Jason Dufner:
Duf is one of the best ball strikers on the tour. In the PGA last year when he won, he was stickin it three feet it seemed like on many of his approaches. Duf struggled with the putter last week, missing three or four 4 footers for par, but if his putter can cooperate, Duf, the Auburn Tiger, could find himself right there on Sunday with a chance to win the championship.
Brandt Snedeker:
Brandt has really struggled this season, but he’s too good to have this continue. He showed signs of playing better last week at Doral and I think he’s ready to break out and have a good tournament. His driving accuracy is good, his putter can be the best in golf when he’s got it going and his chipping has improved exponentially over the past three years. If Brandt can drive it well and sink a lot of putts, the Vanderbilt Commodore could get it done.
Luke Donald:
Luke played better last week in Doral finishing T-25, but shot a 69 on Sunday. Luke is not long, but he’s very accurate which is a must at Copperhead, and when that putter is going, he and Sneds are the two of the four best in the game along with Tiger, when he’s playing well, and Matt Kuchar. If Luke has both those elements of his game working he’ll be right there with a shot to take the championship.
Predicted winner:
Matt Kuchar
Kuuuuch finished tied 13th last week shooting 69, 74,74,74, but it looks like he’s getting it together, and he’s got it all: excellent driver of the ball, excellent iron game and nice chipper and outstanding putter when he’s got it going. I like the Georgia Tech alum to hoist the Valspar Championship trophy on Sunday.
The 2012 winner.