Valspar Championship
March 10th – 13th, 2016
Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course)
Palm Harbor, Fla.
Par: 71 / Yardage:
Purse: $6.1 million
with $1,098,000 to the winner
Defending Champion:
Jordan Spieth

Join our Valspar blog…
The most up to date information on the Valspar Championship, looking the players to see if any have that special edge this week We also have our picks for Draft Kings and other items. In the days ahead we will also have a Facebook page that will be devoted to this subject and hopefully it can create a stir in which we can all help each other.
Hope you enjoy this, each week will have it’s own blog devoted to the tournament from that week.
Also, we will be updating this blog during the tournament on Thursday through Sunday, so join us during those days.
This week’s field includes:
The field includes 39 of the top 100 and 14 of the top 50 in the latest Official World Rankings, with three players from the top-ten: #1 Jordan Spieth, #7 Henrik Stenson and #10 Patrick Reed. The other top 50 players are #11 Danny Willett, #12 Branden Grace, #18 Louis Oosthuizen, #26 Kevin Na, #28 Matt Kuchar, #31 Justin Thomas, #32 Charl Schwartzel, #33 Russell Knox, #34 Danny Lee, #40 Martin Kaymer and #43 Bill Haas.
Last year 18 of the top-50 ranked players were in the field
The field includes 11 of the top 25 on the FedEx point standings for 2016. Those players are #4 Russell Knox, #6 Justin Thomas, #8 Kevin Na, #9 Graeme McDowell, #10 Jason Dufner, #14 Jordan Spieth, #18 Patrick Reed, #19 Vaughn Taylor, #21 K.J. Choi, #22 Freddie Jacobson and #25 Peter Malnati.
The field includes 12 players in the top 25 on this year’s PGA Tour money list. Those players are #5 Russell Knox, #6 Justin Thomas, #7 Kevin Na #8 Graeme McDowell, #12 Jason Dufner, #13 Jordan Spieth, #17 Patrick Reed, #18 Vaughn Taylor, #20 Peter Malnati, #21 K.J. Choi and #23 Freddie Jacobson.
The field includes ten past champions: Jordan Spieth (2015), John Senden (2014), Kevin Streelman (2013), Luke Donald (2012), Gary Woodland (2011), Retief Goosen (2009 & ’03), Sean O’Hair (2008), K.J. Choi (2006 & ’02), Carl Pettersson (2005) and Vijay Singh (2004).
The event was not played in 2001 because of the 9/11 tragedy.
A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the Valspar Championship field is our performance chart listed by average finish. Another way to check who is the best is through a special formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at the Valspar Championship in the last five years or check out our sortable 8-year glance at the Valspar Championship.
A good cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmakers in England.
Another cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmaker in Las Vegas.
**NOTE**
One thing to look for is our new GOLFstats IQ. For those that play in fantasy golf it’s a perfect way to help you pick those players in Draft Kings and Victiv games. You can customize the list of those in the tournaments, to look back a couple or many years of tournament stats and you can go back a couple or ten weeks prior to the tournament. On top of that, all the stats are fully sortable to help you pick your six players, we even give you their value for the week to help you chose.
That’s GOLFstats IQ, give it a try and tell us what you think of it
24/7 GOLF
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It gives you everything that you need to know about golf, you have all the players results and every tournament result, again at your fingertips. It’s very easy to use and you can take a good amout of GOLFstats with you everyplace. No need to get home and check things out on your computer at home, you can answer any question with your Ipad.
So check it out, just hit this link to get 24/7 GOLF:
Time to look at our who’s hot and who isn’t:
Who’s Hot in the field for the Valspar Championship
Player | WGC-Cadillac | Honda Classic | Handa Perth | Northern Trust | Malaysian Open | AT&T Pebble | Tshwane Open | Phoenix Open | Dubai Desert | Farmers | Qatar Masters | CareerBuilder Challenge | Abu Dhabi |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Louis Oosthuizen (254 pts) |
T14 (54) |
DNP | Win (132) |
DNP | T12 (38) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T7 (36.67) |
DNP | DNP |
Danny Willett (228 pts) |
T3 (135) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T45 (5) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T54 (0) |
K.J. Choi (152 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T5 (70) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T17 (22) |
DNP | 2 (66.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Harris English (143.67 pts) |
10 (60) |
DNP | DNP | T39 (11) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | 3 (60) |
DNP | T31 (12.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Charl Schwartzel (142.5 pts) |
T17 (49.5) |
DNP | DNP | T45 (5) |
DNP | DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Branden Grace (141.83 pts) |
T23 (40.5) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | T5 (23.33) |
Freddie Jacobson (120.67 pts) |
DNP | T26 (24) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | T4 (53.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T4 (53.33) |
DNP | 69 (0) |
DNP |
Jason Kokrak (110 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | T2 (100) |
DNP | T30 (13.33) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T25 (16.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
John Huh (108 pts) |
DNP | T14 (36) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T6 (40) |
DNP | T8 (33.33) |
DNP | T24 (8.67) |
DNP |
Justin Thomas (105.83 pts) |
T35 (22.5) |
T3 (90) |
DNP | T54 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Henrik Stenson (103 pts) |
T28 (33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T6 (40) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T3 (30) |
Sung Kang (102 pts) |
DNP | T10 (40) |
DNP | T8 (50) |
DNP | T17 (22) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Graeme McDowell (96.33 pts) |
T28 (33) |
5 (70) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Jason Dufner (95.83 pts) |
T11 (58.5) |
T61 (0) |
DNP | T68 (0) |
DNP | T51 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | Win (44) |
DNP |
Jonas Blixt (90.67 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | 3 (60) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T6 (40) |
DNP | T28 (7.33) |
DNP |
Kevin Streelman (88.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T17 (22) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | 3 (60) |
DNP | T11 (13) |
DNP |
Matt Kuchar (83.33 pts) |
T28 (33) |
DNP | DNP | T8 (50) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T49 (0.33) |
DNP |
Jordan Spieth (82.17 pts) |
T17 (49.5) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | T21 (19.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T5 (23.33) |
Blayne Barber (82 pts) |
DNP | T3 (90) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T45 (3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T34 (5.33) |
DNP |
Vaughn Taylor (78 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Colt Knost (72.67 pts) |
DNP | T26 (24) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T51 (0) |
DNP | T24 (17.33) |
DNP | T16 (22.67) |
DNP | T24 (8.67) |
DNP |
Andrew Loupe (72.67 pts) |
DNP | T14 (36) |
DNP | T63 (0) |
DNP | T41 (6) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T49 (0.67) |
DNP | T3 (30) |
DNP |
Luke List (70 pts) |
DNP | T10 (40) |
DNP | T20 (30) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T6 (20) |
DNP |
Danny Lee (68.67 pts) |
T42 (12) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | T30 (13.33) |
DNP | 4 (53.33) |
DNP | T58 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Martin Laird (68.67 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | T11 (39) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T41 (6) |
DNP | T8 (33.33) |
DNP | T49 (0.33) |
DNP |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who’s Not Hot in the field for the Valspar Championship
Player | WGC-Cadillac | Honda Classic | Handa Perth | Northern Trust | Malaysian Open | AT&T Pebble | Tshwane Open | Phoenix Open | Dubai Desert | Farmers | Qatar Masters | CareerBuilder Challenge | Abu Dhabi |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whee Kim (-36.67 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T56 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Charlie Beljan (-33.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Andres Gonzales (-33.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Peter Malnati (-30 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | T66 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Robert Allenby (-30 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Brendon De Jonge (-30 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T51 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Brendon Todd (-30 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T56 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Mike Weir (-26.67 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Chad Collins (-26.67 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | T66 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Steve Wheatcroft (-26.67 pts) |
DNP | T53 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who to watch for at the Valspar Championship
Best Bets:
Danny Willett
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First time playing in this event |
More info:
Playing in this event for the first time, but he is hot and his good ball striking will help him this week.
Jordan Spieth
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | T20 | T7 |
He will be in contention, only a question if he will win or not.
Justin Thomas
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T10 |
Played well last year on this course and has been playing well this year.
Best of the rest:
Graeme McDowell
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First time playing in this event |
More info:
Playing this course for the first time, but his game should be good for it.
Jason Dufner
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T24 | T14 | T21 | T10 | T28 | T28 | T17 | CUT |
Has played well this year, this course is perfect for him.
Luke Donald
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T53 | T4 | T4 | Win | T6 |
This guy really plays well on this course, 27 under in his last 20 rounds.
Jason Kokrak
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T7 | T14 | CUT | CUT | CUT |
Good results the last two years on this course, played well in L.A.
Solid contenders
Vijay Singh
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T10 | CUT | T38 | T63 | T51 | T19 | T19 | CUT | Win |
Played well at the Honda Classic and has done well in this event. Yes he can still win even at 53.
Charl Schwartzel
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT |
Guy plays well on these kind of courses, yes he missed the cut the only time he played it but think he will do well this week.
Branden Grace
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT |
A good course for him, hasn’t played well in his first American starts but I think he will get it going.
Danny Lee
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T7 | CUT |
Game has been rusty of late, but he played well here last year and can do it again.
Sean O’Hair
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T2 | 74 | 69 | CUT | CUT | CUT | CUT | Win | CUT | CUT | T10 |
Played well last year, really plays well on this course.
Long shots that could come through:
Kevin Streelman
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T40 | T38 | Win | T10 | CUT | 79 |
Has won on this course before and can do it again.
Sam Saunders
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T24 |
Seems to always play well once in this Florida stretch, could be this week.
Hiroshi Iwata
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First time playing in this event |
More info:
Playing for the first time, played well at Pebble so maybe he will get his game back.
Worst Bets:
Patrick Reed
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T2 | CUT |
Just doesn’t have his game right now.
Hi Sal,
IS it possible to get same detail on European Tour. Love your Pga tour stuff.
Kind Regards,
Gary
When the Tour reaches Europe and there is more interest. Right now in Thailand there isn’t that much interest, the fields aren’t very good either. Almost like a Web.Com Tour events.
Sal, I’m surprised no Stenson.
He hasn’t bounced back from his December surgery. He looked to be struggling at the Cadillac. Know he finished 4th last year in this event, but just don’t think he can do it again. Guess it’s one of those calls that you can be either so right or so wrong.