BlogValspar Preview and Picks

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

by Sal Johnson

Founder, Chief Data Officer, GOLFstats

E-mail me at:
sal@golfstats.com

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.

So join us at this link:

 

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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We have the perfect solution for you.  If you own a Iphone or a Ipad we have developed a perfect app called 24/7 GOLF.

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:

Screen Shot 2015-04-23 at 12.01.34 AM

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

The Buzz:

The Valspar is one of those unfortunate events on the PGA Tour.  Played on a truly great golf course, it doesn’t get the field it deserves, manly because it falls the week after the WGC-Cadillac and right before the Arnold Palmer.  The true gem, the Copperhead course is one of those courses that doesn’t get the credit it deserves.  The course is flat, but doesn’t seem to be in Florida with it’s tree-lined fairways and undulating greens.  The course is one that doesn’t favor long hitters because of the design of architect Larry Packard.  So each year the winner is usually a player that doesn’t hit it very long, but thinks his way around the course.

Last year’s event was won by Jordan Spieth, who has said that the importance of his Valspar win help send him off to his brilliant year in which he won the Masters and the U.S. Open.  It’ almost didn’t happen as Spieth made a six foot par putt on 17 and the a 12 foot par putt at 18 just to make the playoff with Patrick Reed and Sean O’Hair.  Spieth’s putter ended it on the third playoff hole when Spieth drained a 30-foot birdie for the win.

One of the neat items of the Copperhead course is the “Snake Pit” the par 4 16th, the par 3 17th and the par 4 18th holes.  Last year the closing stretch was the fourth toughest finish on the PGA Tour averaging .402 shots over par.  The toughest stretch in 2015 was Quail Hollow’s “Green Mile” which played .850 shots over par.

Things you need to know about the Valspar Championship:

This will be the 16th Valspar Championship, with the first one being played in 2000.

The tournament was formally called the Tampa Bay Classic and then changed in 2003 to the Chrysler Championship.  Chrysler dropped out in 2006 and PODS took over sponsorship and got an added boast with the advent of the FedEx Cup series and the transfer of the Players Championship to May.  So in 2007, just six months after the close of the 2006 event the tournament moved into it’s new March date. But that didn’t last long as with a change of management at PODS, they were gone after the 2008 event.   The power of the PGA Tour shined through as Transitions Lens, an optical lens manufacturing company, who’s headquarters are in the Tampa Bay area, came to the rescue with a four year deal but unfortunely that deal came to an end after the 2012 event.  They got EverBank to write off some of the expenses in 2013 but for 2014 got their sixth and present sponsor Valspar, a company that manufacturers of paint and coatings.  The 2001 event wasn’t played because of the 9/11 tragedy.

When the tournament first started in 2000, it was the first time that a full PGA Tour event was held in the area since the St. Petersburg Open, which was held between 1930 and 1964.  The course was the home of the mix-event JCPenney Classic, which ended in 1999.

Course information:

  • Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course)
  • Palm Harbor, Fl.
  • 7,340 yards     Par 36-35–71
  • Course has a 76.8 rating and slope rating of 144 from the championship tees. The course is part of a resort and is open to those that stay at the course.  It also sells local memberships.
  • The course has 63 bunkers and eight water hazards in which six holes have water in play for the professionals.
  • Last year the Copperhead course was the 10th hardest course on the PGA Tour with a 71.863 average, playing over three quarter of the shot over par. In 2014 the Copperhead course was the 6th hardest course on the PGA Tour with a 72.433 average, playing almost a shot and a half over par.
  • In 2013 the Copperhead course was the 7th hardest course on the PGA Tour playing to a 72.222 average playing 1.222 strokes over par.
  • The Copperhead course was designed by Larry Packard and opened in 1974.  It was restored in 1999, two years after it was purchased by Westin Inc, The goal of the restoration project was to regain the shot values and still challenge today’s longer-hitting PGA Tour players when Innisbrook hosts PGA Tour events. The plan involved refurbishing all 18 greens, restructuring many of the bunkers, removing some trees around the greens to improve air movement and sunlight, and clearing out undergrowth between fairways. The length of the golf course is the most visible change from 7,087 to 7,230 yards by the addition of tournament tees on five holes.  Since then minor renovations has added another 110 yards to the course.

Here is a new feature we have, a look at key stats that are important for those playing at Innisbrook Cooperhead Course:

This is based on the most important stats for Cooperhead Course, based on data from last years Valspar Championship, and using data from all the players in the field with stats from 2016. What we do is take their rank for each stat and then add up the four catagories.
The scoring average of the field at Cooperhead in 2015 was 71.86, so with par being 71 that means the average score was three quarter of a shot over par, making Cooperhead the 10th hardest course to score on in 2015 (only eight courses played harder). It’s also important to see how the weather played a factor, last year’s weather was pretty good with winds blowing between 10 and 15 mph. Saturday had the worst as there were gusts up to 25 mph. This year the weather will be good on Thursday and Friday, with showers on Saturday and 60% chance of rain on Sunday. Winds are predicted to be around 15 mph, with it growing to 13 mph on Sunday so it will be pretty good and I can see scores inch down a bit

In looking at the stats for Cooperhead last year Greens hit, Driving Accuracy and putting from 4 to 8 feet are important. Last we pick par breakers because last year it was 6th in birdie average and T-3rd in total number of eagles.

So how did the winner Jordan Spieth become victorious last year? In strokes gained tee to green, Overall putting average and 3-putt avoidance Spieth was 1st. He made 19 birdies for the week and was ranked T-2nd

In our key stats Spieth ranked T-34th in greens in regulation, T-51st in Fairway Accuracy and 56th in putting 4 to 8 feet. He was T-2nd in Par Breakers.

*Greens in Regulation: Since the greens average 7,500 square feet normally they would be easy to hit. But since there is a lot of undulation, hitting it to the perfect place is important. Last year on the PGA Tour, the greens of Innisbrook were the 11th hardest to hit. This has been the norm for Innisbrook, in 2014 it ranked 14th, and 9th in 2013. So a player that hits lots of greens will have an advantage.

*Driving Accuracy: Percentage of fairways hit, last year Innisbrook finished 28th in this stat and was 26th in 2014.

*Putting from 4 to 8 feet: No matter how good your game is, you have to make these putts in order to win. Last year Innisbrook ranked 2nd hardest so it’s a hard stat for players on this course.

*Par Breakers: The course is so demanding that making a lot of birdies and eagles aren’t possible. So players that are able to make a lot will do well on this course which ranked 6th in this stat on tour in 2015.

For the field last year:

Click any column title in the table header to sort columns.

For the rest of the players, hit this link:

Here are some of the secrets of what it takes to play well at the Valspar Championship:

Key stat for the winner:

In looking at the 15 champions of this event, ten of them have this in common.  They were in the top-eleven in greens hit.  Matter of fact four of them was in the top-five while Gary Woodland in 2011 ranked T29th and Luke Donald was T43rd in 2012.  In 201 Kevin Streelman was T11th in that stat, while 2014 champion John Senden was T3rd in greens hit.  Last year Jordan Spieth ranked T-32nd in greens hit.  So it is important to hit lots of greens and for those that do they usually have a bit of an advantage.

Here are some more key stats to look to for this week:

  • This event is one of the hidden gems on the PGA Tour.  Played on a great course, unfortunely it’s in a bad time between Doral and the Palmer to really get a great field.  One thing for certain there is many players that respect the course and show up, of it’s past champions all active players are in the field (with the exception of Jim Furyk who is hurt).  This event was played in October until 2007 and the change hasn’t made much of a difference other than the rough is a bit healthier now.
  • Accuracy is more of a premium at Copperhead than length.  This course can’t be overpowered like many other courses like last week at Doral.  Stats that prove this is first driving distance averages, in 2015 the average of all the drives in the field was 274.2 yards, the 2nd lowest on the PGA Tour.  Since 2005 it’s been in the bottom six every year of shortest driving average course.  So it only makes sense that if you look at the champions the only real long drivers were Gary Woodland in 2011 and Vijay Singh in 2004.  All the others were in the middle to back of the pack in average driving distance; so this is the one course that short hitters can do well on.

This chart shows how short the champions have been since 2005:

Year-winner          Driving distance/rank for week      Driving distance all drives/rank for year

2015-Jordan Spieth              275.3 (T-26th)                                                          291.8 (T-78th)

2014-John Senden                 279.1 (20th)                                                              282.0 (T87th)

2013-Kevin Streelman          270.8 (48th)                                                              279.6 (T99th)

2012-Luke Donald                 264.1 (75th)                                                               269.2 (198th)

2011-Gary Woodland            295.5 (7th)                                                                   297.4 (5th)

2010-Jim Furyk                     261.0 (73rd)                                                                273.0 (172nd)

2009-Retief Goosen             283.8 (25th)                                                                 286.2 (43rd)

2008-Sean O’Hair                 282.6 (8th)                                                                 287.3 (T30th)

2007-Mark Calcavecchia     276.9 (T34th)                                                             284.4 (T66th)

2006-K.J. Choi                      274.5 (T42nd)                                                          280.5 (T103rd)

2005-Carl Pettersson          283.9 (40th)                                                                283.1 (T74th)

  • Maybe it’s no coincidence that players that hit it long took this week of as of the top-20 in the driving distance stats for 2016, only nine are in the field this week.
  • Another important stat is putting, and the greens at Innisbrook are some of the hardest on the PGA Tour because of the undulation and grain on the greens.  Last year it was the 2nd hardest course to make putts between 4 and 8 feet, with 64.25.  In 2014 it was the 3rd hardest course to make putts from 4 to 8 feet while in 2013 it ranked 6th.  In putts inside 10 feet, it ranked 9th hardest last year and 4th on the PGA Tour in 2014.
  • Florida is always windy, look for that to play havoc on the players who haven’t had to play Innisbrook under windy conditions
  • All the par 5s is within reach of the average player and though the course is over 7,300 yards. this won’t present much of a problem, look for lots of par 5 greens to be hit in 2. The average of all the champions on the par 5s is just a notch under 8 under   In 2012 & ’13 both Luke Donald and Kevin Streelman were 9 under on the four par5s, while in 2014 John Senden was 7 under.  Jordan Spieth played the par 5s in 7 under in 2015.
  • Look at all these facts and you can conclude that good ballstrikers rule the roost at Innsbrook.  This is not your typical Florida type of course because the fairways are tight, the rough will be tall.
  • One oddity that you don’t see in most events is the fact that you don’t have many players that shot four rounds in the 60s.  Of the 15 champions only four have accomplished that, in 2002 with K.J. Choi, in 2004 with Vijay Singh, in 2010 with Jim Furyk and in 2011 with Gary Woodland.
  • Another oddity along this line, in the history of this event only 47 times has someone broke par four times during the week.  Last year Jordan Spieth was the only player to accomplish the feat.  Making this stat odd is the fact that only 11 times has this happen when the event was played in the spring; the last time it happened was 12 times in 2012.  In 2014 and ’13 nobody shot four rounds in the 60s.
  • The last six winners have been gone on to have great seasons as they have finished the year of their win inside the top-30 in FedEx Cup standings, with 2010 champion Jim Furyk and 2015 champion Jordan Spieth winning the FedEx Cup title.

Year-Winner                Final rank FedEx Cup year won

2015-Jordan Spieth                                 1st

2014-John Senden                                 23rd

2013-Kevin Streelman                           25th

2012-Luke Donald                                   9th

2011-Gary Woodland                              17th

2010-Jim Furyk                                        1st

Weather is always of interest, especially the forecast of wind that makes the course play really hard.  This week the wind will be up at least 15 mph each day with the weekend getting wet with 30% chance of rain on Saturday but 60% chance of rain and scattered Thunderstorms..

 

 

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

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

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

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.

Comments

  1. Hi Sal,
    IS it possible to get same detail on European Tour. Love your Pga tour stuff.
    Kind Regards,
    Gary

  2. 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.

  3. Sal, I’m surprised no Stenson.

  4. 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.

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