– The Valspar Championship once again proves its status as a demanding tournament. More specifically, its setting, the Copperhead course at Innisbrook Golf Resort (Palm Harbor, Florida). A classic-style course (celebrating its 50th anniversary last year), which is certainly not one of the longest of the season, quite the opposite (around 7,300 yards), but each year it exposes those who are not on form. The Valspar is not a Signature Event of the PGA Tour, but sometimes it seems like it. The stature of a tournament is not only measured by the number of world top ten players participating, although this week the Valspar is not lacking in this regard either (Schauffele, Fleetwood, and Thomas are present).
– The first round, interrupted by a storm and unfinished due to lack of light, has so far left us with five co-leaders: Bridgeman (-4), Mitchell (-4), Jaeger (-4), Castillo (-4), and Valimaki (-4). They may not be Signature names, but it’s not their fault that the likes of Schauffele (-1), Fleetwood (+1), Thomas (+3), Lowry (PAR), Conners (PAR), Spieth (+3), or Hovland (-1), among others, have not reached or surpassed that four-under mark for the day, a round of 67 on this par 71. Copperhead waits for no one. If you’re not on the right path, it catches you without mercy. Only four holes were played under par on this windy day.
– Once the afternoon storm passed, the wind died down, and it seemed that some players might take advantage to surpass the leaders. Sahith Theegala (-2), for example, was making a strong push in the final third of his round, with hardly any wind on the course, but ended with bogeys on holes 17 and 18. Copperhead waits for no one, with or without wind.
– In the section of notable slips, the poor season that Thriston Lawrence (+7) is having on the PGA Tour continues to draw attention. Once the powerful South African secured his card on the American circuit through the DP World Tour, the best was expected from this player on American soil. On the surface, the PGA Tour and he seemed made for each other, but things are not as simple as we sometimes assume. For now, it’s common to see him miss the cut, and his best result is a 52nd place in Puerto Rico. Surely he will eventually get the hang of the new environment, but it’s proving to be quite a challenge.
– Anything under par this Thursday was a great start. Thus, we note it for Viktor Hovland (-1), who looked more solid off the tee, perhaps continuing from that 68 on Friday at THE PLAYERS, although it wasn’t enough to make the cut. The Valspar will undoubtedly be an excellent test for the Norwegian. There, at Copperhead, is Luke Donald, who will surely be keeping a close eye on him.
