2026 Valspar Championship: PGA Betting and Fantasy Preview - Key Stats, Course Breakdown, Tournament Trends, TV Times, and More

March 17, 2026

2026 Valspar Championship betting and fantasy golf preview with key stats, Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead) course breakdown, field analysis, and TV times for this week’s PGA Tour event.

The PGA Tour travels to Palm Harbor, Fla., this week for the Valspar Championship, the final stop of the Florida Swing. The tournament is played at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort, widely regarded as one of the most challenging venues on the PGA TOUR schedule.

The Valspar Championship features a 135-player field with a cut after 36 holes. Following THE PLAYERS Championship last week, several of the biggest names on TOUR have chosen to skip this event. Despite that, the field still includes plenty of talent near the top of the odds board.

For those who have followed my work in the past, you know my betting picks are usually included within this article. This year will be a little different, as my official plays will be part of our RotoBaller PGA Premium offerings. To get access to my top plays throughout the 2026 season, check out our awesome options now. If you are new here, the purpose of this preview is to provide a complete breakdown of everything you need to know about this week’s event. From course details and key statistics to historical trends and field insights, this article is designed to serve as a guide or at least a strong starting point as you build your betting card or DFS lineups. With plenty of opportunity on the board, let’s dive into the 2026 Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) and get you fully prepared for the ninth week of the PGA Tour season.

Valspar Championship - Tournament Information

• Dates: March 19th – March 22nd, 2026
• Location: Palm Harbor, Florida, United States
• Course: Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course)
• Course Type: Parkland
• Par:  71 (5x 3’s / 9x 4’s / 4x 5’s)
• Length: 7,352 yards
• Format: 72-hole stroke play
• Greens: TifEagle bermuda overseeded with Poa Trivialis .115”
• Fairways: Ryegrass overseed .450” (all grass areas are on Bermuda base)
• Rough: Ryegrass overseed 3.75” (all grass areas are on Bermuda base)
• Bunkers: 74
• Water Hazard(s): 8 (In-Play on 9 Holes)
• Average Green Size: 5,822 sq. ft.
• Stimpmeter: 12.0 ft.
• Purse/ Winner: $9,100,000 /$1,638,000
• FedEx Cup Points: 500
• Field: 135 Players
• Cut: Top 65 and Ties – 36 Holes
• Playoff Format: Sudden-death (18, 18, 17, then 18 repeated)
• Course Scoring Average:
  • 2025: 71.87 (+0.87), Rank 6 of 50
  • 2024: 71.41 (+0.41), Rank 8 of 51
  • 2023: 71.94 (+0.94), Rank 7 of 49
• Historic Cut Line:
  • 2025: +2
  • 2024: E
  • 2023: +1

Valspar Championship - Course Information

Course Architect:

• Course Architect: Larry Packard (1971)
• Renovations: Wadsworth Golf Construction Company (2005)

Comparable Courses:

• Harbour Town Golf Links – RBC Heritage – RESULTS
• TPC Sawgrass (Stadium Course) – THE PLAYERS Championship – RESULTS
• Colonial Country Club – Charles Schwab Challenge – RESULTS

Comparable Location (Palm Harbor, Fla.):

• PGA National Resort (The Champion Course) – Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. – Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches
• Bay Hill Club & Lodge – Orlando, Florida – Arnold Palmer Invitational
• TPC Sawgrass (Stadium Course) – Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – THE PLAYERS Championship

Comparable Yardage (7,352 Yards):

• TPC Sawgrass (Stadium Course) – 7,352 Yards – THE PLAYERS Championship
• The Riviera Country Club – 7,383 Yards – The Genesis Invitational

Comparable Greens (TifEagle bermudagrass / Poa trivialis overseed .100”):

• PGA West (Stadium + Tournament Course) – Tifdwarf bermuda .110” w/ Poa overseed .115” – The American Express
• TPC Sawgrass (Stadium Course) – TifEagle bermudagrass / Poa trivialis overseed .100” – THE PLAYERS Championship
• Memorial Park Golf Course – MiniVerde bermudagrass .100” w/ Poa trivialis overseed .110” – Texas Children's Houston Open
• Harbour Town Golf Links – Bermuda w/ Poa trivialis overseed .115” – RBC Heritage
• TPC Louisiana – TifEagle bermuda w/ Poa trivialis overseed .100” – Zurich Classic of New Orleans
• Quail Hollow Club – Champion G12 bermudagrass overseeded with Poa trivialis .125” – Truist Championship

Comparable Average Green Size (5,822 sq. ft.):

• Torrey Pines (North Course) – 6,000 sq. ft. – Farmers Insurance Open
• Dunes Golf and Beach Club – 6,000 sq. ft. – ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic
• Puntacana Resort & Club (Corales Golf Course) – 6,000 sq. ft. – Corales Puntacana Championship
• Sedgefield Country Club – 6,000 sq. ft. – Wyndham Championship

Valspar Championship - TV Information (ET)

• Round 1: Thursday, March 19th, 2026
  • ESPN + (PGA TOUR Live) – 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Round 2: Friday, March 20th, 2026
  • ESPN + (PGA TOUR Live) – 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Round 3: Saturday, March 21st, 2026
  • ESPN + (PGA TOUR Live) – 7:45 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
  • NBC – 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Round 4: Sunday, March 22nd, 2026
  • ESPN + (PGA TOUR Live) – 7:45 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
  • NBC – 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Valspar Championship - Course/Tournament History

Innisbrook Resort features four championship courses: Copperhead, North, South, and Island. The Valspar Championship is played on the resort’s Copperhead Course, which is the second course built on the property. Known for its tree-lined fairways, elevation changes, and demanding layout, the Copperhead Course is widely considered the most challenging track at the resort.

The course underwent a significant renovation in 2015, led by Wadsworth Golf Construction Company, a group that was also involved in the original construction of the course. During the renovation, the greens were reseeded with TifEagle Bermudagrass, and several were restored to their original sizes to allow for a greater variety of pin placements. The fairways were converted to Celebration Bermudagrass to create a more consistent playing surface, while many bunkers were reshaped and several tee boxes were expanded and recontoured.

The tournament made its debut on the PGA TOUR schedule in 2000 as the Tampa Bay Classic. Early in its history, the event was played as an alternate tournament during the late summer and fall portion of the schedule. From 2003 through 2006, the event was held in the fall before moving to a March date in 2007. During that transition, the tournament also received a new title sponsor and was renamed the Chrysler Championship.

Between 2007 and 2008, the event was played under the name PODS Championship. After navigating several sponsorship changes, the tournament found long-term stability in 2014 when Valspar became the title sponsor.

Previous Tournament Venues:

Previous Tournament Names:

Tournament Records:

• Largest Margin of Victory:
  • 7 Strokes – K.J. Choi (2002)

• Most Wins at Event:
  • 2 – K.J. Choi (2002, 2006), Retief Goosen (2003, 2009), Paul Casey (2018, 2019), Sam Burns (2021, 2022)

Course Records:

• 72-Hole Record ( Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course)):
  • 266, Vijay Singh (2004)

• 18-Hole Record ( Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course)):
  • 61, Padraig Harrington (Round 1, 2012)

Valspar Championship - Course Guide/ Scorecard

Originally crafted by Larry Packard in 1971, the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort features a Par 71 layout, comprising five Par 3s, nine Par 4s, and four Par 5s.

The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort poses a formidable challenge, ranking among the toughest courses on the Tour outside of the Majors. In 2025, only the four Par 5s had a scoring average under par.

While not excessively long at 7,352 yards, Innisbrook Resort sits near the Tour average, slightly longer in comparison. The fairways, with an average width of 26.0 yards, rank as the 4th narrowest on the Tour, making Strokes Gained Off the Tee a crucial category. Green sizes average around 5,822 square feet, relatively smaller compared to other Tour courses.

The course’s primary defense lies in its water hazards, which come into play on half of the holes. Despite its modest length, these hazards often necessitate cautious layups on specific holes. Additionally, Innisbrook Resort is highly susceptible to winds, posing a significant challenge for approach shots.

The Copperhead course at Innisbrook isn’t your typical Florida course. It features a lot of elevation changes and tree-lined fairways. Many players will not play driver on most holes, as it has the fifth-lowest average driving distance on the PGA Tour. Accuracy off the tee is especially crucial this week, given the rough has grown out from 3.00″ to 3.75″.

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Valspar Championship - Notable Par 3s

The five Par 3s range between 195 yards and 235 yards. Last year, all of the par 3s had a scoring average over par.

Hole 13 | Par 3 | 200 Yards | 2025 Stroke Average: 3.154 (Difficulty Rank - 5)

The tightly mown areas around the green make the Par 3 ‘Forced Carry' a hole to be reckoned with.

Hole 17 | Par 3 | 215 Yards | 2025 Stroke Average: 3.048 (Difficulty Rank - 11)

Beware of ‘The Rattler’ – this long Par 3 has plenty of bite for the player that misses the green.

Valspar Championship - Notable Par 4s

There are nine Par 4s at Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course), with the majority of those holes ranging between 450 and 500 yards. No. 12 is the shortest listed at 380 yards, with the longest being No. 16, playing 475 yards. In terms of scoring average, the toughest par 4 on the course last year was the 16th hole.

Hole 16 | Par 4 | 475 Yards | 2025 Stroke Average: 4.305 (Difficulty Rank - 1)

One of the toughest scoring holes on the PGA TOUR, the Par 4 'Moccasin' will test the player's ability to hit a controlled fade into a very tight fairway.

Hole 18 | Par 4 | 445 Yards | 2025 Stroke Average: 4.135 (Difficulty Rank - 6)

With an all uphill approach, 'The Copperhead' is the ultimate finishing hole for a championship course.

Valspar Championship - Notable Par 5s

There are four Par 5s on the course: No. 1, No. 5, No. 11, and No. 14. These four Par 5s were the only holes to have had a scoring average under par in 2025. Hole No. 1 was the easiest hole on the course last year, with a scoring average of 0.343 below par.

Hole 1 | Par 5 | 560 Yards | 2025 Stroke Average: 4.657 (Difficulty Rank - 18)

'Innisbrook's View' is Par 5, dogleg right, requiring three calculated shots to reach the green.

Hole 14 | Par 5 | 590 Yards | 2025 Stroke Average: 4.801 (Difficulty Rank - 16)

Follow the contours of 'Packard's Double Dogleg' if you want any chance of scoring well on the last of Copperhead's Par 5s.

Featured/ Signature Hole(s): 16-18 ‘Snake Pit’

Valspar Championship - Key Statistics

As the Valspar Championship returns to Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course), understanding how this course compares to PGA Tour averages can help identify which players are best suited for success. Here’s how Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) stacks up statistically:

Good Drives Gained

• At the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort, accuracy and positioning off the tee are far more important than pure distance. The course features tight, tree-lined fairways and doglegs that force players to shape shots and prioritize placement over power. Players who consistently find the fairway or a playable position in the rough will set themselves up for manageable approach shots into smaller greens.

Strokes Gained: Approach

• The greens at the Copperhead Course are TifEagle Bermudagrass, which typically roll fast and can become firm as the week progresses. Comfort on Southeastern Bermuda surfaces is a major advantage here. Over the past five editions of the Valspar Championship, every winner has ranked ninth or better in Strokes Gained Putting for the week.

Strokes Gained: Putting (Bermudagrass)

• The greens at the Copperhead Course are TifEagle Bermudagrass, which typically roll fast and can become firm as the week progresses. Comfort on Southeastern Bermuda surfaces is a major advantage here. Over the past five editions of the Valspar Championship, every winner has ranked ninth or better in Strokes Gained: Putting for the week.

Par 3 Scoring: 200-225 Yards

• Four of the five Par 3s on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort range between 200 and 225 Yards.

Par 4 Scoring: 450-500 Yards

• Five of the nine Par 4s on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort range between 400 and 450 Yards.

Par 5 Scoring: 550-600 Yards

• All four par 5 holes fall between 550 and 600 yards. These holes represent some of the best scoring opportunities on the course, making efficient par 5 play critical for players looking to contend.

Scrambling Gained

• The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort features some of the smallest greens that players will face all season. The Greens in Regulation Percentage at this course is lower than the PGA Tour average. Players will undoubtedly miss greens this week, so they’ll need to rely on their short game.

Bogey Avoidance

• A large percentage of approach shots at the Copperhead Course come from the 175 to 200 yard range and beyond 200 yards. Players who excel with long irons from these distances will generate more birdie opportunities while minimizing mistakes on a course that punishes poor approach shots.

Proximity Gained: 175-200, 200+ Yards

• A large percentage of approach shots at the Copperhead Course come from the 175 to 200 yard range and beyond 200 yards. Players who excel with long irons from these distances will generate more birdie opportunities while minimizing mistakes on a course that punishes poor approach shots.

Comparable Courses and Event History

• The Copperhead Course features some of the smallest greens players will face all season, and the Greens in Regulation percentage here is typically lower than the PGA TOUR average. Players will inevitably miss greens, making scrambling an important skill.

Valspar Championship - The Field

The 2026 Valspar Championship features a mediocre 135-player field. The tournament includes seven of the top-20 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, headlined by World No. 7 Xander Schauffele. Defending champion Viktor Hovland will be in the field this week, coming off back-to-back top 15 finishes.

Basis of qualification for each entrant this week:

• Winner - PGA/U.S. Open Championship
• Winners of the Arnold Palmer, Memorial, Genesis (Last 3 Years )
• Winner - FedExCup - Last Five Seasons
• Tournament Winner in Past Two Seasons
• Past Champion of Respective Event
• Top 70 on Prior Year's FedExCup Points List
• Top 100 on prior season FedExCup Fall Points List
• Sponsors Exemptions - Unrestricted
• PGA Section Champion\Player of the Year
• Open Qualifying
• Leading 10 players (not otherwise exempt) on DP World Tour
• Top 20 Prior Season Korn Ferry Tour Points List
• Top 5 from PGA TOUR Q-School
• PGA TOUR University
• Top 30 on Prior Years' FedExCup Points List
• Top 10 and Ties from the Previous Event
• Top 100 (Medical)
• 101-110 prior season FedExCup Fall Points List
• Major Medical Extension

Previous Winners in the Field (Event):

• Viktor Hovland – 2025
• Peter Malnati – 2024
• Taylor Moore – 2023
• Adam Hadwin – 2017
• Jordan Spieth – 2015
• Kevin Streelman – 2013
• Gary Woodland – 2011

Debutants in the Field:

• A.J. Ewart, Adrien Saddier, Chandler Blanchet, Daniel Brown, David Ford, Davis Chatfield, Gordon Sargent, Isaiah Salinda, Jeffrey Kang, John Parry, Johnny Keefer, Jordan L. Smith, Kensei Hirata, Kristoffer Reitan, Marcelo Rozo, Marco Penge, Michael Brennan, Nick Dunlap, Paul Waring, Pontus Nyholm, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Zachary Bauchou

Exemptions:

• Adam Hadwin: Sponsor Exemptions - Unrestricted
• Henrik Norlander: Sponsor Exemptions - Unrestricted
• Brandt Snedeker: Sponsor Exemptions - Unrestricted
• Jackson Suber: Sponsor Exemptions - Unrestricted

Notable Withdraws/ Changes:

• Keith Mitchell WD, Doug Ghim IN
• Robert MacIntyre WD, Andrew Putnam IN
• Sudarshan Yellamaraju WD, Kris Ventura IN
• Field expanded from 133 players to 135 to round out threesomes:
  • Seamus Power IN
  • Matt Kuchar IN

Valspar Championship - The Odds

Here’s a breakdown of the top players in the field for this year’s Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course), ranked by current betting odds (via DraftKings). The table below details each player’s five most recent finishes on the PGA Tour/ DP World Tour and their last result at the Valspar Championship. My top plays of the week are included in the TeeOffSports VIP+ PGA Premium package.

Recent Horses for Courses

Recent Donkeys for Courses

Previous Winners' Scores, Prices, and Strokes Gained (Rank at Tournament)

• 2025: Viktor Hovland (-11)
  • Price: 50-1

• 2024: Peter Malnati (-12)
  • Price: 250-1

• 2023: Taylor Moore (-10)
  • Price: 70-1

• 2022: Sam Burns (-17)
  • Price: 25-1

• 2021: Sam Burns (-17)
  • Price: 80-1

Previous Winners Incoming Form (Last 5 Starts)

• 2025: Viktor Hovland
  • MC – THE PLAYERS Championship (PGA)
  • MC – Arnold Palmer Invitational (PGA)
  • MC – The Genesis Invitational (PGA)
  • T22 – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (PGA)
  • MC – Hero Dubai Desert Classic (DPWT)
• 2024: Peter Malnati
  • T68 – THE PLAYERS Championship (PGA)
  • T9 – Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches (PGA)
  • T14 – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (PGA)
  • MC – Farmers Insurance Open (PGA)
  • MC – The American Express (PGA)
• 2023: Taylor Moore
  • T35 – THE PLAYERS Championship (PGA)
  • T39 – Arnold Palmer Invitational (PGA)
  • MC – The Genesis Invitational (PGA)
  • T14 – WM Phoenix Open (PGA)
  • T15 – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (PGA)
• 2022: Sam Burns
  • T26 – THE PLAYERS Championship (PGA)
  • T9 – Arnold Palmer Invitational (PGA)
  • MC – The Genesis Invitational (PGA)
  • MC – WM Phoenix Open (PGA)
  • MC – Farmers Insurance Open (PGA)
• 2021: Sam Burns
  • T39 – RBC Heritage (PGA)
  • MC – Valero Texas Open (PGA)
  • MC – THE PLAYERS Championship (PGA)
  • MC – Arnold Palmer Invitational (PGA)
  • 3 – The Genesis Invitational (PGA)

Previous Winners' Finishes at Event

2025: Viktor Hovland

2024: Peter Malnati

2023: Taylor Moore

2022: Sam Burns

2021: Sam Burns

Best of luck, and as always, you can find me on X @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting!

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