Horse For The Course: PGA DFS Course History - 2026 Valspar Championship

March 16, 2026

Todd McGill's DraftKings, FanDuel PGA DFS picks for the 2026 Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course. Picks for daily fantasy golf based on course history.

What a great week we had at TPC Sawgrass for The Players, huh? All the drama, all the nerves, all the possible outcomes. It was the type of week we expect to have every year, and this one delivered. It also continued the common theme we've seen since the tour moved to Florida of 54-hole leaders collapsing on the back-9, as Ludvig Aberg wrecked himself out of the tournament with a bogey and a double coming on holes 11 and 12, which put him three back of the lead at that time. It's yet another failure to close for the young star, and will only make questions about whether he's able to ascend to a higher level in the sport grow louder.

We now make our way across the state to Innisbrook, where the Copperhead Course awaits many familiar faces from last week. This is the last stop in the Sunshine State, as all eyes slowly start to wander toward Augusta in a few weeks. It's one of the tougher tests on the schedule and has steadily drawn a decent field. However, it is in a part of the schedule where many have elected to take years off. There aren't many guys who have played each of the last five seasons, but plenty of names that perform well when they do make the trip.

Horse For The Course is an article highlighting players in this week's field with elite course history and is part of our free PGA DFS content here at RotoBaller. For some of the favorite DFS plays of the week, check out the Core Four article written by my buddy, Joe Nicely, here at RotoBaller every Wednesday. It's part of our amazing PGA Premium package that includes an all-new PGA Research Station, Lineup Builder & Optimizer, and some of the best articles in the PGA DFS industry! You can sign up now using the Promo Code TDG for an extra 30% discount at checkout!

2026 Valspar Championship

Finding its usual spot on the schedule, the week following The Players, this year's Valspar Championship has attracted a nice field. Guys looking to test their game on a demanding layout will certainly find it here. There is only one top-10 player in the world here this week (Xander Schauffele), but basically everyone 12th or further is here.

Viktor Hovland is returning to defend his title from last season, where he held off a charging Justin Thomas on Sunday to win by one. The course difficulty makes come-from-behind victories a real threat because players this skilled can really get things going if they are hitting it well.

This year marks the tournament's 25th anniversary, with all of them played on the Copperhead Course. This is a young event by typical PGA Tour standards, but it's rare to have the same host site for that long, too. It's a real testament to the tournament board and venue to acquire the fields they do right after the biggest event on the PGA Tour.

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Innisbrook Resort - Copperhead Course

Par 71 - 7,352 | Greens: Bermudagrass | Designed By: Larry Packard

Home of the famous "Snake Pit," the Copperhead Course is a tree-lined, accuracy-driven layout that has some of the smallest greens on tour. At 5,800 square feet, finding as many of them as possible is paramount.

Similar to last week at Sawgrass, Innisbrook will test all facets of a player's game. The difference is that this place doesn't offer multiple strategies to attack holes and navigate throughout a round. You just have to hit the shots asked of you on every hole.

Fairways are narrow, which deflates driving accuracy totals, but don't be fooled, guys will need to be accurate off the tee if they want to attack pins. The inclusion of five par-3s also muddies the water, as it puts even more emphasis on long iron play and makes preserving par more crucial. Putting has also been a main point of emphasis, with everyone in the top three last year gaining anywhere from 6.8 to 7.84 strokes on the greens.

It really comes down to who hits their irons well and makes crucial putts. Everything else sort of comes out in the wash. Those in the mix typically find themselves hitting at least 65% of their greens in regulation. Approach numbers heavily fall inside 150-200 yards, with the average par-3 yardage being 212 yards. The discrepancy between approaches and par-3 length will force players to hit every club in their bag.

Recent Valspar Championship Winners

• 2025: Viktor Hovland (-11)
• 2024: Peter Malnati (-12)
• 2023: Taylor Moore (-10)
• 2022: Sam Burns (-17)
• 2021: Sam Burns (-17)

The Horse

Viktor Hovland

• Notable Finishes: 1st ('25), T3 ('21)

Along with his victory last year, Hovland has shown an immense level of comfort around the Copperhead Course. His averages in strokes gained on approach (1.223) and putting (1.111) over his last 12 rounds here are the best combo you're going to find in this field. As one of the tour's best ball strikers, it doesn't take much to understand why he has performed so well.

He's coming off back-to-back T13 finishes, where he notably gained nearly eight shots around the green; an area he rarely gains, let alone dominates. There isn't a weakness too glaring to think he won't admirably defend, and this tournament certainly has a history of repeat winners.

The Ponies

Xander Schauffele

• Notable Finishes: T5 ('24), T12 ('21 & '25)

SOLO LEAD!

Xander makes a bomb on No. 8. pic.twitter.com/pzkBKA6HdC

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 13, 2026

Even with the down year Schauffele had last season, it wasn't bad enough for him to miss on continuing to be a threat in this event. He's the fourth-highest player in the field in total strokes gained on the Copperhead Course over the last five seasons (2.094).

Given the ball-striking prowess that the 32-year-old has, it has enabled him to establish an average of 1.518 strokes gained on approach during that time.

It was a close call for him last week at TPC Sawgrass, where scores could have easily fallen to him down the stretch after posting at -11 under. He looks ready to make another run at this championship, especially if the iron play from last week continues.

Justin Thomas

• Notable Finishes: 2nd ('25), T3 ('22), T10 ('23)

Justin Thomas with the early putter lift getting the fans amped up on 17 ⚡️😤

📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/jBVkBJYo9e

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 14, 2026

It was quite the return to form for Thomas this past week at The Players after the rough showing he had the week before in his competitive return. The 32-year-old showed up in refreshingly familiar form at TPC Sawgrass, paving the way for what should be a fine week ahead at Innisbrook.

JT has been one of the few faces at this event each of the last five years. He's making his ninth career appearance, and with few unfulfilling attempts. The former Crimson Tide golfer has only missed one cut, with only one other finish being worse than T18. He's still searching for that elusive victory, but it's easy to assume he could again be a factor come Thursday.

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Davis Riley

• Notable Finishes: P2 ('22), 7th ('25), T19 ('23)

Another ☝️

With a birdie at the last, Davis Riley takes a two-shot lead into the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii in search of his third PGA Tour victory. pic.twitter.com/mZn1HkqiQv

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) January 18, 2026

After the start to this year for Davis Riley, coming back to Innisbrook should be a welcome sight. He hasn't done much to speak of through his first seven starts other than a T6 to begin the year in Hawaii. He'll need a great week to get his year back on track before the major season begins.

The Copperhead Course has allowed him to play to his usual strengths of fairly reliable ball striking and immense putting ability. Neither has really shown up for him recently. In terms of DFS, Riley is as big a Hail Mary as they come, but in terms of raw course history numbers, he deserves to be included here. But the list of things needed to happen for him to find success this time around is going to be hard to find after the rough time at The Players.

More PGA Analysis and Picks

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