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Copperhead Course Awaits Top Golfers After Players
16 Mar
Summary
- Seven of the world's top 20 golfers will compete at Innisbrook.
- Defending champion Viktor Hovland returns to the Valspar Championship.
- The Copperhead course demands accuracy, not just birdies.
Golf's Florida Swing continues with the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead course, immediately following the Players Championship. This event, a non-signature stop, still lures a strong field, featuring seven of the world's top 20 players, including defending champion Viktor Hovland.
Notable competitors alongside Hovland are Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele. Matt Fitzpatrick is also expected to play after his recent runner-up finish at the Players Championship. Brooks Koepka makes his return to the Valspar for the first time since 2022. Past champions Peter Malnati and Taylor Moore are in the field, though two-time winner Sam Burns will not participate. Jordan Spieth, the 2015 champion, is also competing on the Copperhead course he favors.
The Copperhead course is recognized for its challenging layout, which includes elevation changes and requires precise fairway shots, rather than producing low-scoring rounds. Historically, seven of the last 12 winning scores have been 10 under par or higher, indicating its difficulty. The tournament winner will receive $1,638,000 from a $9.1 million purse, with a coveted Masters invitation also up for grabs for eligible players.
