Bob Weeks Picks Six: Valspar Championship

TSN Senior Reporter

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After a long, soggy, wet, windy, cold week and a bit at the Players Championship, the PGA Tour heads to Palm Harbor, Fla., for the Valspar Championship where the weather forecast looks much better (although there are thunderstorms possible on Sunday).

Last week’s brutal slog has led to a few withdrawals, including Joaquin Niemann, Paul Casey, and Canadian Taylor Pendrith. But there is a quality field lined up that includes five of the top 10 players in the world ranking.

The Copperhead course features narrow fairways, requiring accuracy off the tee. It’s also beneficial to hit greens if past winners are any indication. Paul Casey was first in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green in 2019 and sixth in 2018. Defending champion Sam Burns was fifth in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green.

The Favourite

Viktor Hovland +1100

Hovland comes into this week as the favourite which is no surprise. His play this year has been outstanding and his tie for ninth at the Players was his third consecutive top-10 finish. He’s seventh in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and third in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green, so he should like the challenge of the Copperhead course.

Mid-Range

Dustin Johnson +1800

After describing last year as “frustrating” due to the inability to get a driver he liked, Johnson seemed on the way to a return to form at the Players. He tied the course record 63 on Sunday at TPC Sawgrass to finish in a tie for ninth. That marked his best finish of the season, which has been limited to only four starts. He’s played this tournament the last two years and was tied for 48th last year and tied for sixth in 2019.

Louis Oosthuizen +2400

Oosthuizen has never fared worse than a tie for 16th in his last four