– Last Updated on November 20, 2022 10:09 pm
2016 Valspar Championship Golf Preview and Picks
Ready for 2016 PGA Valspar Championship betting predictions? The Florida swing of the PGA TOUR continues this week when the 2016 Valspar Championship takes place at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida. The par 71, 7,340 yard track is always among the toughest par 71 courses the pros play.
2016 Valspar Championship
When: March 10 – 13, 2016
Where: Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) – Palm Harbor, Florida.
Purse: $5,900,000 / Winner Share: $1,062,000
Defending Champion: Jordan Spieth
Updated Sportsbook Bonuses For Today
Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green, Bogey + 3-Putt Avoidance, Scrambling and Par 4 Scoring Efficiency 400-450 yards are the key stats to keep an eye on this week – putting on the notoriously tough greens will also be essential this week.
Those players that can hit their spots off the tee will do well – bombers don’t necessarily have a distinct advantage at Copperhead.
With that in mind who should we be keeping out eye on this week? Let’s take a look.
2016 PGA Valspar Championship Favorites:
Jordan Spieth +550
Defending champ (in a playoff) hasn’t been his terrific self as of late but in a slightly watered-down field is the obvious one to beat.
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His missed cut at the Northern Trust Open and was middle-of-the-pack last week at Doral. He also has a T7 finish here in 2013 and a T20 in 2014. Spieth’s putter could be the difference again this week – his motivation to snap an uncharacteristic streak should be as well.
Henrik Stenson +1400
Stenson is another guy that will look to regain his elite form. Off a T28 at the WGC-Cadillac he will be out to better a solo fourth place finish in this event last year. Prior to last week, Stenson finished T-3 and T-6 during the European Tour’s Desert Swing – his elite ball striking and out-of-this-world scrambling ability should serve him well as he looks for his first win on TOUR since 2014.
Daniel Willett +2000
Makes his tournament debut this week off a T3 at Doral – his eighth top five worldwide in last 10 months which includes two wins. His putter has been magical and his form has been arguably the best in the world. I love Willett – don’t know about the price.
2016 PGA Valspar Championship Contenders:
Patrick Reed +2500
Lost in a playoff here last year to Jordan Spieth. He hasn’t been great the last few weeks but had a T6 last month at Pebble Beach and a runner-up finish to Spieth earlier this year in Hawaii. Reed seems due for a win and on a course that fits his eye this week could be it.
Harris English +3500
Finished T10 on this track last year – a tournament that included a sizzling 65 in the final round and also registered a T3 in Phoenix a month ago. He finished T10 last week at Doral and went under par in every round – awfully tough to do. He has been inside the top 10 here in two of the last three years and is a decent bet to do so again.
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Jason Dufner +4000
Former champion here hasn’t missed a cut on this track since 2009 and has five top 25s over that span – four in a row ahead of this weekend. He enters off a T11 at Doral in which he was tops in the field in par 4 scoring – perfect for Copperhead. He has a win on TOUR already this year which points to the notion he may be back – on arguably his favorite track he is a virtual lock to do well.
K J Choi +4500
Two-time champ has been playing well so far this year – two top fives and a T17 in his last four starts including a solo second at the Farmers Insurance Open and a tie for fifth at the Northern Trust Open. Choi’s putter has been very good this year and his track history (although not great lately) is tough to ignore.
Ryan Moore +4500
Hasn’t been playing much so far this season but has been OK when on the course – T-11 or better in four of his six starts this season including a 10th place showing at the Northern Trust Open. He led this tournament after 54 holes last year before a final round 72 had him settle for a T5. His course history and current form make him an intriguing +4500 this week indeed.
Webb Simpson +4500
Has four top 10s on this track including a runner-up finish in 2011 and enters having posted finished T-17 or better in each of his last three starts dating back to January.
2016 PGA Valspar Championship Sleepers (+5000 or higher):
Jason Kokrak +5500
Has three top 30s in his last five starts, including a tie for second at the Northern Trust Open. He has also finished inside the top 20 in his last two starts at Copperhead including a T7 last year. Kokrak is flying a bit under the radar right now – exactly where he likes it.
Sean O’Hair +7000
2008 winner here also lost in a playoff on this track last year – his course history makes his a very enticing +7000. His current form isn’t bad either – he was T14 at PGA National a couple of weeks ago. If O’Hair’s putter is on point as it was two weeks ago he has a very good chance of contending here.
Charles Howell III +8000
Is one of those guys that you rarely see at the top of leaderboards but has a knack of playing well – seven top 20s this year already is further evidence. He has been inside the top 15 on this track the last two years and had a T2 finish here in 2009. Translation – Howell is a sneaky +8000 this week.
2016 PGA Valspar Championship Picks:
Sometimes the obvious pick is the wise one. Therefore I’m going with Jordan Spieth at +550. He is certainly due and in a slightly watered down field he should be prime for a repeat win.
The sleeper is Sean O’Hair at +7000 – he thrives at Copperhead. His current form isn’t bad either.
Do you like our predictions for this week’s PGA Valspar Championship? Comments welcome below.
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