Valspar Championship preview and tips: Florida conditions set to suit Matt Fizpatrick
- Martin Colwell
- 15 March 2023
Tipstrr golf expert Martin Colwell landed a 10/1 winner when world number one Scottie Scheffler clinched last week’s Players’ Championship, and he’s looking for even better at this week’s USPGA event.
This week's tournament remains in Florida, but shifts to the Copperhead course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club at Palm Harbor for the Valspar Championship.
Sam Burns has won this tournament for the past two years and is currently 14/1 for anyone who thinks he is capable improving his recent form to land a rare hat-trick.
Matt Fitzpatrick is a 16/1 shot who finished fifth here last year and should cope if the bad weather comes, and of the top three in the betting, Fitz looks the most attractive option.
The out-of-form Justin Thomas is an unappealing 10/1 favourite, while his pal Jordan Spieth is 12/1. Spieth is in better form than JT, but keeps finding ways to lose in recent months.
Justin Rose is 20/1 at present, and as a recent winner who is in good form and likes a tough technical test, he could be in contention come Sunday afternoon.
Adam Hadwin won this tournament in 2017 and was placed here in 2018 and in 2022. That is what you call top course form, which explains his 22/1 current odds and makes him a decent betting option.
From a host of capable outsiders, Dylan Wu caught my eye at 125/1, and as an up-and-coming Korn Ferry Tour graduate, he could just make his tournament breakthrough in 2023.
Even more capable, Kyoung Hoon Lee is a tour winner, a battler in tough conditions and can also deliver low scoring rounds, and at 50/1 or more K.H. can be considered each way value.
One of the hardest courses on the tour, 7,340-yards par-71 that is tight off the tee, with the tree-lined fairways including plenty of testing dog-legs and elevation changes, made all the more difficult if the forecast wind arrives.
There are nine water hazards on course along with plenty of bunkers to catch errant shots, while the greens are renowned for being tricky to read. The final three holes are known as 'the snake pit', which paints the picture for an interesting finish.
A tricky betting heat with some big names missing and the favoured golfers not at their best at present. Perhaps we could see a big odds upset this week?
