Valspar Championship Preview: TV Times, Betting Tips
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The PGA Tour hosts its last event of the Florida swing at the Valspar Championship this week: Here’s how to watch, and who to back
World No.1 Dustin Johnson headlines the field this week as six of the World’s top 20 head to the Copperhead Course for the Valspar Championship.
Last year, Paul Casey fended off a late challenge from Tiger Woods to win his first PGA Tour event in nine years, but Woods won’t be back for more this time around as he looks more likely to play in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in the lead up to The Masters.
Casey, and last year’s joint runner-up Patrick Reed are back though, and are joined by Jason Day, Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia and Webb Simpson. Jim Furyk, who rolled back the years to fall just one short of Rory McIlroy’s Players Championship victory, is also in the field.
Course: Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead)
Prize Fund: $6,700,000 | Par 71 | 7,340 yards
Defending Champion: Paul Casey
FedEx Cup Points: 500
Former Champions in the field: Paul Casey (’18), Adam Hadwin (’17), Charl Schwartzel (’16), Kevin Streelman (’13), Luke Donald (’12), Gary Woodland (’11), Jim Furyk (’10), Sean O’Hair (’08), K.J Choi (’06, ’02)
UK TV Times: How to watch
Thursday 21st March:
Feature Groups: Live PGA Tour, Sky Sports Main Event (12:45), Sky Sports Golf (12:45)
Main Coverage: Sky Sports Golf (19:00), Sky Sports Main Event (22:00)
Friday 22nd March:
Feature Groups: Live PGA Tour, Sky Sports Main Event (12:45), Sky Sports Golf (12:45)
Main Coverage: Sky Sports Golf (19:00)
Saturday 23rd March:
Sky Sports Golf (18:00)
Sunday 24th March:
Sky Sports Golf (18:00), Sky Sports Main Event (21:45)
Valspar Championship: Betting Tips
Dustin Johnson: 9/2
The favourite heading in to the event this week. DJ already has two victories under his belt in 2019, and heads to the Valspar after a T5 at the Players, win in Mexico and T9 at the Genesis Open. He ranks 4th for SG: Tee to green, 5th for scoring average, 7th for SG: Approach the green, 12th for GIR and 16th for SG: Putting so far this season.
Jason Day: 9/1
Day was in the penultimate group at The Players and ended up T8, which was his third top 10 in his last four starts (the other being a WD during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitaitonal with a back injury). Ranks 2nd birdie average, 5th SG: Putting, 18th for scoring average and 21st for GIR on the PGA Tour.
Jon Rahm: 9/1
Rahm held the 54-hole lead at the Players but a turbulent final round left him in a tie for 12th. Still, he’s had five top 10s in seven starts in 2019. Making his debut here, and ranks 2nd for SG: Off the tee, and inside the top 20 on the PGA Tour for birdie average, scoring average and SG: Tee to green.
Sergio Garcia: 16/1
Garcia finished T22 at last week’s Players Championship, and has four top 10s in 2019 so far this year. Ranks 1st Scoring average and SG: Approach the green on the PGA Tour, as well as 8th for SG: Tee to green and 25th for putting average. 4th here in 2018.
Webb Simpson: 18/1
Simpson had an unfortunate penalty last week and ended T16, which was his fifth top 20 in seven starts (including two top-10s). Finished T8 here in 2018, and ranks 11th for scoring average, 12th for SG: Around the green and 17th for SG: approach the green.
Gary Woodland: 20/1
Seven top 10s this season already mean his last three starts (T30-T36-T17) slightly pale in comparison, but it’s still an impressive run. Slight drawback to Woodland is that he’s posted no better than T42 in his last four trips here, but was T8 in 2014 and won in 2011. Ranks 3rd for birdie average and GIR, 6th for scoring average and SG: Off the tee, and 7th SG: Tee to green.
Paul Casey: 20/1
Casey might have missed the cut last week, but the defending champion has a T3 and two runner-up finishes in his last five starts on Tour. Ranks 8th for driving accuracy, 15th for SG: off the tee and 16th for GIR.
Patrick Reed: 20/1
A runner-up twice in this event in both 2015 and 2018 so this course clearly suits his eye, so you’re gambling on course-form for Reed. He finished T47 last week and T50 the week prior, and has three top-14s in 2019. Best stats so far this year are 18th for SG: Around the green and 29th for SG: Putting.
Jim Furyk: 30/1
Having fired a final round 67 to set the early clubhouse lead at the Players, Furyk ultimately settled for second place for his second consecutive top 10 on Tour. He’s on a great run of form, has impressive stats and a great record in this event: A champion in 2010, a runner-up finish in 2012 and 7th place here last year. Ranks 1st for driving accuracy, 3rd for scoring average, 12th for GIR, 13th for SG: Approach the green and 22nd for SG: tee to green on Tour.
Keegan Bradley: 33/1
T16-T46-T10 in his last three starts on Tour. He was T31 here last year and ranks 6th SG: Approach the green and 21st SG: Tee to green this season.
Jason Kokrak: 40/1
Had back to back top 10s at the Honda Classic and Arnold Palmer Invitational before a T47 at the Players last week, and has two top 10s at the Valspar in his last four starts (2018 and 2015). Ranks 4th SG: Approach the green, 9th SG: Tee to green and 22nd for both GIR and birdie average.
Lucas Glover: 45/1
Before a MC at the Players, Glover had posted three top 10s in a row at Pebble Beach, the Honda Classic and Arnold Palmer Invitational. Ranks 7th for GIR, 9th for scoring average, 19th SG: Tee to green and 21st SG: Tee to green. T18 in 2017.
Kevin Kisner: 45/1
A fifth straight top-30 for Kisner with a T22 at the Players Championship, who hasn’t teed up here since a T60 in 2015. Ranks 31st SG: Putting and 34th for scoring average.
Rafa Cabrera Bello: 50/1
MC last week but was T3 at Bay Hill after three consecutive top 25s. Making his debut at the Valspar. Ranks 23rd for SG: Putting 27th for birdie average, and 33rd for Scoring average on the PGA Tour.
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