Three Players to Watch at the Valspar Championship

It feels like we just left the West Coast, and somehow the Florida Swing is already wrapping up.

After a full week of chaos at THE PLAYERS, there’s no breather—we’re right back to it with the Valspar Championship.

Now, casual fans might hear that and check out. That would be a mistake.

The Valspar is one of the most underrated stops on the calendar. The Copperhead Course is as demanding as it gets, the field is consistently strong, and it’s one of the final chances to see the game’s best before the Masters.

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And this year’s field? Absolutely loaded.

Defending champion Viktor Hovland returns, joined by Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, and Max Homa—just to name a few.

Like I said: loaded.

Before things get underway Thursday morning, here are three players to keep an eye on this week—for very different reasons.

Let’s dive in.

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Justin Thomas

He didn’t claim a second PLAYERS title, but last week still felt like a win for JT.

Coming off his first start of the season at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, expectations were low. His two rounds at Bay Hill were rough, and heading into another brute like TPC Sawgrass, it was fair to expect more big numbers.

Instead, he flipped the script.

With rounds of 68-68-72-72, Thomas finished T-8—and more importantly, left with momentum and confidence. Now he heads to Copperhead, a place he’s historically owned.

In eight starts, he’s made seven cuts, posted six top-20s, and since 2021, finished T-13 or better in four of five appearances. Oh, and last year? Runner-up to Viktor Hovland.

Course history? Check. Form? Check.

The only question: fatigue.

This will be his third straight start since returning from injury, and the last two venues haven’t exactly been a walk in the park. You’d think the time off helps—but getting back into the TOUR grind can wear on you quickly.

We’ll learn a lot by the turn on Thursday.

Austin Smotherman

Every season, a few under-the-radar names catch a heater. The trick is capitalizing on it.

Smotherman might be next.

On paper, Copperhead sets up perfectly for him. He’s 20th in driving accuracy, first—first—in Strokes Gained: Approach, and sixth tee-to-green. The inconsistency is there (three missed cuts and a WD in seven starts), but when he’s on, he’s been on: T-8 at the American Express, T-2 at the Cognizant, and T-13 at THE PLAYERS.

He’s also got decent history here—T-25 in 2022 and T-36 in 2023.

If the putter is even neutral, he should be hanging around come Sunday.

Brooks Koepka

When Koepka left for LIV in 2022, the Valspar was his final PGA TOUR stroke-play start—he finished T-12.

A win in his return would be fitting.

The ball-striking is there. More than there, actually. He’s third in SG: Approach and striping his irons. The problem? The putter has been ice cold—152nd in SG: Putting.

If that club even cooperates, he’s right in the mix.

And the recent results suggest it’s close. T-9 at the Cognizant. T-13 at THE PLAYERS.

It doesn’t feel like a matter of if—just when.

Don’t be surprised if it’s Sunday.