Valspar Championship 2022: Course and current form stats

It's week four out of four in the Sunshine State, with the players teeing-up at the Innisbrook Resort at Palm Harbour.

Starting out in 2000 as the Tampa Bay Classic, the tournament has had a variety of title sponsors across the decades, with Valspar taking over eight years ago.

There was no tournament in 2001, because of the terrorist attacks in New York, while the 2020 event was also cancelled due to the Covid pandemic.

The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook remains the host venue which this week will be staging the tournament for a 21st time.

Course Characteristics

Despite being a resort course, it is certainly one of the most testing layouts on the PGA Tour calendar - as the stats below indicate.

Between 2016 and 2021 (cumulative), it was ranked 29th out of 29 for Greens hit in Regulation.

It also earned a low position for Putting (GiR), and was not much higher for Driving Accuracy, when viewed as a tournament average.

Course Comparisons (1.1.16 - 31.12.21)

Driving Accuracy (%)
73.56: Sea Island (RSM Classic) (1/29)
58.21: Innisbrook (Valspar Ch`ship) (20/29)
52.43: Torrey Pines (Farmers Insurance) (29/29)
PGA Tour Average: 61.92%

Greens in Regulation (%)
75.86: Sedgefield (Wyndham) (1/29)
59.33: Riviera (Genesis Invitational) (28/29)
59.27: Innisbrook (Valspar Ch`ship) (29/29)
PGA Tour Average: 67.79%

Putting (GiR)
1.669: PGA West (host) (American Express) (1/29)
1.769: Innisbrook (Valspar Ch`ship) (25/29)
2.667: Augusta National (Masters) (29/29)
PGA Tour Average: 1.764

To qualify for the above tables, a minimum of 300 golfers must have completed at least 54 holes at the venue/tournament between January 1st 2016 and December 31st, 2021. Averages/percentages do not include players who failed to complete 54 holes. A total of 29 PGA Tour venues/tournaments qualified for inclusion.

Opened in 1974, Copperhead was given a facelift seven years ago when greens, tees and bunkers were all re-built.

During the 2015 renovation, greens were reseeded with TifEagle Bermuda, while the gently undulating tree-lined fairways were all re-grassed with Celebration Bermuda.

Although putting surfaces were slightly enlarged during this upgrade, in order to accommodate a greater number of pin positions, they remain about average size for PGA Tour events.

A number of bunkers were repositioned, while the pros will be tested by a handful of subtle dog-legs on fairly tight fairways. Water comes into play on seven holes.

Stroke Averages

Lowest 12 At Copperhead (2015-21)
Average .... (Rounds)
69.08: Paul Casey (12)
69.25: Sam Burns (12)
69.90: Bubba Watson (10)
70.11: Louis Oosthuizen (18)
70.11: Charl Schwartzel (18)
70.20: Vaughn Taylor (10)
70.32: Jason Kokrak (22)
70.33: Zach Johnson (12)
70.38: Sean O`Hair (13)
70.43: Justin Thomas (14)
70.50: Bill Haas (16)
70.50: Henrik Stenson (22)
Min. No. of Rounds = 10
Only those entered this week are included in table

Latest betting for this week's Valspar Championship

Four To Watch

Abraham Ancer: Tied-fifth last year and has the game to prosper at Innisbrook Resort.

Jason Kokrak: Three top-10 finishes over the Copperhead course for one of the most improved golfers of the past three years.

Joaquin Niemann: The young Chilean has already won during 2022 when he finished two strokes clear of a strong field at the tricky Riviera layout in Los Angeles.

Louis Oosthuizen: Played solidly for 54 holes at Sawgrass before falling away during the final round.

Latest betting for next month's Masters Tournament

Twitter: Golf Stats Alive

MC* - Missed Additional 54-Hole Cut

Note: List Contains Leading Reserves