2017 Valspar Championship at Palm Harbor

http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/valspar-championship.html

Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club (Copperhead course)

Purse: US$ 6.3 million

Notable players:

• Americans: Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar, Gary Woodland, Daniel Berger, Ryan Moore, Bill Haas, Kevin Na, Jim Furyk, Webb Simpson, Charles Howell III, Charley Hoffman, Jason Dufner, Billy Horschel, Chris Kirk, Steve Stricker, Bryson DeChambeau, Stewart Cink, Nick Watney, Hunter Mahan, Matt Every.
  
• Europeans: Henrik Stenson, Russell Knox, Soren Kjeldsen, David Lingmerth, Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Alex Cejka, Freddie Jacobson, Jonas Blixt, Seamus Power, Carl Pettersson
  
• Asians: Byeong Hun An, Siwoo Kim, KJ Choi, Ryo Ishikawa, CT Pan, Sunghoon Kang, Seungyul Noh, Meenwhee Kim.
  
• Aus / NZ: Danny Lee, Cameron Smith, Rod Pampling, Aaron Baddeley, Geoff Ogilvy, John Senden, Greg Chalmers, Steven Bowditch
  
• Other notable players: Charl Schwartzel, Tyrone van Aswegen, Retief Goosen, Adam Hadwin, Graham Delaet, David Hearn, Nick Taylor, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els.
  

Did Spieth say why he wasn't playing this year? According to his website his only tournament going into the Masters will be the Match Play.

Yeah,his win two(?) years ago over Reed and O'hair was epic, he should at least have good memories...

I always consider it to be a great course. Any feedback from somebody who actually played it?

Patrick Reed has been a little quiet lately. I hope he wakes up this week.

Did Spieth say why he wasn't playing this year? According to his website his only tournament going into the Masters will be the Match Play.

I don't think so but have to assume it was the schedule. Most everyone is going to play in Mexico and Austin (free money) and they don't want to be flying all over the place - so some tournaments are going to get cut by the guys who can afford to.

Hopefully the PGA revises the schedule next year. Mexico after Riviera and before the FLA swing.

I will say the course in Mexico was pretty damn cool - much more interesting than Doral.

I always consider it to be a great course. Any feedback from somebody who actually played it?

It's demanding, a ball strikers course. The fairways aren't super tight but if you miss them you can get into trouble right quick. If you hit the fairway you're left with a shot that, again, if you miss you'll have a tough save. It's a course that is both rewarding for good play and penal for mediocre play. Very fair!

When I played it was very wet so I can't really comment on condition except to say just about everyone says it's always kept very nice.

Any reason everybody's going low as hell right now?

Any reason everybody's going low as hell right now?

These guys are good. :)

Did Spieth say why he wasn't playing this year? According to his website his only tournament going into the Masters will be the Match Play.

 

I don't think so but have to assume it was the schedule. Most everyone is going to play in Mexico and Austin (free money) and they don't want to be flying all over the place - so some tournaments are going to get cut by the guys who can afford to.

 

Hopefully the PGA revises the schedule next year. Mexico after Riviera and before the FLA swing.

 

 

I will say the course in Mexico was pretty damn cool - much more interesting than Doral.

I also assumed Spieth just wanted to go back home to Texas after being down in Mexico. Some did the Florida-Mexico-Florida swing but I can also see why, due to the travel, many would skip one of the Florida events.

Henley off to the quick early Thursday AM start at -7 thru 12. Stenson 3 shots back.

I would like to see maybe 1-2 of the youngsters such as Lee McCoy or Patrick Cantlay find themselves in contention by the weekend.

I always consider it to be a great course. Any feedback from somebody who actually played it?

 

It's demanding, a ball strikers course. The fairways aren't super tight but if you miss them you can get into trouble right quick. If you hit the fairway you're left with a shot that, again, if you miss you'll have a tough save. It's a course that is both rewarding for good play and penal for mediocre play. Very fair!

 

When I played it was very wet so I can't really comment on condition except to say just about everyone says it's always kept very nice.

thanks!

Jim Herman low-key threatening 59

Two-time former champs of this event, K.J. Choi (2002, 2006) and Retief Goosen (2003, 2009) both struggled in their first rounds, K.J. with a 73 and Retief with a 76. Hey, I just wanted to mention the "Goose." :)

Stenson best of the scandinavians so far. A nice little win before the Masters would be timely.

Saw him in the post-round interview. He's getting greyish, a little more weather-beaten, a little less babyface. "De grå tinningarnas charm".

That's one way to plug the ball

Anyone see Stenson's kid run on to the course to hug him on PGA Tour Live coverage earlier? Pretty funny stuff

Something to this course I find very appealing from a Florida golf course perspective. I'm quite partial to desert golf, not so much Florida golf. But I'd take a trip here in a heartbeat...

Adam Hadwin playing some very handy golf right now!

After starting with a birdie, it looked like Stenson was about to catch fire but since then it has been nothing flat from him. Some back 9 from Adam Hadwin.

Lots of big to reasonably big names missing out over the weekend - Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger, Ernie Els, Russell Knox, Scott Piercy.

Something to this course I find very appealing from a Florida golf course perspective. I'm quite partial to desert golf, not so much Florida golf. But I'd take a trip here in a heartbeat...

Couldn't agree more, it just looks like an awesome track. Something different from the wide open and wind swept fayre we usually see served up by Florida golf.

I wish someone would pull Jim Hermans shoulders back and give him a 30 second posture lesson

Nice to see Patrick Cantlay playing well. I hope he had a good weekend.

Patrick Reed just can't seem to get it going this year.

Great to see Cantlay and DeChambeau playing well this week.

Adam Hadwin seems like a nice guy. Looks like he's ready for the breakthrough.

DeChambeau playing well so far without quirky putting. That's the way to do it! Less physics, just good playin'!

Love Dechambeau playing well. Wish Bryan wouldn't have faltered today

Cantlay... something big happening here?

Cantlay... something big happening here?

Beautiful finish!

Is it just me or have they not been showing many tee shots on par 4/5's? I feel like all I'm seeing are approach shots and putts.

This kid Hadwin can really play. Can move the ball both ways with driver and irons and can sink putts from anywhere.

This kid Hadwin can really play. Can move the ball both ways with driver and irons and can sink putts from anywhere.

He looks great this week. I love his swing. Nice tempo and balance, and easy on the body. He'll last a long time out there. He looks to be in complete control this afternoon.

Judging by the top of the leader board, someone is going to experience a life-changing event tomorrow.

I like Hadwin a lot but I'll be pulling for Cantlay.