Horse For The Course: PGA DFS Course History - 2025 Valspar Championship

After a four-hour rain delay and extra holes on Monday, Rory McIlroy got back into the winner's circle for the second time this season to claim his second Players Championship. It took a three-hole aggregate playoff against J.J. Spaun to get the job done, and after a dominant display, he is in an excellent position heading into Augusta to try and get the monkey off his back there to complete the career grand slam

The PGA Tour finishes off the Florida swing this week at Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course for the Valspar Championship. A few bigger names are sticking around this week to get in more reps ahead of The Masters in less than a month, and this will easily be a more difficult test than either of the two events in Texas before the year's first major. In terms of horses for this week, there aren't many players who have consistently added this event to their schedules. So while the history is good for several players, it isn't as vast as other venues.

Horse For The Course is an article highlighting players in this week's field with elite course history and is part of our free PGA DFS content here at RotoBaller. For some of the favorite DFS plays of the week, check out the Core Four article written by my buddy, Joe Nicely, here at RotoBaller every Wednesday. It's part of our amazing PGA Premium package that includes an all-new PGA Research Station, Lineup Builder & Optimizer, and some of the best articles in the PGA DFS industry! You can sign up now using the Promo Code TDG for an extra discount at checkout!

2025 Valspar Championship

Finding itself at the tail end of the Florida swing, the Valspar Championship has never received the same strength of field as the two previous events, and rightfully so. The Copperhead Course can play very difficult with the right conditions, but for many of the Florida-based players, it only makes sense to use this week to re-charge before starting the run-up to Augusta. However, this year's field has a host of top names including Xander Schauffele, J.T., and Tommy Fleetwood to name a few.

This will be the 25th edition of this event, as Peter Malnati looks to defend his improbable victory from last season. With the added strength of this field, a repeat win is unlikely for the 37-year-old. The typical winners of this tournament also usually consist of more proven players than Malnati. Given the likely conditions on deck this week, expect a fairly bunched leaderboard.

Anyone who watched this past week at Sawgrass knows that the Sunshine State has been hit hard in recent weeks with heavy storms, making for soft conditions at The Players; likely again this week at Innisbrook. It won't be surprising to see lower scores this year for a tournament with a history of hanging around -10 under par, because of the scorable conditions.

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Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course)

Par 71- 7,352 | Designed By: Larry Packard

As the last leg in the Florida swing, the PGA Tour doesn't pull any punches. The Copperhead Course is one of the most difficult tests of any layout on the schedule, mainly due to the demanding approach shots to very undulating greens that make even four and five-footers scary. As far as preparation for The Masters goes, players won't see a better test on the greens than here.

This par 71 layout features five long par-3s ranging from 195 to 235 yards and four par-5s. The design of these holes forces players to be diligent about which ones to try and score on, as par is a bigger friend this week than at other tour stops. Long iron play will be one of the largest focuses, as over 52% of approach shots at Innisbrook have traditionally come from farther than 175 yards.

The "Snake Pit" is the notorious closing stretch of holes on the Copperhead Course that features the famed 17th hole, which is a 215-yard par-3, and two long par-4s that historically play well over par in the tournament. It is a finish where players are simply trying to hold on for dear life, making it a tall task for chasing players to make a final push on Sunday to catch the leader. Anyone with winning hopes better make their move before coming to this final stretch.

Recent Valspar Championship Winners

• 2024: Peter Malnati (-12)
• 2023: Scottie Scheffler (-10)
• 2022: Sam Burns (-17)
• 2021: Sam Burns (-17)
• 2020: Canceled (COVID)

The Horse

Sam Burns

• Notable Finishes: 1st ('21 & '22)

It was shocking to see Sam Burns miss the cut here last year after racking up two wins and a T6 in the three previous seasons. Even with that poor week, the 28-year-old still leads the field of guys with more than one start in total strokes gained (+2.809). Putting has been his bread and butter at the Copperhead Course, as he has a strokes gained putting average of +1.271. That plus the +0.932 strokes gained on approach, and it's easy to see why he's had so much success here.

Burns has been struggling lately, missing the cut at TPC Sawgrass and finishing T48 at the API before that. The struggles have been with his irons, as he's lost over 12 shots on approach in his last two starts. If he hopes to continue his impressive run at this event, he must improve greatly in that area.

The Ponies

Tommy Fleetwood

• Notable Finishes: T3 ('23)

Tommy Fleetwood with the @TGL Shot Of The Year at $SoFi Center!🏌️‍♂️

During a warm-up session before TGL’s first tripleheader match Monday between Atlanta Drive Golf Club and Los Angeles Golf Club, Fleetwood pulled off one of the rarest feats in golf:

a hole in one on a par-4.⛳️😳… pic.twitter.com/bVqpVLGyx4

— TRADESTER JJ (@TRADEsterJJ) March 18, 2025

With only two starts in this event, Tommy Fleetwood has made the most of them; finishing T16 in 2022 and following it up with a T3 in 2023. Given the impeccable ball-striking status he's garnered through the years, it isn't surprising to see him have success here. However, it has been his putting and short game that's gotten things done the most. With an average of +0.936 strokes gained putting and +0.729 strokes gained around the greens, it's okay not to be as accurate in the ball striking department.

Xander Schauffele

• Notable finishes: T5 ('24), T12 ('22)

Xander Schauffele out of context. pic.twitter.com/jhDQ9vg0HG

— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) March 5, 2025

As he continues to return from injury, Xander Schauffele added this event to his schedule in hopes of getting the game ready for The Masters. It's also a course where the world no. three should find some solace, having had two solid weeks in his two career starts. Unlike the previous mention, Schauffele has gotten things done around this property because of his ball striking; with an average of +0.876 in strokes gained on approach and +0.828 in strokes gained off the tee.

Building the momentum is key for him right now, as there hasn't been much to speak of in the two starts since his return. The short game and putting have been rusty, to say the least, and given that he'll likely take the next two weeks off, this could be the last chance to get positive competitive rounds in before Augusta.

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Justin Thomas

• Notable Finishes: T3 ('22), T10 ('15 & '23)

Justin Thomas nearly DUNKS it on his opening hole. 😱

🎥 ESPN+ | #THEPLAYERS pic.twitter.com/TMQM6uDTaJ

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 15, 2025

Perhaps the most committed player to this championship year-over-year, Justin Thomas is making his eighth career start at Innisbrook this week. Given the large gap between him and most other players in the field, the total strokes gained (+1.559) for J.T. put him further down the list than many would think for this article. However, the continually high finishes he produces here speak for themselves.

The 31-year-old is coming off a weird week at TPC Sawgrass, where he shot an opening round, 78 before coming back strong on Friday to tie the course record with a 62. The weekend was difficult for him to gain more ground, firing back-to-back 73s and falling to a T33 finish. Still, his game seems to be trending upward as we go along, and this week would make for a huge confidence boost should he play well.

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