Valspar Championship

This week’s instalment from the PGA Tour comes from the Innisbrook resort in Tampa Pay, Florida. Held at Palm Harbours Copperhead course, it’s always a real test, and is an event where the cream tend to rise towards the top when all is done and dusted.

There are more hazards than would be typical on many courses, with a generous helping of bunkers and water hazards protected pretty well-sized greens, and it’s a course with tend to reward a pretty solid all-round game, and especially those who excel with the Irons approaching the greens. There are birdie opportunities for those who can land their approaches with the greatest control.

We’ve got a strong field in place, with Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson in attendance, but a few of the stronger American players have given it a miss this week.

Let’s start out picks with Henrik Stenson who has a fine record here, finished 4th, 11th and 7th in the last three years. He’s had a bit of time off for rest and recuperation, last appearing in the Maybank back in February. Prior to that mediocre performance however, he finished 6th in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and 8th in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. He’s undoubtedly one of the best players on the roster this week, and looks great value at 20/1 with 8 places on offer again this week.

We’ve made a habit of picking Tony Finau this season, and his 5th place at this track last season makes him a credible candidate once again. With three top 10s in his last nine starts he’s a solid contender, and he can add and 11th and a 16th as well over that time. 2nd in the Genesis Open three weeks ago is solid form coming into this one, and he would have enjoyed a better result last weekend were it not for a disappointing final round 74 dropping him down the order. He certainly has the game to prosper this weekend, and appeals at 30/1 with Paddy Power. We’ll risk the seven places here to get the bigger price on this one.

Our third pick sees us adding in Ryan Moore, who is another with excellent course form. He was 18th here last campaign, but finished 3rd in 2016 and 5th in 2015. Moore took a really solid ninth in the Genesis Open, which was his second top 10 finish in just six starts this season, while he’s missed a single cut so far. He looks game value at 35/1 here and could nice a place.

Finally, for a bigger price, we’re going to chuck a small dart at Austin Cook who is a man on the rise at the moment. Already a winner this season when he won the RSM Classic with a spectacular 21-under par, he’s been knocking on the door of the Top 10 for a while now and could land a well-priced place part of an e/w bet. He was 14th in the CareerBuilder Challenge, 18th at the Sony Open and 22nd at the Tournament of Champions, so wouldn’t have to improve too much to land a good result.

1pt e/w Henrik Stenson at 20/1 (8 places, 1/5)

1pt e/w Tony Finau at 30/1 (7 places, 1/5)

1pt e/w Ryan Moore at 35/1 (8 places, 1/5)

1pt e/w Austin Cook at 90/1 (8 places, 1/5)

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