Last Week: We didn’t pick the winner – never helps when one of your picks (Morikawa) WDs after just one hole – but it was a solid week with three winning tickets. Matt Fitzpatrick with a top 10 (+360), and two top 20s with Sepp Straka (+220) and Ludvig Aberg (+145) all cashing in.
This Week: The end of the Florida swing comes at the Valspar, which has a decent field for a non-signature event the week after the Players. There are 49 of the top 100 entered and 18 of the top 50. The Copperhead course is a solid and fair challenge that isn’t one that can be easily overpowered. It’s more of a shot-maker’s layout and putting will be easier than the last two weeks with greens that aren’t as severe as Bay Hill or TPC Sawgrass.
To Win:
Xander Schauffele +1000
Had a solid week at the Players with a tie for third. He’s played this tournament three times with a tie for fifth two years ago and two 12th-place ties, including last year. Sitting 12th in SG: Total, indicative of a well-rounded game.
Justin Thomas +2000
Showed last week that the back surgery is behind him (literally and figuratively) with a tie for eighth. Thomas has had three top-10s here in the last four years with a runner-up finish last year.
Top 10
Corey Conners +380
Had a solid week at the Players except for the front nine on Sunday but still managed a tie for 13th. This course sets up well for an accurate driver such as Conners, who finished tied for eighth here last year.
Sahith Theegala +380
Shared the first-round lead last week before settling down the leaderboard. There were good signs from Theegala’s game that showed a return to form from last year when he played injured for much of the campaign. Tied for seventh here in 2022.
Top 20
Ryo Hisatsune +170
Finished tied for 13th at the Players, his fourth finish inside the top 13 this season. Hisatsune was tied for fourth here a year ago and would seem to have all the tools to tackle Copperhead.
Austin Smotherman +230
Coming in off a solid tie for 13th last week, Smotherman also had a tie for second at the Cognizant three weeks ago. Sits eighth in Greens in Regulation on the tour this year, which will come in handy this week.
Extra Plays
Top Canadian Corey Conners +230
Despite sloppy Sunday start last week, should lead the Canucks this week