Xander Schauffele was angered by his Valspar Championship performance (Image: TenGolf/YouTube)
Anticipation is high ahead of the 2025 Masters, which kicks off at Augusta National next month. And Viktor Hovland is a man in form after he timed a late surge at Innisbrook to beat Justin Thomas to the Valspar Championship on Sunday.
But Palm Harbor wasn’t so hospitable to all of those in attendance as some stars left the venue worse for wear. Xander Schauffele was one of those after falling short in Florida, and he let his frustrations show in a very particular way. PGA Tour veteran Tommy Fleetwood also couldn’t quite concern those at the top of the leaderboard, and his weekend ended in bittersweet fashion. But there was more to the world of golf than just those events at the Valspar as Ian Poulter’s son also made headlines.
Schauffele ‘snaps’ after Valspar frustration
There’s no easy way to lose, but Schauffele is harder on himself than most when it comes to not fulfilling his own expectations. And despite a sublime fourth-round 66, he had some demons to exorcise at the end of another hectic weekend.
Just as he did at TPC Sawgrass one week prior, the San Diego native took to the range for some thwack therapy at the end of this weekend’s proceedings. Some pros take to practice straight after a competition for fine-tweaking purposes, but for Schauffele, this was purely out of the need to hit something with force.
“Sometimes you just want to get out and make a few free swings on the range, whether you snap hook it or blow it a hundred yards right, just to get them out of your system,” he told reporters on Sunday. “So last night was a bit of a frustration session — what am I going to go with today.”
Justin Thomas missed out on the Valspar title in agonising fashion (Image: Getty)Thomas shows true colours after nightmare finish
There’s humility in losing, and then there’s Justin Thomas. Showing grace in the wake of victory is easy compared to what Thomas faced on Sunday, where a remarkable final round of five-under (66) was minimised after Hovland birdied two of the last three holes to pip him to the title in Florida.
“It’s probably hard to sum it all up now. I am a little hurt from the end there,” Thomas told the media. “I felt like if I would have shot that [66 round] before the day started, it would have been good enough.
“Viktor obviously played an unbelievable round as well – the birdies on 16 and 17 – he played great. He earned it. I have a lot of positives to build on.”
Thomas, 31, beat himself up for his tee shot on the 18th and said: “The moral of the story there is hit a better drive, hit it in the fairway there.” Winning is all well and good, but there may be a part of Hovland that is sad that he had to crush the spirit of such a likeable candidate.
Horschel’s ‘impossible’ shot of the year nominee
Every now and then, there are moments that remind us why certain among us could never be professional in the sports we love. And Billy Horschel showcased one such piece of skill on the par-five fifth hole of the Valspar Championship on Sunday.
The American was very much in the conversation for the title when he hit a wayward 3-iron near the base of a pine tree. And rather than concede any ground on his follow-up, Horschel proceeded to flip his 9-iron and hit the next approach left-handed.
Even more hilarious than that is the fact he landed on the green to get within 30 feet of the hole, backwards-facing club or not. Fans couldn’t get enough of the ingenuity as many dubbed his effort “shot of the year,” not that one would tell judging by his cool reaction.
“The funny thing was my little boy was about 50 yards in front of me just to the left on the cart path sitting down, and I had to yell at him to sort of get out of the way because I didn’t know exactly where this thing could go,” Horschel said. “Last thing I need to do is call my wife and tell her I just hit my son with a golf ball.
“Listen, it was a hit-and-hope shot and I pulled it off and to make the putt. . .I mean, funny things happen like that.”
Sure they do, Billy. Sure they do. He would go on to card a 67 for the day and tie for fourth, just three strokes off the winning mark.
Tommy Fleetwood has won more than anyone on the PGA Tour – without winning (Image: Getty)Fleetwood’s unwanted fortune record
British favourite Fleetwood has been a regular on the elite circuit since turning professional in 2010. But as he approaches his 15th anniversary since that date, the Southport native is still yet to celebrate his first PGA title.
Fleetwood already held the ‘honour’ of being the only player on the PGA Tour to amass £20million on the circuit without winning a single event. And he has only boosted that figure further after netting another £99,000 payday for tying 16th in Florida.
The 34-year-old has now played 150 PGA Tour events without winning a single one – though he was won seven European Tour events, including the inaugural Dubai Invitational last year. In any case, Fleetwood’s fortune is no small consolation to fall back on, even if the PGA Tour hasn’t been all that accommodating from a silverware perspective.
Poulter Jr’s keeping it in the family
Just when it looked like one Poulter was enough for the world of elite golf, there’s another coming along at a rate of knots. And it seems the hype is real in this case after Luke Poulter won his maiden collegiate title over the weekend.
The legacy athlete was representing the Florida Gators when he won the Schenkel Invitational at Georgia’s Forest Heights Country Club. And the sophomore impressed with rounds of 67, 69 and 72 to finish one stroke ahead of team-mate Ian Gilligan.
“We couldn’t be more proud of Luke for his first collegiate individual event win,” wrote father Ian on social media. “This means so much to him most importantly. Having to sit out for 7seven months last year with a fractured L4 was not easy. But hard work, an incredible mindset and a wonderful team of people around him to keep him focused and positive.
“This was worth waiting for and we’re opening that bottle of Champagne and we are toasting this win for you. We can’t wait to see you soon. Go get another.”
