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Power Rankings: Valspar Championship
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March 07, 2016
By Rob Bolton, PGATOUR.COM
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This guy won the Valspar last year. He looks familiar, right? (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
No. Despite Jordan Spieth’s playoff victory at the 2015 Valspar Championship, the powers that be at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club did not conspire to “Spieth-proof” the Copperhead Course. However, it’s understandable why one would connect those dots since he’s risen from 10th in the Official World Golf Ranking entering that week to a definitive No. 1. Five victories since -- including two majors -- can fuel that speculation, even in jest.
Instead, the Copperhead Course was scheduled for a modernization. The routing and yardage (7,340) for the par-36-35=71 remained unaffected by the work last year, but Larry Packard’s 45-year-old design was due for a facial. (It officially opened in 1972.) Decades of growth had separated bunkers from greens and other courses were passing it by with updates of their own.
The course now features regionally popular Celebration Bermudagrass on the fairways and TifEagle Bermuda on its greens, which are larger thanks to the restoration. Tee boxes are also bigger. Irrigation and drainage are new. The objective was to update while retaining the same look. Aside from a new greenside bunker at the par-4 12th hole and church-pew bunkering right of the fairway of the par-4 18th, returning competitors are unlikely to see much of a difference. If that’s that case, then expect another fair and fun test for the field of 144.
Annually among the toughest par 71s on the PGA TOUR, Copperhead average 0.863 strokes over par last year. An argument could be made that it hosts a putting contest, but that may be neutralized in its first edition with new greens. Among all courses measured last season, it ranked ninth-stingiest in conversion percentage inside 10 feet and was inside the top-10 hardest to hole out in every split inside 25 feet.
Spieth ranked T51 in fairways hit and T32 in greens in regulation. Despite an uninspiring total of scoring opportunities, he ranked third in birdies-or-better percentage and T2 in par breakers (with 19 birdies). Ranking T1 in fewest putts, he led the field in strokes gained: tee-to-green. Four of the other top six on the final leaderboard ranked inside the top five in strokes gained: putting.
The quartet of par 5s at Copperhead ranked third-hardest of all courses at 4.84. That’s in line with recent history of the least scorable sets of par 5s on TOUR. En route to 10-under 274, Spieth finished the week tied for third in scoring average on those holes with eight birdies, seven pars and a bogey.
While not entirely exposed to wind, the element helps defend Copperhead. It will again throughout this week. Seasonable high temperatures in the low 80s will descend into the upper 70s on the weekend when the threat for inclement weather enters the picture.
POWER RANKINGS: VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP
RANK PLAYER COMMENT 1 
Jordan Spieth Defending champ showcased scorer’s mentality before grabbing the title in the playoff. Obviously comfortable here. Finished T7 in 2013; T20 in 2014.
2 
Henrik Stenson Solo fourth in his first try here last year; led the field in scrambling. Uncharacteristically average T28 at the WGC-Cadillac but essentially slump-proof.
Solo fourth in his first try here last year; led the field in scrambling. Uncharacteristically average T28 at the WGC-Cadillac but essentially slump-proof.
3 
Ryan Moore Back for redemption. Settled for solo fifth after holding the 54-hole lead last year; closed with 72. Three T10s and a T11 in six starts to begin 2015-16.
Back for redemption. Settled for solo fifth after holding the 54-hole lead last year; closed with 72. Three T10s and a T11 in six starts to begin 2015-16.
4 
Kevin Na Copperhead’s moderate length is playable for all. His reliable record includes a runner-up in 2014 and a T10 last year. Four top threes this season.
Copperhead’s moderate length is playable for all. His reliable record includes a runner-up in 2014 and a T10 last year. Four top threes this season.
5 
Jason Dufner He’s 7-for-7 here since 2009 with five top 25s. Finished T11 at Doral with six conversions from outside 20 feet. Also co-led the field in par-4 scoring.
He’s 7-for-7 here since 2009 with five top 25s. Finished T11 at Doral with six conversions from outside 20 feet. Also co-led the field in par-4 scoring.
6 
Patrick Reed Scuffling but deserves some benefit of the doubt where he lost in a playoff a year ago. Led the field in scoring on holes 10-18 at 9-under.
Scuffling but deserves some benefit of the doubt where he lost in a playoff a year ago. Led the field in scoring on holes 10-18 at 9-under.
7 
Harris English Inward 30 capped a field-low, bogey-free 65 in last year’s finale. He finished T10. Par or better in every round en route to solo 10th last week at Doral.
Inward 30 capped a field-low, bogey-free 65 in last year’s finale. He finished T10. Par or better in every round en route to solo 10th last week at Doral.
8 
Danny Willett T3 at Doral is eighth top five worldwide in last 10 months; two were wins. Led field in strokes gained: putting. Making first appearance at Copperhead.
T3 at Doral is eighth top five worldwide in last 10 months; two were wins. Led field in strokes gained: putting. Making first appearance at Copperhead.
9 
Graeme McDowell Tournament debut. T28 at bomber’s Blue Monster, but led the field in proximity to the hole. Solo fifth at PGA National week prior, a much better fit.
Tournament debut. T28 at bomber’s Blue Monster, but led the field in proximity to the hole. Solo fifth at PGA National week prior, a much better fit.
10 
Justin Thomas Ninth in strokes gained: putting in WGC-Cadillac debut (T35). T3 at Honda two weeks ago. Second in all-around in first try at Copperhead last year (T10).
Ninth in strokes gained: putting in WGC-Cadillac debut (T35). T3 at Honda two weeks ago. Second in all-around in first try at Copperhead last year (T10).
11 
K.J. Choi Two-time champ and all-time money leader at Copperhead. Two top fives and a T17 in his last four starts this season. Sits 26th in strokes gained: putting.
Two-time champ and all-time money leader at Copperhead. Two top fives and a T17 in his last four starts this season. Sits 26th in strokes gained: putting.
12 
Charles Howell III Rarely a contender but often on the leaderboard at Copperhead. Top 15s in the last two years; co-runner-up in 2009. Seven top 20s this season.
Rarely a contender but often on the leaderboard at Copperhead. Top 15s in the last two years; co-runner-up in 2009. Seven top 20s this season.
13 
Webb Simpson First action in over a month. Opened 2016 with three consecutive top 20s. Recorded four top 10s at Copperhead, including a runner-up in 2011.
First action in over a month. Opened 2016 with three consecutive top 20s. Recorded four top 10s at Copperhead, including a runner-up in 2011.
14 
Sean O'Hair He won here in 2008 but reclaimed footing on TOUR with a P2 here last year. T14 at PGA National two weeks ago, ranking fifth in putting inside 10 feet.
He won here in 2008 but reclaimed footing on TOUR with a P2 here last year. T14 at PGA National two weeks ago, ranking fifth in putting inside 10 feet.
15 
Sung Kang Gangbusters since renting Fluff Cowan to caddie. T17 at Pebble Beach (with a 60 at MPCC); T8 at Riviera (where he four-spotted); T10 at PGA National.
Gangbusters since renting Fluff Cowan to caddie. T17 at Pebble Beach (with a 60 at MPCC); T8 at Riviera (where he four-spotted); T10 at PGA National.
ROB BOLTON'S WRITING SCHEDULE
PGATOUR.COM's Fantasy Columnist Rob Bolton will be filing his usual staples leading up to this week's event. Look for the following features later this week:
MONDAY: Power Rankings
TUESDAY: Sleepers, Fantasy Insider
WEDNESDAY: One-and-Done, Comfort Zone
THURSDAY: Most-picked players -
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Defending champ showcased scorer’s mentality before grabbing the title in the playoff. Obviously comfortable here. Finished T7 in 2013; T20 in 2014.