Joe Champion
Show Bio
If there was any doubt, Scottie Scheffler served confirmation that he’s the best golfer on the planet on Sunday, producing a rattling finish for the second time in successive weekends to retain his Players Championship crown. Scheffler, now just +500 odds to win the Masters, takes this week off but the man who he hunted down at Sawgrass, Xander Schauffele, is in the field and sits atop the betting for the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship.
Schauffele is the favorite to go one better than he did at the Players but the Californian has been brittle in contention and is worth opposing at Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course. Copperhead and its infamous Snake Pit finish has played host to this tournament since 1990. It is traditionally a tough test of tee-to-green golf which suits those who churn out greens in regulation.
Valspar Championship golf picks and predictions
Sam Burns (+1200)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Of those closest to Schauffele in the betting, 2-time Valspar winner Sam Burns stands out as the best option despite a couple of underwhelming weeks at the Arnold Palmer and the Players. Burns adores Copperhead, where he has form figures of 12-30-1-1-6, and he was superb on the west coast, finishing 6th at the American Express, 10th at Pebble Beach, 3rd at the Phoenix Open and 10th at the Genesis. The Louisiana man hasn’t delivered as expected on his beloved Bermudagrass but this could be the week when this prolific 6-time champion returns to winning ways.
Keith Mitchell (+4000)
Odds generally available at time of publishing.
Some other players appeal at bigger odds starting with Keith Mitchell, who faltered over the weekend at Sawgrass but has form figures of 17-19-9 prior to the Players. He was 11th at the Valspar in 2017 and has the tee-to-green prowess to go well again.
Doug Ghim (+7000)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Doug Ghim, selected at a big price last week, delivered another top-20 finish at Sawgrass — his 5th in succession — and his accurate style makes him a good fit this week.
Maverick McNealy (+7500)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Maverick McNealy is perhaps not so well suited to Copperhead but he’s been in excellent form of late, culminating in a top-10 finish at Sawgrass. He’s a big talent who could build on last year’s promising Valspar debut.
Victor Perez (+10000)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook and BetMGM at time of publishing.
Frenchman Victor Perez, 3rd in Puerto Rico last time out, is 2nd only to Scheffler in greens in regulation and could take to this layout.
