The 2026 PLAYERS Championship just reminded everyone why TPC Sawgrass’s Stadium Course plays a starring role each year.
It was Cameron Young who took control on the back nine, holding off Matt Fitzpatrick by one shot to finish at -13. His steadiness on 17 and 18 sealed the win. Young stuck his tee shot inside 10 feet on 17 and converted for birdie, then delivered a perfect drive on 18 that set up a routine par.
Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, could not keep pace. He bogeyed 18 after missing an 8-foot par putt that would have forced a playoff.
Ludvig Åberg will likely have nightmares about Sawgrass. He entered Sunday with a three-shot lead but unraveled on the back nine, finishing at -9 after a closing 76.
Now the Florida swing wraps up with the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor, Florida, where the closing stretch, the “Snake Pit,” has a habit of turning good rounds into survival tests.
The Setup: Tournament Stakes, Field, and Storylines
The money is meaningful, even if it’s not a Signature Event. The Valspar purse sits at $9.1 million, with 500 FedExCup points and $1.638 million going to the winner. The first round tees off Thursday, alongside the NCAA Tournament.
Field-wise, this is a strong Florida Swing closer, even without marquee names like Scheffler and McIlroy. The field still includes several of the world’s top 20, including Xander Schauffele, J.J. Spaun, Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland, defending champion, and Matt Fitzpatrick, who is likely looking to rewrite his finishing script this weekend.
Akshay Bhatia is in and running hot after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational and finishing T13 at Sawgrass. Brooks Koepka continues his PGA Tour return, still searching for a win.
Three storylines to track.
First, the post-PLAYERS hangover versus momentum question. Sawgrass can leave scars, but it can also sharpen decision-making heading into another course that punishes mistakes late.
Second, Robert MacIntyre is one of those who clearly walked away with scars, withdrawing from Valspar to rest after what he called a “stressful final round” in which he finished -10 and T4 last weekend. The question is who else might be carrying those same battle wounds, and how that could show up this week.
Third, there is a “name equity” cluster at the top of the field. Schauffele, who is closing in on the top spot and finished third at THE PLAYERS. Hovland, who has made the cut in all five starts this year. Fitzpatrick, who is 6-for-6 in 2026 and coming off a near win. Then Thomas, Spieth, Cantlay, and Bhatia. This is the type of board where a small edge in iron play or short-game touch can decide who is in contention on Sunday.
The Course: What It Demands and What It Punishes
Copperhead is not the typical Florida point-and-shoot birdie fest. The course is a par 71 at 7,352 yards, with overseeded Bermudagrass throughout. It’s long enough to force uncomfortable approach clubs from tight fairways, and it’s designed to reward players who can keep the ball in position rather than simply bomb away.
The signature feature is the finish. The “Snake Pit”, holes 16–18 (Moccasin, Rattler, Copperhead), is consistently rated among the toughest closing stretches on non-major Tour stops. That matters because Valspar Sundays often become a test of who can hit the center of the green, take two putts, and avoid the round-killing mistake.
Who Fits Here: Player Archetypes and Names to Know
Copperhead rewards a specific kind of patience: commit to conservative lines when the hole demands it, then strike when the scoring window opens. That’s why the fit list goes beyond power. You want players who can control trajectory and distance on approach and who don’t bleed doubles when the course tightens.
Xander Schauffele enters the week as the betting favorite at multiple books. Viktor Hovland returns as the defending champion and sits near the top of the board, which makes sense on a course that rewards high-level ball-striking. Matt Fitzpatrick is another name right in that mix.
Still, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, and Akshay Bhatia are all priced as strong course fits at Innisbrook.
If you’re looking for a fun field note without pretending it’s a prediction, Blades Brown is in the Valspar field and has been quietly building momentum in lower-profile events. He continues to put himself in position to experience what Tour pressure feels like, especially on a closing stretch designed to test everyone, regardless of tenure.
Betting Board: Odds, Angles, and Smart Plays
On FanDuel, the win-only board lists Xander Schauffele at +1000, Matt Fitzpatrick at +1300, Viktor Hovland at +1700, Akshay Bhatia at +1900, and Jacob Bridgeman at +1900.
On DraftKings, the published odds show Schauffele at +1050, Fitzpatrick at +1500, Bhatia at +1900, Hovland at +1900, and Patrick Cantlay at +2150.
Top-10 markets on DraftKings are less payout-friendly but reflect a similar hierarchy, with Schauffele at +120, Fitzpatrick at +158, Hovland at +194, Bhatia at +196, and Cantlay at +205.
The smart angle at Copperhead is to respect the finish. If you’re picking an outright, you’re buying the ability to navigate the Snake Pit without giving shots back.
One-and-Done / Season-Long Strategy
This is a good One-and-Done week to target a high-floor player with real win equity, someone you might not want to spend in the biggest purses later.
With Schauffele and Hovland priced at the top in a strong field, both are viable options if you haven’t used them and are prioritizing win equity now. If you’re trying to save the absolute top tier for upcoming majors and signature events, Fitzpatrick is a logical alternative, coming off a runner-up finish at THE PLAYERS and priced just behind the favorites.
Bridgeman is another name to consider if you haven’t already used him. He’s having a strong season, highlighted by a win at the Genesis, and continues to show up on Sundays, including a T5 finish at Sawgrass at -9.
What I’m Watching When the First Tee Shot Flies
I’m watching who takes advantage of Copperhead’s first 15 holes and stays surgical over the final three. The Snake Pit has long been one of the toughest closing stretches on Tour, and players who keep their rounds in check there early tend to be the ones with a real chance.
I’m also watching who looks mentally reset after Sawgrass, because THE PLAYERS leaves scar tissue, whether conscious or not, especially for guys who had a late look and didn’t finish it.
Finally, I’m watching for one loud highlight moment in the early rounds that signals who came to win. The Copperhead finish is built for viral reels, and this season has already delivered plenty of drama on closing holes designed exactly for that.
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