2026 Valspar Championship Primer: History, TV, Field, Odds

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2026-Valspar Championship Primer Jordan Spieth Flag
Jordan Spieth lines up a putt on the second green during the third round of the Valspar Championship 2025 at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 22, 2025 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Brennan Asplen via Getty Images)

The PGA Tour heads slightly southwest, from the Jacksonville area to metro Tampa, for the 25th edition of the Valspar Championship – the fourth and final stop on the annual Florida Swing.

Despite falling after the high-end Players Championship, the field at the acclaimed Innisbrook Resort features headline stars such as Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Cantlay, and Akshay Bhatia.

Other marquee names include JJ Spaun, Jacob Bridgeman, Corey Conners, Ben Griffin, Sahith Theegala, and Keegan Bradley.

As we do each week, here’s a roundup of information and historical data to get you prepped for the week ahead at the 2026 Valspar.


2026 Valspar Championship

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The Skinny

2026-Valspar Championship Primer Viktor Hovland 2025 Winner
Viktor Hovland poses with the trophy after putting in to win on the 18th green during the final round of the Valspar Championship 2025 at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 23, 2025 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Brennan Asplen via Getty Images)

Valspar Championship
Dates: Mar. 19-22, 2026
Tour Debut: 2000
Edition: 25th
PGA TOUR Week: 10th (of 33)
Course: Innisbrook (Copperhead)
Where: Palm Harbor, Fla.
Distance: Par 71, 7352 yards
Architect: Larry Packard
Field: 131 players
Format: Stroke, 72-holes
Cut: 36 holes, Top 70 and ties
Purse: $9,100,000
Winning Share: $1,638,000
FedExCup Pts: 500
Trophy: Bronze Paint Brush/Golf Ball (Malcolm DeMille)
2025 Champion: Viktor Hovland


How to Follow the Valspar Championship

Brooks Koepka 2022 Valspar Championship
Brooks Koepka on the 6th tee during the third round of the Valspar Championship on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort on Mar 19, 2022 in Palm Harbor, Fla. (Photo by Julio Aguilar via Getty Images)

TELEVISION: Thu-Fri: 2-6 p.m. (GOLF); Sat-Sun: 1-3 p.m. (GOLF), 3-6 p.m. (NBC)

PGA TOUR LIVE: Thu-Fri: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. (ESPN+); Sat-Sun: 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m. (ESPN+)

PGA TOUR RADIO: Thu-Fri: 12-6 p.m.; Sat-Sun: 1-6 p.m.
(PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio)

EVENT LINKS: Website | Instagram | Facebook | X

PGA TOUR LINKS: Leaderboard | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | X


Valspar Championship History

2000 Tampa Bay Classic
The leaderboard at the 2000 Tampa Bay Classic at Innisbrook Resort in October. (Photo by Chad Spencer/PGA TOUR Archive via Getty Images)

The name has had a number of changes, but the PGA Tour event contested on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort has been a regular part of the Tour schedule since its inception more than 25 years ago.

Founded in 2000 as the Tampa Bay Classic, the tournament was an alternate event for its first two editions and slotted in the fall portion of the schedule.

In its debut, it was contested opposite the Presidents Cup (October 2000), and then the same week as the WGC-American Express Championship in September 2002. (The 2001 event was canceled following the September 11 attacks as it was set to be played Sep. 13-16.)

Vijay Singh Wins 2004 Chrysler Championship
Vijay Singh poses with the trophy after a five-stroke victory at the Chrysler Championship on October 31, 2004 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

In 2003, it was given a promotion to full event status and was scheduled ahead of the season-ending Tour Championship — this was before the launch of the FedExCup playoffs, and wrap-around schedule.

In 2007, the season which launched the FedExCup, the Valspar (then PODS Championship) was moved to March and inserted in the Florida Swing, a spot it has held down, aside from two editions (2019 and 2021).

Valspar, an international manufacturer of paint and coatings, based out of Minneapolis, came on board in 2014 and has provided the tournament with great stability. The 2026 edition will mark 12 seasons as the event’s title brand — making it one of the Tour’s longest running tournament sponsors.

Valspar Championship Trophy at Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course
Jordan Spieth poses with the trophy after winning the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course on March 15, 2015 in Palm Harbor, Fla. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Past winners have included major winners such as Vijay Singh, Jordan Spieth, Gary Woodland, Retief Goosen, Mark Calcavecchia, Charl Schwartzel, and Jim Furyk.

Two-time Valspar champions include K.J. Choi (2002, 2006), Goosen (2003, 2009), Paul Casey (2018-19), and Sam Burns, the most recent back-to-back champ (2021, 2022).

History: Tournament Names
  • Valspar Championship (2014-26)
  • Tampa Bay Championship presented by Everbank (2013)
  • Transitions Championship (2009-12)
  • PODS Championship (2007-08)
  • Chrysler Championship (2003-06)
  • Tampa Bay Classic presented by Buick (2002)
  • Tampa Bay Classic (2000-01)
History: Tournament Months

The tournament has been played in the month of:

  • September (2002) Alternate WGC-Amex
  • October (2000) Alternate Presidents Cup
  • Late Oct (2003-06) Lead-in to TOUR Championship
  • March (2007-19, 2022-26) Florida Swing
  • April (2021)
History: Recent Winners

2024: Viktor Hovland (-11)
2024: Peter Malnati (-12)
2023: Taylor Moore (-10)
2022: Sam Burns (-17)*
2021: Sam Burns (-17)
2020: COVID (-19)
2019: Paul Casey (-8)
2018: Paul Casey (-10)
2017: Adam Hadwin (-8)
2016: Charl Schwartzel (-7)*
2015: Jordan Spieth (-10)*
* Won in a playoff.

Sam Burns Wins 2022 Valspar Championship
Sam Burns lines up a putt in a playoff with Davis Riley during the final round of the Valspar Championship on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort on Mar 20, 2022 in Palm Harbor, Fla. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice via Getty Images)
History: Tournament Records

Wins:
2 – Sam Burns (2021, 2022)
2 – Paul Casey (2018, 2019)
2 – Retief Goosen (2003, 2009)
2 – K.J. Choi (2002, 2006)

Scoring:
266 (-18) Vijay Singh (2004)


The Course: Innisbrook’s Copperhead

The Copperhead course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor Florida. (Getty Images)

One of four championship tracks at Innisbrook Resort, Copperhead is the host course for the tournament, annually checking in as one of the very toughest on the PGA Tour schedule.

The course features tree-lined plush fairways with elevation changes you normally don’t find in the Sunshine State. In fact, with its tall Pines and rolling terrain, the course has more of a Carolina feel than Florida. Its layout stretches some 7,200 yards for the tour pros.

12-time PGA Tour winner, and former NBC Golf Analyst, Paul Azinger, once said, “Copperhead is the best course we play on tour.”

Holes: 18 | Par: 71 | Yards: 7352


Valspar Championship Field

2025 Valspar Championship Primer Justin Thomas
Justin Thomas reacts after a shot from a bunker on the 18th hole during the second round of the Valspar Championship at Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 22, 2024 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice via Getty Images)

The field for the Valspar Championship this week includes seven players ranked in the current top 20 in the Official Golf World Rankings, including Xander Schauffele (7), JJ Spaun (12), Justin Thomas (14), Matt Fitzpatrick (15), Ben Griffin (16), Viktor Hovland (18), and Jacob Bridgeman (20).

Other top-40 ranked names include Akshay Bhatia (22), Keegan Bradley (24), Patrick Cantlay (35), Aaron Rai (38), Marco Penge (39), and Corey Conners (40).

Former Valspar winners in the field include Gary Woodland (2011), Jordan Spieth (2015), Adam Hadwin (2017), Taylor Moore (2023), Peter Malnati (2024), and Hovland (2025).

Other familiar names include: Brooks Koepka, Lucas Glover, Wyndham Clark, Tom Kim, Max Homa and Billy Horschel, among others.

2025 Valspar Championship Primer Xander Schauffele
Xander Schauffele plays his shot from the 18th tee during the second round of the Valspar Championship at Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 22, 2024 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar via Getty Images)
Odds to Win

1. Xander Schauffele (12-1)
2. Matt Fitzpatrick (14-1)
3. Viktor Hovland (16-1)
4. Akshay Bhatia (22-1)
4. Jacob Bridgeman (22-1)
4. Justin Thomas (22-1)
7. Brooks Koepka (25-1)
8. Corey Conners (28-1)
9. Patrick Cantlay (30-1)
10. Ben Griffin (33-1)
10. Jordan Spieth (33-1)

Full Field: 2025 Valspar Championship

Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead) | Palm Harbor, FL | Mar 19-22, 2026


Carey Hoffman and Joel Cook contributed to this report.


Credits: PGA Tour Media, Getty Images, Golf Advisor


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