Golf
Valspar Open Tournament Preview: Odds, Tips and Predictions
Date: (17) 20 -23 March Venue: Copperhead Course Dubbed as the most colourful tournament on the PGA Tour, the Valspar Championship attracts a competitive field of professional golfers. The Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor, Florida will play host to the weekend’s festivities, but fans can look forward to seeing the likes of Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Akshay Bhatia and Tommy Fleetwood make up part of the field. With excitement building and fans analyzing stats and betting odds, now is the perfect time to explore your options. For those looking for the best golf betting bookmakers, check out our top list.
Sam Burns of The United States//Getty Images
Defending champion, Peter Malnati, will be looking to defend his title this year. He will know that he will have to perform as well, if not better, than last year’s performance given that he will be challenged all throughout the weekend.
A victory here in Florida not only delivers an impressive stake in a $8.7 million purse, but also a valuable increase in a player’s FedExCup standings. Where players miss the cut though, their rankings are adversely affected which could prove detrimental at this point in the season.
There is no question that the course is an incredibly tricky one, known for its layout and challenging conditions. Given that holes 16, 17 and 18 are known as the ‘Snake Pit’ captures this sentiment beautifully.
Pre-Tournament Betting Odds and Win Probability
An open field awaits, but that should excite fans looking to place a few wagers on the weekend. Given that anyone has a chance, backing a young rising star like Cameron Young might prove profitable with generous online betting odds.
- Sam Burns: 11/1 (12.0)
- Justin Thomas: 14/1 (15.0)
- Cameron Young: 22/1 (23.0)
- Sungjae Im: 22/1 (23.0)
- Tony Finau: 22/1 (23.0
Key Player Updates
Once again, the field for the Valspar Open is incredibly competitive. Tommy Fleetwood will bring with him an incredible wealth of experience and a competitive history on the course. Akshay Bhatia, the defending Texas Open champion, is an aggressive player who could enjoy the challenges of the Copperhead Course is another serious contender, alongside current defending champion Peter Malnati and runner-up Cameron Young.
Here is a closer look at other contenders for the weekend.
Key Player Updates
| Attribute | Daniel Berger | Christiaan Bezuidenhout | Same Burns |
| Age | 31 | 30 | 28 |
| World Rankings | 5 | 8 | 12 |
| Recent Wins | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Driving Accuracy | 72% | 68% | 74% |
| Greens in Regulation | 75% | 70% | 73% |
| Putting Average | 1.75 | 1.80 | 1.78 |
Contender News
We have to start with the current defending champion, Peter Malnati. Having won the 2024 Valspar Championship with an incredible 12-under par finish, he comes into this year’s engagement with a lot of confidence. His season is already littered with multiple top-10 finishes, and he has managed to remain injury-free.
The challenges will come from all sides though, Cameron Young secured a second-place finish last time out and has consistently remained a relevant challenger throughout this season. Scottie Scheffler won his second Masters title last April and despite his surgery earlier this year – he will be hoping for a strong performance here.
Sam Burns is a previous winner of this tournament, his more recent performances have been somewhat erratic, but he knows this course well and can never be counted out.
Suggested Bets
SportsBoom has scoured through all the nooks and crannies of this tournament, and we suggest the following bets for fans looking to have a few wagers.
Sam Burns to Win Outright: A back-to-back winner in 2021 and 2022, his familiarity with the course and previous success suggest that he might be able to settle quickly and find his best form. Given his minor inconsistencies coming into this tournament, he is currently trading at incredible odds of 11/1 (12.0) with 1xBet
Christiaan Bezuidenhout Top 10 Finish: A consistent player with a steady game and a patient mind. He has proven time and again to be a competitive player and offers immense value to find another top-10 finish here. Back him at a massive 50/1 (51.0) with Pinnacle.
Sam Burns vs. Justin Thomas (Head-to-Head Matchup) – Burns: Building on the audacious 11/1 betting suggestion, back Sam Burns to outplay Justin Thomas in the head-to-head matchup here. He is an early favourite at 8/10 (1.8) N1Bet.
Tournament Prediction
Sam Burns is our pick for this tournament. It is a competitive field where the smallest of margins is going to separate the winner from the rest of the field. Burns has been a little erratic coming into this event, but his experience and knowledge of the course will only add to his ability to settle quickly and find a rhythm.
If he is able to do that, we think he can claim the win and the inherent confidence that comes with it for the remainder of the season.
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.
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