2023 The Valspar Championship First Round Leader Predictions, Picks: Keegan Bradley Leads the Way
2023 The Valspar Championship First Round Leader Predictions, Picks: Keegan Bradley Leads the Way
The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort is the site of the Valspar Championship, the fourth and final leg of the Florida Swing. Its challenging layout challenges players' overall ball-striking and short game on pure Bermuda greens, just as they've seen the past few weeks but even tougher.
With many tight doglegs and some of the most demanding par-3s on the PGA TOUR, Innisbrook Resort is a course where long iron and strong Bermuda putting thrive.
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2023 Valspar Championship Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds
- Dates: March 16-19, 2023
- Where: Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club (Palm Harbor, Florida)
- Where to Watch: ESPN+, NBC, Golf Channel
The Valspar Championship's field strength was expected to be weaker than most weeks, as it was sandwiched in an undesirable spot on the calendar between back-to-back Designated tournaments and the Wednesday start of the WGC Dell Match Play in Austin. Due to the revised designated event schedule, regulars like Max Homa and Sungjae Im withdrew from the tournament.
Even yet, the field is far better than it was at the Honda Classic a few weeks ago. The Valspar Championship has the convenience of being close to Ponte Vedra Beach, the site of THE PLAYERS, just down the road in Tampa, FL. In this 144-player field, five players rank in the top 20 in the OWGR, while a total of 10 players are in the top 50.
Let's take a look at a few guys that could get off to a hot start.
The Valspar Championship Prediction
Keegan Bradley (+4000) Bet $100 to collect $4100. DraftKings has the best odds, click here
Bradley gave Sam Burns everything he could bear at this place in 2021, finishing second after a back-and-forth 18 on Sunday. Bradley has only managed one top-30 result in seven attempts, but right now, he may be in the best physical condition of his career, and his mental game is also as sharp as I've seen in years. With a win, a second, and a T5 among six top 25s this season, he is fourth in the FedExCup and flying under the radar this week.
Adam Hadwin (+4500) Bet $100 to collect $4600. DraftKings has the best odds, click here
That fact he won on the PGA TOUR at Copperhead makes perfect sense (in 2017), as his putting frequently overshadows his ball-striking, while both are downright elite. Showing so by finishing T13 last week at THE PLAYERS; he is wonderfully balanced at the highest level and also came in with a T7 here last year.
Denny McCarthy (+5000) Bet $100 to collect $5100. DraftKings has the best odds, click here
Outside of missed cut at the Honda Classic, two top-15 finishes in the last three scheduled events have McCarthy feeling confident coming into this week. McCarthy's presence on the greens is always a topic of conversation, but his advancements in the ball-striking categories will propel him to the top of a field sooner rather than later.
It’s just a matter of time before McCarthy finally finds the winner’s podium on Tour, and this field is the perfect one for him to get there.
The Valspar Championships Picks
- Keegan Bradley +4000
- Adam Hadwin +4500
- Denny McCarthy +5000
Article Author
Johnny has been covering the sports betting markets and handicapping games for the better part of the past decade. Along the way, he has written for publications such as All-In Magazine, Blitz Predict, FantasyPros, Betting Pros, Sportsbook Review, and most recently, OddsChecker. In addition to giving out picks on Twitter, Johnny is the host of the podcast The Daily Sports Bet -- a 10 minute or less listen with actionable insights and no fluff or BS. Starting the podcast in June, he closed out 2021 up 26 units with a winning percentage of 55%.