Valspar Championship

TV (EDT): Thursday-Friday, 2-6 (Golf); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 (Golf) and 3-6 (NBC)

Stat

68.65 That is the career scoring average of Sam Burns at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor, Florida, the lowest in tournament history among players with a minimum of 10 rounds.

Keep an eye on …

⬤ Sam Burns. He’s been a one-man wrecking crew at the Valspar Championship. A total of five players have beaten Burns over the tournament’s last three playings. Two wins and a T-6 is stronger than onions and given his recent form – he’s already recorded four top-10s this year – it would be a mild upset if he weren’t in the trophy hunt.

⬤ Jordan Spieth. After missing the cut last weekend at The Players, Spieth is competing at a course where he’s got a much better track record. He won at Innisbrook Resort in 2015, finished T-3 last year and has a trio of top-20s. He’s nearing a stretch of two years without a win again, so a “W” here would give him a confidence booth with the Masters on the horizon.

⬤ Brian Harman. One of three players to tie for second at The Players, Harman notched his PGA Tour-best fourth runner-up finish since the start of the 2022-23 season. His record at the Valspar Championship is spotty but he did finish T-5 in 2022 and his game appears to be firing on all cylinders.

Tee times

Golf Channel coverage on Thursday will highlight the following groupings: defending Valspar champion Taylor Moore, reigning British Open champion Brian Harman and Xander Schauffele; and past champion Jordan Spieth, Keegan Bradley and Nick Taylor. On Friday, two-time past champion Sam Burns, Justin Thomas and Sungjae Im will get the star treatment along with Tony Finau, Sepp Straka and Cameron Young.