{"id":545778,"date":"2026-03-19T01:54:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T01:54:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/545778\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T01:54:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T01:54:14","slug":"horses-for-courses-no-rest-for-weary-at-tricky-copperhead-course","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/545778\/","title":{"rendered":"Horses for Courses: No rest for weary at tricky Copperhead Course"},"content":{"rendered":"

9H AGO<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

6 Min Read<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Horses for Courses<\/p>\n

<\/a>*:not(style){overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0px;right:0px;bottom:0px;left:0px;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%;height:100%;}.css-17ygvlf>img,.css-17ygvlf>video{object-fit:cover;}.css-17ygvlf::before{height:0px;content:””;display:block;padding-bottom:56.25%;}]]>\"Running<\/p>\n

Running with Rick: Three players who can win the Valspar Championship<\/p>\n

*:not(style)~*:not(style){margin-top:0.5rem;-webkit-margin-end:0px;margin-inline-end:0px;margin-bottom:0px;-webkit-margin-start:0px;margin-inline-start:0px;}]]><\/p>\n

A<\/p>\n

Change Text Size<\/p>\n

Written by Brad Thomas<\/p>\n

The PGA TOUR heads to the final stop of the Florida Swing for the Valspar Championship, where Innisbrook Resort\u2019s Copperhead Course will once again demand precision and patience. Through the first three events, the Florida swing has lived up to its reputation \u2014 courses that test true precision and patience. Mistakes at the end could cost golfers the tournament.<\/p>\n

Through three events, each 54-hole leader has stood on the 16th tee on Sunday with the tournament seemingly in hand. None of them finished the job. All three were usurped late, a reminder that in Florida, no lead is safe until the tournament is complete. That reminder will be on every golfer\u2019s mind throughout the weekend as they travel through the famed “Snake Pit,” a challenging three-hole stretch (16, 17 and 18) known as one of the hardest finishing stretches in golf.<\/p>\n

Even outside of that closing stretch, 10 other holes play over par. Last season, the scoring average was +0.87.<\/p>\n

Innisbrook is a great mix of demanding shots with rewarding results when executed properly. The par-71, 7,325-yard Copperhead Course is a parkland-style layout with tree-lined fairways and water hazards on six holes. With thick 3.75-inch rough and narrow corridors off the tee, golfers often opt for less than driver to prioritize positioning over power.<\/p>\n

Much like TPC Sawgrass, Innisbrook favors ball strikers. The winning formula on the Copperhead Course is simple: fairways and greens. If golfers can consistently do that, they\u2019ll find themselves in contention. When identifying the ideal fit for this course, ball striking is the first place to look.<\/p>\n

There is a slight edge to players who are accurate off the tee over those who simply gain distance, but anyone who grades poorly in ball striking is at a clear disadvantage.<\/p>\n

Here are the best golfers in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking over the last 24 rounds (via BetspertsGolf):<\/p>\n

1. Austin Smotherman2. Matt Fitzpatrick3. Ryo Hisatsune4. Akshay Bhatia5. David Ford6. Pierceson Coody<\/p>\n

David Ford (+12500) stands out on this list based on his price. Through his first 22 measured rounds, the metrics jump off the page. This is a player with all the tools who becomes dangerous the moment it all clicks.<\/p>\n

So far in his young PGA TOUR career, Ford has shown the ability to go on long birdie runs, but a few of those have come after costly stretches earlier in the round.<\/p>\n

*:not(style){overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0px;right:0px;bottom:0px;left:0px;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%;height:100%;}.css-17ygvlf>img,.css-17ygvlf>video{object-fit:cover;}.css-17ygvlf::before{height:0px;content:””;display:block;padding-bottom:56.25%;}]]>\"David<\/p>\n

David Ford holes out 32-foot birdie putt on No. 10 at THE PLAYERS<\/p>\n

The ball-striking, though, is undeniable. He\u2019s the only golfer in the field ranking inside the top 10 in both SG: Approach and driving distance. The start of the 2026 season hasn\u2019t been his best, but the flashes have been there. Given how well his skill set aligns with Innisbrook, he\u2019s worth a longshot look, and the Top 20 at +405 is especially appealing.<\/p>\n

If you want to take it a step further, SG: Tee to Green is another key stat to target. While the missed fairway penalty isn\u2019t overly severe, the greens in regulation percentage from the rough drops well below the TOUR average. Even from the fairway, GIR rates are lower than usual.<\/p>\n

Most approach shots come from 175 yards and beyond, which naturally leads to missed greens. That makes scrambling and around-the-green play critical.<\/p>\n

Here are the top golfers over the last 24 rounds in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green:<\/p>\n

1. Matt Fitzpatrick2. Ryo Hisatsune3. Akshay Bhatia4. Austin Smotherman5. Brooks Koepka6. Xander Schauffele<\/p>\n

While those metrics help identify potential contenders, this is also a course where you can confidently fade certain profiles. With the scoring average consistently over par, it makes sense to target players who struggle on difficult setups.<\/p>\n

A few notable names who have gained the fewest strokes on difficult courses recently:<\/p>\n

128th: Cam Davis125th: Brian Campbell124th: Nick Dunlap101st: Max Homa100th: Kevin Yu<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t play make\/miss cut props often, but this number stood out: Kevin Yu to Miss the Cut at +110.<\/p>\n

Yu did have a solid showing here last year, finishing T12 after missing the cut in his two prior appearances. But based on current form, it\u2019s hard to justify anything other than a fade.<\/p>\n

He typically struggles on difficult courses, and lately, he\u2019s been struggling everywhere. He\u2019s missed the cut in three straight events and seven of his last eight, dating back to early November. His best finish in that span was a T70 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.<\/p>\n

There was a stretch where his game was trending in the right direction, gaining strokes off the tee and with the putter. That hasn\u2019t been the case recently. The putter has cooled off, and without it, there\u2019s not much to fall back on. If that continues, it\u2019s hard to see him making the weekend.<\/p>\n

\"Kevin<\/p>\n

Kevin Yu hits 145-yard drive to 8 feet, sets up birdie on No. 17 at THE PLAYERS<\/p>\n

Best value on the board: Jacob Bridgeman to win +2250 | Top 20 (including ties) +104<\/p>\n

Jacob Bridgeman had one of the most decorated college careers at Clemson, winning five events and tying a school record. He was named the 2022 ACC Golfer of the Year and finished second in the PGA TOUR University rankings, earning Korn Ferry Tour status before securing his PGA TOUR card in 2023.b<\/p>\n

Since turning pro, many believed it was only a matter of time before he broke through. As we know, winning on TOUR isn\u2019t easy, and it took a bit longer than expected. But Bridgeman finally got over the line with a win at Riviera at The Genesis Invitational.<\/p>\n

\"Jacob<\/p>\n

Jacob Bridgeman hits 118-yard approach to 10 feet, sets up birdie on No. 18 at THE PLAYERS<\/p>\n

The form leading into that win suggested it was coming. He finished T4 at the Sony Open, T13 at The American Express, T18 at the WM Phoenix Open, and T10 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.<\/p>\n

What he\u2019s done since the win has been just as impressive. After a week off, he finished T18 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and followed it up with a T5 at THE PLAYERS Championship.<\/p>\n

He was firmly in contention at TPC Sawgrass. Through the first two rounds, he gained a combined 7.4 strokes on the field and put himself right in the mix heading into the weekend. It was really the third round that held him back.<\/p>\n

On paper, the score doesn\u2019t look bad. But the way it came together tells a different story. He carded six birdies, but also gave four shots back with bogeys, including bogeys on both back-nine par 5s. That\u2019s something you simply can\u2019t afford if you\u2019re trying to win at Sawgrass.<\/p>\n

It was also the only round of the week where he didn\u2019t separate from the field, gaining just +0.47 strokes. And even with that, he still finished comfortably inside the top five and gave himself an outside chance to win.<\/p>\n

What separates Bridgeman right now is the putter. It\u2019s been one of the best on TOUR. He has gained strokes putting in every event this season, including gains of at least 6.9 strokes in three of his last five starts, and no worse than +2.67 since the WM Phoenix Open.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also comfortable in Florida, and this course fits his game. Bridgeman finished third here last season, and the profile lines up again. He\u2019ll hit fairways, he\u2019ll hit greens, and when he does miss, the putter is good enough to keep him in it.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what makes him so dangerous. Even when the long irons aren\u2019t perfect, he can stay in contention until everything clicks. This is the shortest number we\u2019ve seen on Bridgeman in a while, so it\u2019s not the most attractive outright on the board. But given the form and the fit, there\u2019s still value. That said, the Top 20 is the safer angle \u2014 and it\u2019s something he\u2019s cashed in every start this season.<\/p>\n

*:not(style){overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0px;right:0px;bottom:0px;left:0px;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%;height:100%;}.css-11jnzpa>img,.css-11jnzpa>video{object-fit:cover;}.css-11jnzpa::before{height:0px;content:””;display:block;padding-bottom:66.66666666666666%;}]]>\"Image<\/p>\n

Mar 16, 2026<\/p>\n

Power Rankings: Who’s on top at Valspar Championship?<\/a>Power Rankings<\/a>\"Image\"Image<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"9H AGO 6 Min Read Horses for Courses *:not(style){overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0px;right:0px;bottom:0px;left:0px;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%;height:100%;}.css-17ygvlf>img,.css-17ygvlf>video{object-fit:cover;}.css-17ygvlf::before{height:0px;content:””;display:block;padding-bottom:56.25%;}]]> Running with Rick: Three players who can win the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":545779,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[443],"tags":[49,48,622,82],"class_list":["post-545778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-golf","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-golf","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/545778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=545778"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/545778\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/545779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=545778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=545778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=545778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}