The opening day of the 2026 Valspar Championship subjected competitors to the rigorous challenge characteristic of the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort. Golfers teeing off in the morning benefited from calmer conditions before winds began to intensify; out of the leading fifteen players, merely four emerged from the later wave when atmospheric disturbances escalated, posing significant difficulties.
Jordan Spieth was one of the participants forced to contend with the afternoon’s demanding climate, initially appearing poised for an excellent standing following the initial round. Spieth began his play with an explosive start, securing an eagle on the opening hole and subsequently sinking three additional birdies within the initial seven holes, conquering the front nine at 5-under par 31.
Nevertheless, as environmental factors intensified, Spieth’s performance somewhat diminished during the back nine. Despite this, he managed to maintain a score of 5-under following an impressive birdie on the par-3 15th. Regrettably for Spieth, this marked the beginning of his unraveling, as he recorded a costly double bogey on the par-4 16th, and concluded his round with a bogey after failing to convert a 5-foot par putt on the 18th hole.
Spieth has consistently struggled this season to complete rounds effectively when he’s in a position for a low score. This pattern emerged during the second round of The Players, where he finished with a double bogey on the par-5 9th despite a strong mid-round surge, and reoccurred this Thursday when his 3-wood tee shot on the 16th, after reaching 5 under, landed squarely in the water hazard.
Spieth continues his quest for a PGA Tour title, a feat he hasn’t accomplished since the 2022 RBC Heritage, and his current form suggests he is nearer to such a decisive triumph than in recent years. Yet, his problem of avoiding high scores remains, and should he aim to secure that long-awaited 14th PGA Tour win this week, he must find a way to maintain a more immaculate scorecard on a demanding course.
Leader
1. Sungjae Im (-7): Having been sidelined at the season’s outset due to a wrist ailment, Im did not make the cut at Bay Hill and The Players in his initial two PGA Tour appearances following his return. His third attempt, however, seems to be proving successful, as Im ignited his game on the Copperhead Course, reverting to his strengths: precise iron play and an assertive strategy. Im distinguished himself by leading all competitors in strokes gained on approach on Thursday, complementing this with the second-most effective putting display among the field, a consistently powerful pairing.
Similar to Justin Thomas last week, the subsequent phase after regaining form post-injury involves mastering consistent peak performance. Thomas experienced a decent, though not extraordinary, weekend following his impressive start at The Players, and now the focus shifts to whether Im can sustain his current momentum over the forthcoming three days. While he likely won’t be required to continually shoot 64s to claim victory, considering recent Valspar winning totals have typically ranged from 10 to 12 under par, he must continue delivering strong scores and avoid any significant regressions.
Contenders
2. Brandt Snedeker (-6)
3. Davis Thompson (-5)
T4. Billy Horschel, Pierceson Coody, Andrew Putnam (-4)
T7. Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Jacob Bridgeman and six others (-3)
T17. Jordan Spieth, Corey Conners, Tom Kim and 12 others (-2)
T37. Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Wyndham Clark and 14 others (-1)
Brandt Snedeker, a PGA Tour victor on nine occasions, stands out as the surprise among those occupying the top positions on the leaderboard. His most recent top-10 finish in a regular PGA Tour event was a less prominent one at the Memorial last year; he has not clinched a Tour win since 2018 and has failed to make the cut in all four of his initial starts in 2026. Nevertheless, on what ranks among the Tour’s most demanding venues, he achieved an initial round of 65, placing him in sole second. The question remains if he can replicate his finest performance of the season on Friday afternoon. Regardless, it represents an outstanding beginning for a respected seasoned player.
Xander Schauffele’s period without a victory is considerably shorter than Spieth’s, yet he, too, posted a 3-under 68 on Thursday, setting himself up for another potential challenge following his top-five placement at The Players. This season, his play has noticeably resembled the caliber that led him to two major championships in 2024, a significant improvement over last year when health setbacks hindered his development and resulted in a disappointing season.
Schauffele’s proficiency in ball-striking, instrumental in his robust showing at The Players, appears to have persisted on Florida’s opposite coast this week, evident in his second-place ranking for strokes gained on approach on Thursday. His putting remains a work in progress—placing 92nd in the initial round—however, his iron work and overall tee-to-green execution are promising.
Schauffele shares the 3-under mark with Fitzpatrick and Bridgeman, a trio considered among the most formidable contenders moving ahead.
Corey Conners arguably experienced the most peculiar round, achieving consecutive hole-out eagles while transitioning between the 18th and 1st holes, propelling him to 5 under; however, his performance subsequently faltered, causing him to retreat to 2 under.
Any golfer finishing under par after the initial day should feel quite confident about their play, and this extends to the reigning victor of this tournament, Viktor Hovland. He concluded at 1 under, alongside Cantlay, Clark, and numerous other players, and is undoubtedly targeting another strong showing throughout the weekend in the Tampa vicinity.
Updated 2026 Valspar Championship odds, picks
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
- Sungjae Im (5-1)
- Xander Schauffele (15/2)
- Matt Fitzpatrick (19/2)
- Davis Thompson (12-1)
- Jacob Bridgeman (13-1)
- Jordan Spieth (22-1)
- Pierceson Coody (22-1)
- Billy Horschel (22-1)
The likelihood of Schauffele or Fitzpatrick fading during the weekend seems low; both currently offer some favorable odds. Coody, recognized for his exceptional driving prowess, represents an additional compelling choice on a course that severely penalizes errant shots. Should his putting prove even moderately effective this week, he might emerge as a significant contender for his inaugural PGA Tour triumph.
