The Florida swing comes to an end with one final stop in Tampa. The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort always provides a decent challenge to the pros. This weekend, we will see some tough weather, making the conditions a bit more challenging, and should raise the best players to the top. We will take a look at each price range and select some of the best options on the board. Here are my 2023 Valspar Championship DFS Best Plays in Each Price Range!
2023 Valspar Championship DFS: Best Plays in Each Price Range
2023 Valspar Championship DFS – $9,000+
Justin Thomas $10,900
Although Thomas has not been playing well, the ball striking numbers are rounding back into form after gaining over three strokes to the field with irons. He lost a whopping 4.97 strokes on the putting greens. That is very on-brand for JT, and I truly do not expect him to putt well here.
With these numbers, this strength of the field, and Justin Thomas’ determination to get back into the winner’s circle, I see a floor of the top 10 in this event. Put Justin Tomas in every lineup for this week’s Valspar Championship.
Tommy Fleetwood $9,800
Conditions may be on the tougher side at Innisbrook this weekend, which is a spot you may want to run out Tommy Fleetwood. He is one of the true grinders and difficult-condition guys on the tour. He is coming in, having played some good golf as of late. Three straight made cuts on the PGA Tour after an amazing fall in Europe.
Smooth move from @TommyFleetwood1 😮💨
Three straight birdies has him T5 @THEPLAYERSChamp. pic.twitter.com/AH26Ae5TfG
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 11, 2023
Fleetwood has one career start in Tampa, which was a T16 last year, where he gained strokes in every category. Look for Fleetwood to be near the top come Sunday afternoon.
Denny McCarthy $9,300
Playing Denny McCarthy when he makes sense seems to be a losing strategy, but here we are. Innisbrook is a Bermuda golf course that requires accuracy off the tee and will play difficult.
When you think of Denny McCarthy, that is where he plays best. He is coming off a 13th-place finish at a similar style golf course and has never missed a cut at the Valspar. I think Denny will be an interesting DFS look and will surely post one super-low round, which could be a nice showdown play as well.
2023 Valspar Championship DFS – Middle Tier
Sam Ryder $7,300
Sam Ryder is finally getting some respect in the pricing, but it is still a very viable number. Coming off of four made cuts in five starts which include three top-20 finishes, Ryder should be licking his chops at a chance to perform well in a weaker field in his home state.
🦅@THEPLAYERSChamp pic.twitter.com/s3m3pGo9L0
— Sam Ryder (@SamRyderSU) March 12, 2023
He does not have much success here, making the cut just once in four attempts, but he should be banking off the recent success he has had in great fields. It’s not much, but Sam Ryder could be in the best form of his pro golf life, so we will buy him here at a fair price.
2023 Valspar Championship DFS – <$7,000
Luke Donald $6,800
The Ryder Cup Captain has teed it up in this event 11 times and made the cut ten times. Those include a win and four separate top-10 finishes. I realize this run started in 2010 when Donald was at the top of the golf world, but he finished in the top 20 here just last year. Donald has made two of his last three cuts and has gained 9.22 strokes on approach in those events.
Iron play is Donald’s best strength, so it is good to see him dialing into that part of the game. This is a field Donald can easily finish inside the top 20 of and should be geared up, knowing how well he has played here in the past.
