Jack Milner provides expert golf tips on the upcoming Valspar Championship with compatriots and Ryder Cup colleagues Sam Burns and Justin Thomas expected to thrive once more around Copperhead.
There’s a case of ‘After the Lord Mayor’s show’ with this week’s Valspar Championship, and Scottie Scheffler creating yet further history at last week’s Players’ Championship. The World Number One became the only man to ever go back-to-back at TPC Sawgrass when coming from behind with a final round 64 to better a stellar field in Florida.
Xander Schaufele entered the final round with a one shot lead from compatriot Wydnham Clarke, with the pair coming a shot shy of the big-hitting Texan, as his rule over golf continues. Scheffler has rediscovered his form with the putter, and it means the rest of his peers are in trouble. He is the current 4.80 favourite with kwiff to win a second green jacket next month at The Masters. To read more about the beauty of Augusta National, you can check out our preview here
https://community.kwiff.com/sports/golf/the-masters-golf-2024-get-the-inside-track-for-augusta/
Scar Tissue
This week however, it’s The Valspar Championship and Xander Schauffele favourite to better last week’s performance at The Players. Schauffele missed birdie putts at 17 and 18 which would have forced a play-off and I’d be worried about potential scar tissue after such a near-miss. His conversion rate, despite his excellent tee-to-green performances, remain a lot to be desired too and winless since his success in The Scottish Open in July 2022.
I much prefer the chances of his Ryder Cup colleagues Justin Thomas and Sam Burns, the latter looking for his third win at Copperhead in four years. Burns broke his PGA Tour duck when showing nerves of steel to score in 2021, and followed-up 12 months later when beating Davis Riley in a play-off.
Burns to Fire at Copperhead
Burns has been the model of consistency this year, making 7/7 cuts without necessarily being spectacular. He scraped into the weekend at Sawgrass with a great up-and-down at 18 when on the cut-lin and made it count. He shot the low round of Saturday (65) before a disappointing 76 on Sunday when looking tired late on.
The American’s results don’t read great, but are better under closer inspection. He should have won The American Express (won by amateur Nick Dunlap) when finding water at both 17 and 18 to finish T10 having led by one. He boasts happy memories of this course and looks too big at the
JT On The Comeback Trail
Ryder Cup colleague Justin Thomas is another with likes it around Copperhead, and was unlucky to miss out on a play-off by a single shot against Burns here in 2022. He played well when the eyes of the world was on best friend Jordan Spieth here, finishing T10 and will be somewhat refreshed having had the weekend off at Sawgrass.
Thomas missed the cut last week at The Players Championship, but his ball-striking remains in good heart. His flat-stick let him down during the back nine on Friday, missing a series of putts inside six feet, but it will be a matter of when not if he finds form once more with the putter.
After a disappointing 2023 he has come back with a point to prove in 2023. He has finished T25 or better in all 4 events where he’s made the cut (4/6) and shown glimpses of being back to his best finishing T3 at The American Express and T6 at Pebble Beach (all rounds at both in the 60s). This week can provide the confidence boost he so desperately craves.
Selections
Sam Burns at 11.6 with kwiff
Justin Thomas at 13.0 with kwiff
By Jack Milner
Prices are correct at the time of publication, but can fluctuate. Please Gamble Responsibly.
Please note that the information provided in this article is for entertainment purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. Any action you take upon the information on this article is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of our article. We do not encourage gambling and remind you to gamble responsibly.
18+ | BeGambleAware.org
Supercharge your bets with kwiff.
