PGA Tour's Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort To Attract World's Top-Ranked Golfers

PALM HARBOR, FL — The world's top-ranked golfers will converge on Palm Harbor next week for one of the PGA Tour's most-watched tournaments.

The Valspar Championship PGA Tour returns to Innisbrook Golf Resort March 14 to 20. Starting March 17, 2021 champion Sam Burns will defend his title on the Copperhead Course against professional golfers including Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa and Tommy Fleetwood.

Los Angeles native Morikawa, 25, the winner of The Open Championship in 2021 and currently No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking, will make his first appearance in the Valspar Championship.

In August, Morikawa went 3-0-1 in his Ryder Cup debut as the U.S. defeated Europe, and in September, he tied for third in the Olympic Golf competition in Japan.

Morikawa has five PGA Tour victories, including two Majors (2020 PGA Championship and 2021 The Open Championship), since making his PGA Tour debut less than three years ago. He has finished in the top seven in five of his last six worldwide outings, which include a victory at the DP World Tour Championship Dubai. With that victory, he became the first American to claim the European Tour’s Race To Dubai.

With Morikawa, the Valspar Championship includes five of the top 13 players in the current Official World Golf Ranking that includes Johnson (No. 4), Schauffele (No. 7), who is also making his Valspar debut, Louis Oosthuizen (No. 12) and 25-year-old Louisiana native Sam Burns (No. 13), who won Valspar last year.

The current field also includes Koepka (with an Official World Golfing Rank of 17), Jason Kokran (No. 21) Tyrrell Hatton (No. 22) and Matt Fitzpatrick (No. 25).

Fitzpatrick will be joined in the tournament by his brother Alex, a senior at Wake Forest, who earned a sponsor exemption by winning the 2021 Valspar Collegiate.

Golf fans will also see:

• Max Homa (No. 35), three-time winner including the 2021 Genesis Invitational.
• Bubba Watson, 12-time PGA Tour winner including the 2012 and 2014 Masters Bubba Watson.
• Fleetwood (No. 40), runnerup in the 2018 U.S. Open and 2019 Open Championship.
• Brandt Snedeker, a nine-time PGA Tour winner.

Other past champions who will be on hand include Gary Woodland, Kevin Streelman, Luke Donald, Adam Hadwin, Danny Willett and Henrik Stenson.

“This will be a truly outstanding field,” tournament director Tracy West said. “Many favorites of our Copperhead fans, including other past champions, has committed."

The PGA tournament at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Golf Resort is part of several consecutive PGA Tour golf tournaments in Florida each spring.

The Valspar Championship and Copperhead Charities are focused on bringing a world-class nationally televised professional sporting event to the Tampa Bay area while using tournament proceeds to help meet community needs.

Tournament Schedule

• Tuesday, March 15: Professional practice rounds and the Morgan Stanley Executive Women’s Day, presented by Great Bay Distributors. Gates open at 8 a.m.
• Louisiana Hot Sauce Junior Clinic, open to all kids, at the pro driving range at 3:30 p.m.
• The ReliaQuest All-Star Kids Clinic, open to special needs kids at the pro driving range at 4:30 p.m.
• Tuesday night: Pro-Am Pairings Party presented by Tampa General Hospital.
• Wednesday, March 16: Tampa General Hospital Championship Pro-Am. Gates open at 7 a.m.
• Thursday, March 17: 1st round, Valspar Championship. Gates open at 7 a.m.
• Friday, March 18: 2nd round, Valspar Championship. Gates open at 7 a.m.
• Saturday, March 19: 3rd round, Valspar Championship. Gates open at 7 a.m.
• Sunday, March 20: Final round, Valspar Championship. Gates open at 7 a.m.

Activities For Fans

• Multi-platinum country music star Chris Young and Big & Rich will perform at the annual Valspar Live Concert Saturday, March 19 at 6:30 p.m., sponsored by Chick-fil-A. Access is included with a ticket or weekly tournament pass.
• On St. Patrick's Day, March 17, all tournament guests are encouraged to wear green for a chance to win prizes, and 10 fans will be invited to compete in a festive outfit contest on the 18th green after play for a chance to win a $500 Delta Air Lines credit. Additionally, the first 10,000 fans will receive a free koozie.
• An entertainment zone featuring games like Jenga and corn hole.
• Fans can explore a tiny home and cabana painted inside and out with Valspar's 2022 Colors of the Year to serve as an inspiration for do-it-yourself decorators.
• Fans will have a chance to participate in painting a fan mural inspired by Valspar's Be Bright community initiative. In addition to contributing to the mural, the Valspar block party will include free popsicles, games and prizes for the most colorful fans. Last year, Valspar painted a mural on the outside of the North Greenwood Recreation Center in Clearwater for Valspar's Be Bright community initiative.
• The Publix Chillounge will return to the tournament, featuring an expansive lounge area with food and drinks, including the Birdie Publix Sub and the Copperberry drink.
• Throughout Innisbrook, there will be top-shelf spirit and brew experiential areas, including the Maestro Doebel Margarita Deck at the 13th green; 10th Green Horse Soldier Whiskey Lounge; 9th Green Michelob Ultra Club; 9th Green Josh Cellars Wine Deck; the Celebrity Cruises Luxury Deck overlooking the 10th tee featuring cocktails with champagne samples and mimosas; Frenchy’s Pool Party serving Frenchy favorites behind the 18th green; and the Captain Morgan Bar along the 14th fairway.
• Chameleon Cove will make its return to the tournament with a huge sand sculpture and place to watch golf while digging your toes in the sand.
• Tampa General Hospital and the Valspar Championship are teaming up to provide a new hospitality and first aid area for fans called the Tampa General Hospital Courtyard. This new area will be located directly behind the 18th green.
• TGH sunscreen stations located around the Innisbrook Golf Resort.
• Inside the Snake Pit at the Valspar Championship Daily Facebook Show, hosted by PGA Tour radio host Carl Paulson, will provide an insider look at the Valspar Championship starting at 7 a.m. Thursday through Sunday. Head to the Valspar Championship Facebook page anytime to view the episodes.
• The tournament will be broadcast on the Golf Channel from 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday; and 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Additionally, fans can tune into NBC Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.

Helping Charities

Valspar will also promote TGH's Home Base Warrior Health and Fitness Program during the tournament week.

In November, the Valspar Championship and Copperhead Charities donated $125,000 to the TGH Foundation for the Home Base Warrior Health and Fitness Program at the TGH Fitness Center.

Home Base Warrior Health and Fitness is a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital program that provides veterans with free health and fitness services. Tampa General partnered with Home Base last year to help Tampa Bay area military veterans improve their health and well-being.

“TGH has been a great partner for us in recent years, and we are thrilled with the expansion and extension of our relationship," said West. "As our official and exclusive health care partner, TGH has provided us with sunscreen stations and other medical needs in the past. We are thrilled to be able to put their name on two of our premier events, as well as our biggest space, now the TGH Courtyard, for community events.”

“We are a longtime partner of the Valspar Championship and TGH is excited about our expanded affiliation this year,” said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital. “The Valspar Championship supports projects that address community needs such as the Home Base Warrior Health and Fitness program, and strongly aligns with our commitment to providing world-class health care and initiatives focused on Tampa Bay area residents.”

This event has generated more than $41 million for charities, primarily in the Tampa Bay area, through its Birdies for Tampa Bay Charities program and other groups like Tampa General Hospital, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County, The First Tee, the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation and Birdies for the Brave.

What Spectators Should Know

For ticket information, click here. Kids 15 and under are admitted free.

For spectator tips on parking, use of cell phones and autograph policies, click here.