Valspar Championship Power Rankings: Top ten golfers at Innisbrook

PALM HARBOR, FL - MARCH 13: A copperhead statue signifying the 'Snake Pit' portion of the course sits near the 16th tee during the final round of the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course on March 13, 2016 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

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PALM HARBOR, FL – MARCH 12: Adam Hadwin of Canada holds the trophy after winning the Valspar Championship during the final round at Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course on March 12, 2017 in Palm Harbor, Florida. Hadwin won with a score of -14. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

I won’t earn any creativity points for choosing the defending champion, but the choice is warranted. Hadwin comes into the week on a bit of a roll with top-10s at his last two starts in Los Angeles and Mexico.

In 2018, Hadwin’s 5-for-5 in cuts made with a top-10 at the CareerBuilder Challenge as well.

This will be the 30-year-old’s fourth trip to the Valspar Championship. It would’ve been hard to see last year’s win coming after he went 71st-MC in his first two appearances.

Hadwin opened with scores of 68-64 (64 tied for low round of the tournament) to convert a 36- and 54-hole lead into a one-shot win over Patrick Cantlay. The 14-under-par winning total was the lowest since Gary Woodland went 15 deep in 2011.

The Canadian’s short game has been sharp this season as he’s 12th in strokes gained around-the-green. Overall, it’s hard to find many flaws in his game in 2017-18; he’s a positive in all strokes gained categories save for a meager negative off the tee.

Hadwin is 44th in driving accuracy and 42nd in proximity from the rough.

A win this week would make him the tournament’s first back-to-back winner. Hadwin would join KJ Choi as the event’s only multiple winners.

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