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Valspar Championship: Power ranking the top 10 at Innisbrook

By Mike Randleman

PALM HARBOR, FL - MARCH 11: Tiger Woods putts on the fourth green during the final round of the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course on March 11, 2018 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
PALM HARBOR, FL - MARCH 11: Tiger Woods putts on the fourth green during the final round of the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course on March 11, 2018 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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PALM HARBOR, FL – MARCH 11: Paul Casey of England poses with the Valspar Championship trophy after winning at Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course on March 11, 2018 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
PALM HARBOR, FL – MARCH 11: Paul Casey of England poses with the Valspar Championship trophy after winning at Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course on March 11, 2018 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

The defending tournament champion has played some very solid golf in 2019, a tough go of it last week at the Players Championship withstanding. Casey finished T2 at the Singapore Open and returned to the PGA Tour with solo second at Pebble Beach, T25 at Riviera and a T3 at the WGC-Mexico.

The Englishman comes to the Valspar Championship for his fifth tournament appearance and second since 2014. He was 2-for-3 in cuts made but none better than T37 at this event prior to the win.

His win came in comeback fashion. Casey entered Sunday five back before firing 6-under 65 and watching his win materialize from the clubhouse.

Patrick Reed couldn’t make par on 18 to enter a playoff, nor could Tiger Woods make birdie to do the same.

“He (Woods) made it look easy for such a long time, and it’s not,” Casey said. “I’ve won a few times in Europe, [but] to take this long to get my second victory on the PGA Tour, it’s emotional. I’ve worked so hard, I’m so happy for it.”

Casey grinded to shoot 70-68-71 in the first three days. He averaged just over 300 yards off the tee but just 46.18 percent of fairways. He’s ninth on Tour in driving accuracy (70.95), so I like that to improve.

He did gain nearly a stroke a round on the greens, a good sign considering his 189th strokes gained mark this season. The 41-year-old scrambled well at the Copperhead Course and is 42nd in SG around the green this season.

Lastly, Casey has solid approach stats from mid to long distance: 22nd from 150-175, 33rd at 175-200 and 63rd from 200-plus.

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