Valspar Championship: Power ranking the top 10 at Innisbrook

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PALM HARBOR, FL – MARCH 09: Sergio Garcia of Spain looks over a putt on the 18th hole during the second round of the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course on March 9, 2018 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Sergio Garcia made his way to the Copperhead Course last year for the first time since 2012.

This may be a tournament a Greens-in-regulation crusher like him would want to make a staple. He’s 5-for-5 making the cut and finishing top 60 in his career.

Garcia’s last three trips are T15 in 2011, T16 in 2012 and solo fourth in 2018. El Nino came up big on Sunday last year to move up the leaderboard and finish two back of the lead. His scores were 70-72-69-65.

I anticipated Garcia’s form would take a temporary dip since his green destroying fiasco at the Saudi International last month. That hasn’t been the case.

He began his 2019 with two top-10s and Europe and post-disqualification gathered two more Stateside (T6 WGC-Mexico, T9 Honda).

Garcia played well last week at the Players (69-70-74-67) with exception to a sloppy Saturday.

The 39-year-old leads the Tour in stroke average (69.358) thanks in part to his ball striking. He’s eighth in strokes gained tee to green and first in approach.

There’s hardly a yardage he doesn’t like as he’s 41st or better anywhere from 100-200 yards. He’s also 38th in proximity from the rough.

If the weather looked more ominous, I might be dubious of Garcia’s short game (158th SG), but benign conditions give me faith.

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