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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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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – MARCH 17: Tommy Fleetwood of England plays his shot from the 12th tee during the final round of The PLAYERS Championship on The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 17, 2019 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – MARCH 17: Tommy Fleetwood of England plays his shot from the 12th tee during the final round of The PLAYERS Championship on The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 17, 2019 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Tommy Fleetwood will make his Valspar Championship debut, but the Englishman is growing quite used to the Sunshine State. He’s playing in Florida for the third week in a row after getting in the mix at Bay Hill (T3) and the Players (T5).

Both instances saw Fleetwood finish three off the pace with contrasting Sundays: A 68 at Bay Hill to rise up and a disappointing 73 Sunday at the Players in the final group.

As is usually the case, Fleetwood had a good ball striking week at TPC Sawgrass. He hit over 70 percent of his greens and two thirds of his fairways, only for his putter to betray him Sunday.

Fleetwood was in the positive in all the main strokes gained categories last season and again now. He’s fourth in strokes gained off the tee, 40th in approach and, important for this week, 19th around the green.

The name of the game for anyone this week is keeping it in the short grass, but Fleetwood doubly so as he’s 202nd in proximity from the rough. He is, however, 21st in proximity from 175-200 yards and 200-plus.

For as consistent as Fleetwood’s been since the start of 2018 (13 top-10s, two MCs), he’s got just one worldwide win in January ‘18 in Abu Dhabi on the European Tour to show for it. The 28-year-old is still on the hunt for his first PGA Tour win.

Against a weaker field than what he’s used to seeing in his stateside appearances, Fleetwood could finally strike gold this week.

“I think at the end of the day, winning is very difficult,” Fleetwood said Saturday at the Players. “Four days of golf is a long time, like I’ve said before. But you have to take the positives all the time about how consistent your golf is, how — I am happy with how consistent I feel like I can be and shoot a lot of good scores and put myself in contention a lot. Of course, like everybody, I would like to win more.”

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