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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: Patrick Reed reacts after a putt on the 13th green during the final round of the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course on March 11, 2018 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
PALM HARBOR, FL – MARCH 11: Patrick Reed reacts after a putt on the 13th green during the final round of the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course on March 11, 2018 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Patrick Reed might still be stewing about his performance on the 72nd hole on Sunday, but it took 71 solid holes before that to get to where he was.

Needing just a par on the par-4 18th, Reed misfired on his approach made bogey to miss out on a playoff and finish T2.

Reed fired 71-69-67-68 for the tournament. He overcame a negative putting week to hit two-thirds of his greens while averaging nearly 300 off the tee.

The 28-year-old is at the Valspar Championship for the sixth time. He’s made his last four cuts with a T2 in 2015, T7 in 2016 and T38 in 2017.

Reed is known for running hot at times, but he’s also a grinder up to the task at this difficult event.

“It’s a tough course.  How the conditions are, with the wind blowing and with the rough being a little bit thicker, it’s one of those golf courses no one is going to go out there and shoot 8, 9-under, make a ton of birdies,” Reed said in 2015. “There’s going to be a lot of pars, birdies here and there.  Some guys get on hot streaks, make some birdies. There’s going to be some bogeys out there. Kind of seems like everyone is playing the same type of golf.

Reed has made all six cuts worldwide in 2019. He’s still probably feeling a little unfulfilled as a T14 at the WGC-Mexico Championship is his best result.

This will be his third start in a row after a T50 at the Arnold Palmer and T47 at the Players.

Reed’s been getting by with his short game and putting this season. He was second last season in strokes gained around the green and is 18th now. Reed’s also 29th in SG putting. Unfortunately for him, SG off the tee and approaching the green are both outside the top 100.

Historically, many of Reed’s top finishes have come in the spring and summer, so I expect his ball striking to trend back up soon as he prepares to defend at Augusta next month.

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