Pro Golf Now
Fansided

2021 Valspar Championship: Featured Groups Thursday and Friday

By Tim Letcher

KAPALUA, HAWAII - JANUARY 07: Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas of the United States laugh as they wait on the 18th tee during the first round of the Sentry Tournament Of Champions at the Kapalua Plantation Course on January 07, 2021 in Kapalua, Hawaii. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
KAPALUA, HAWAII - JANUARY 07: Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas of the United States laugh as they wait on the 18th tee during the first round of the Sentry Tournament Of Champions at the Kapalua Plantation Course on January 07, 2021 in Kapalua, Hawaii. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The 2021 Valspar Championship begins on Thursday at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook in Florida. There are a number of groups that should be fun to watch in the first two rounds of the event. Here’s a look at five groups to watch in the event’s first two days.

More from Pro Golf Now

Dustin Johnson, Joaquin Niemann, Justin Thomas (Thursday, 1:11 ET; Friday, 8:01 ET) – How about the world’s top two players in the same group for Thursday and Friday? That’s what fans will get when world number one Dustin Johnson and world number two Justin Thomas play in the same group. Joining them is talented young Joaquin Niemann, who will be looking to hang with the big guns.

Corey Conners, J.B. Holmes, Bubba Watson (Thursday, 7:39 ET; Friday, 12:49 ET) – Conners has been hot lately with four Top 10s in his last six starts. He’s among the favorites to win this week. Holmes is trying to get back into the winner’s column for the first time in over two years. Watson played pretty well in Louisiana last week to notch his second Top 10 in his last three starts.

Max Homa, Viktor Hovland, Sungjae Im (Thursday, 1:00 ET; Friday, 7:50 ET) – Homa was a winner earlier this year at the Genesis, his first PGA Tour victory. Hovland won earlier this season at the Mayakoba Golf Classic. Im is one of the most talented young players in the game and always a threat to compete for a title.

Paul Casey, Jason Kokrak, Gary Woodland (Thursday, 7:50 ET; Friday, 1:00 ET) – There was no Valspar last year, due to the pandemic, so Casey is technically the two-time defending champion here. Kokrak finished in a tie for second here, one shot behind Casey, in 2019. Woodland won this event in 2011 and appears to be rounding into form.

dark. Next. 2021 Zurich Classic: Winners and Losers from Louisiana

Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed (Thursday, 8:01 ET; Friday, 1:11 ET) – This group was supposed to have Tyrrell Hatton, but he withdrew due to COVID-related reasons. Insert Aphibarnrat, who has missed seven cuts in 11 starts this season. Mickelson is trying to show he can still play on tour but he hasn’t had a ton of luck in that category. Reed, the world’s seventh-ranked player, won at Torrey Pines earlier this season and remain

Home/Golf News