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2022 Valspar Championship: Top 10 power rankings at Innisbrook

By Mike Randleman

May 1, 2021; Palm Harbor, Florida, USA; A detailed view of the a paint can tee box marker on the 3rd hole during the third round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2021; Palm Harbor, Florida, USA; A detailed view of the a paint can tee box marker on the 3rd hole during the third round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Valspar Championship, PGA, Innisbrook
Feb 17, 2022; Pacific Palisades, California, USA; Xander Schauffele hits from the fourth tee during the first round of the Genesis Invitational golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s not a get out of jail free card for a poor performance last week, but Xander Schauffele was among the victims at the Players Championship who got the late/early set of tee times.

He was in decent shape to make the cut after an opening 73 at TPC Sawgrass but a 78 to follow sent him home packing.

Given the carnage that continued, he might have been OK just moving on to the Valspar Championship.

This will be his first time competing at Innisbrook, so the leg up on much of the competition in rest and preparation could do wonders.

Schauffele will look to start a new made cut streak after his previous one of nine was snapped.

The Californian played well during the West Coast Swing with a T-3rd at the WM Phoenix Open highlighting three top-20s in as many starts.

The San Diego State alum ranks 23rd on the PGA Tour in total strokes gained (1.146). He’s 61st or better in all the SG categories and has been one of the more polished players since he hit the scene in the mid-2010s.

Some more high marks for the X Man include ranking second in sand saves (75.86%), second in approach proximity from 175-200 yards (27’2”), and 12th in par-4 scoring (3.94).

The knock on Schauffele is he doesn’t win enough. A gold medal at the Olympics last year got the monkey off his back for a while, but after reeling them off early in his career, he’s gone quieter despite remaining consistent.

He also hasn’t had much success (or even played much) in Florida and in the southeast aside from the Masters. Getting a win or even a high finish this week in Palm Harbor could be big for his confidence when away from the friendly confines of California.

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