2023 Valspar Championship: Top 10 Power Rankings at Innisbrook

Tommy Fleetwood is beginning to see PGA Tour courses for the second, third, fourth, etc. time. The Englishman debuted nicely at the Valspar Championship in 2022. He posted 67-68-68-71 to finish T-16th and just seven shots off the pace on a crowded leaderboard.

He’s still seeking his elusive first PGA Tour win and first win on American soil. Wouldn’t it be something if Fleetwood replicated countryman Matt Fitzpatrick getting his first win of both kinds at the 2022 U.S. Open.

Fleetwood does have plenty of experience winning events around the globe. The 32-year-old’s won six DP World Tour events, including one late in 2022. He prevailed at the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa in November.

He parlayed that good form into a T-5th the next week against a stronger field at the DP World Tour Championship.

Fleetwood’s making his seventh start on the PGA Tour this season. The highlight thus far has been T-4th against a solid field at the CJ Cup. He’s made three cuts in a row coming in, including T-20th at the Genesis Invitational.

A 7-under 65 on Saturday at the Players Championship vaulted Fleetwood to solo fourth, but a 76 to follow dropped him back down to T-27th.

That’s kind of been the story in recent years. Flashes of brilliance, but a lack of consistency across 72 holes to hoist a trophy.

I see the good heavily outweighing the bad for Fleetwood this week in Palm Harbor, but he will be outgunned by a select handful of competitors.