2024 Valspar Championship: Top 10 power rankings at Innisbrook

Justin Thomas isn’t afraid of snakes.

Well, maybe he is, but he’s not afraid of the Snake Pit.

Thomas has tamed the Copperhead course to the tune of five top-20s in six appearances.

Three of those are top-10s, including last year when JT posted 69-70-72-70 (-3) for T-10th. He climbed 10 spots up the leaderboard on Sunday with an under-par round in tough conditions.

He was fifth in the field in Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green (3.916) and 19th in SG: Approach (2.679).

Thomas’ peak performance at Innisbrook came the year prior. He recorded 66-66-66-70 for T-3rd.

“There's just a lot of holes you have to just be so cautious out here I feel like,” Thomas was transcribed by ASAP Sports in 2016. “The par-3s are tough. You're trying to find the green and two-putt, get out with a 3. There's some longer holes you're trying to hit the green in two and two-putt for a 4.”

Thomas has finished inside the top 12 in four of six starts in 2024, including T-3rd at The American Express.

He is playing much better golf than 2023, which was one of his worst since his rookie campaign.

The 30-year-old is sixth in SG: Approach (.769) and 10th in SG: Off-the-Tee (1.197).

He’s fifth in birdie percentage (28.65%) and 18th in par-4 scoring.

I don’t see Thomas’ cold putter warming up quite enough to get him across the line first, but this will safely be another top-12 to add to his tally.