Valspar Championship Round 1 Recap – Golf’s Greatest Gamble

The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook tested the field on Thursday, delivering a mix of solid performances and struggles for our Golf’s Greatest Gamble participants. Round 1 of the Valspar Championship is in the books, and we already have some early storylines developing.

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Course Briefing: The Copperhead Challenge

The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort is known for its demanding layout, featuring tight fairways, thick rough, and undulating greens that punish inaccuracy. Playing at over 7,300 yards, this par-71 track requires precision off the tee and a strong approach game.

One of its defining stretches is the "Snake Pit"—a brutal closing three-hole stretch (holes 16-18) that consistently ranks among the toughest finishes on the PGA Tour. Players who navigate this test unscathed often find themselves near the top of the leaderboard by week’s end.

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Round 1 Highlights

A few selections got off to a great start, with Jacob Bridgeman (67), Keith Mitchell (67), and Stephan Jaeger (67) setting the pace among our picks. Solid rounds from Lucas Glover (70), Sepp Straka (70), Victor Hovland (70), and Xander Schauffele (70) kept them in the mix heading into Friday.

On the flip side, Neal Shipley (76) and Ben Griffin (75) struggled to find their rhythm, while a group of selections—including **Tom Kim, Jordan Spieth, Jake Knapp, and Christian Bezuidenhout—posted 74s, putting them in need of a bounce-back round.

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Fine Fund Update & Mulligan Usage

The infamous Sutton Fine Rule was in full effect once again, adding $35 to the fine fund after multiple members failed to make a selection.

• Bert, Freddy, Jason, and Mike were each docked $5 for missing their pick.
• Brandon took the biggest hit, getting fined $15 as this marked his third consecutive missed selection.
• Erik also missed his pick but used his mulligan, switching to Jacob Bridgeman (67) at the last moment. While he still takes the $5 fine, he stays in the action this week—a move that already looks like a smart one with Bridgeman near the top of the leaderboard.

With that, the fine fund keeps growing—don’t let it be your contribution next time!

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Looking Ahead

With a tightly packed leaderboard, Friday’s round will be crucial as players battle to make the cut. Can Bridgeman, Mitchell, and Jaeger keep their momentum? Will struggling picks turn it around? And will everyone remember to submit a selection for next week?

Stay tuned!