Innisbrook and Bay Hill are not too far apart, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) on the road. But when it comes to the PGA Tour schedule and the prize money, they are quite different. One big contrast is the size of the player field.
The Valspar Championship kicks off on Thursday with 154 players. That’s the largest number ever seen at the Copperhead course at Innisbrook. With such a big group, it’s unlikely that all the rounds can be finished in one day, whether it’s raining or sunny.
This is quite different from two weeks ago at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. That event, with only 69 players and a $20 million purse, made Bay Hill feel empty during early practice days.
Jordan Spieth mentioned that practicing at Innisbrook is much less efficient compared to Bay Hill. He joked about the crowded range and how it affected his preparation.
Spieth was part of a group that met with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which funds LIV Golf. Although he didn’t go into specifics, Spieth described the meeting as positive.
The threat of LIV Golf, which attracted big names like Jon Rahm and Dustin Johnson, led to the PGA Tour organizing $20 million events to bring together top players. This led to fewer spots available for other tournaments, causing a squeeze for newcomers trying to get into more events.
To address this, the Valspar Championship expanded its field to accommodate everyone from the Korn Ferry Tour. However, this created some unusual circumstances for the tournament.
Justin Thomas admitted that while this solution works for now, a long-term plan is needed to balance significant events for top players and opportunities for others.
Despite the challenges, the Valspar Championship still attracted a decent field, including players like Xander Schauffele and Brian Harman. With three tournaments left until the Masters, many players see this as a chance to secure their spot at Augusta National.
For most players, the Copperhead course is highly regarded, especially during the Florida swing. Spieth himself has fond memories of the Valspar Championship, including a playoff win in 2015 and earning his PGA Tour card at age 20.
