Thomas is poised to continue his strong start to the season against a weakened field at the Copperhead...
Justin Thomas – {ODDS:142368837:10/1}
It’s hard to look past Thomas this weekend after the stunning start the American has made to the season.
The 23-year-old led after three rounds in Mexico last weekend before finishing with a disappointing 72, placing in the top five for the fifth time in 10 starts.
Thomas clearly enjoys being one of the bigger names at an event, with two of his three wins this season coming against weakened fields.
And no one at the Valspar is playing better than the 23-year-old.
He ranks fifth in total shots gained, first in birdie average and third in scoring average, while his 59 at the Sony Open remains the lowest single-round score of the year so far.
Henrik Stenson looks his likeliest challenger, although considering he withdrew through illness in Mexico last week, Thomas is the obvious choice.
Currently ranking 11th in round-1 scoring average, he is also a fine bet at {ODDS:142368866:16/1} for first-round leader.
Ryan Moore – {ODDS:142368968:25/1}
Moore has made a solid, if unspectacular, start to the season, placing inside the top 30 on five occasions and finishing third at the Tournament of Champions in January.
He is 17th among all players in shots gained on approach to the green, and has also been steady with the putter, ranking 15th in putting average.
That bodes well for his chances at Copperhead – a course he has performed well at in recent times.
Moore has finished fifth and third in his last two Valspar appearances, and is {ODDS:142368758:5/1} to again place among the top five this weekend.
It would be no surprise if he goes close again, and a victory is by no means beyond the five-time PGA Tour winner.
Patrick Reed – {ODDS:142368967:28/1}
Reed has struggled for form this season, and has fallen out of the world’s top 10 after finishing 50th or better on just one occasion in his last four starts.
This weekend, however, looks an ideal opportunity for the Ryder Cup star to turn it around.
With five PGA Tour wins he is one of the most successful players in the weakened field, and has finished seventh and second in his last two starts at Copperhead.
Considering he has not missed a cut in his last 18 starts – the second-longest streak on tour – and ranks inside the top 30 in shots gained putting, he should be in contention here.
There is good value in backing him to earn a top-five finish at {ODDS:142368757:5/1}.
Jason Dufner – {ODDS:142369023:40/1}
The last two winners of the Valspar have been major winners, and Dufner – the 2013 PGA Champion – could continue that trend.
The American has a fine record at Copperhead, having finished no worse than 28th in his last eight starts here, and has said that it is one of his favourite courses.
The tight fairways and greens play to his greatest strength: driving accuracy, a category in which he ranks 14th this season.
Dufner has finished inside the top 25 in four of his last five starts, and is good value at {ODDS:142368705:14/1} to earn a top-10 spot here.
Luke Donald – {ODDS:142369063:50/1}
In the absence of some big names, Donald should view this weekend as an opportunity to get back into the winners’ circle.
He hasn’t won on the PGA Tour since 2012, but his last triumph was at this very event.
The Englishman also came fourth here in 2013 and 2014, and was a respectable 22nd last season.
Donald is in decent form at present, having finished 23rd, 17th and 27th in his last three starts.
Another top-five finish, priced at {ODDS:142368841:10/1}, looks a sensible bet.
