Valspar Championship 2026: Your Ultimate Guide to Sunday's Final Round Showdown

Alright, let’s cut to the chase. It’s Sunday. The final round of the Valspar Championship is here, and things are heating up at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort. If you’re like me, you’ve probably spent the last three days glued to whatever screen you could find, and now you need the lowdown on how to catch all the drama. No bullshit, just the facts. Who’s leading? Who’s chasing? And most importantly, how can you watch it all unfold without missing a single damn putt?

Sungjae Im has carved out a two-shot lead heading into Sunday, firing a solid 69 in the third round. He’s sitting pretty at 11 under. This 27-year-old from South Korea hasn’t lifted a trophy in a while, not since the 2021 Shriners Children’s Open. He’s had a bit of life stuff to deal with, including military service and a wrist injury. He even admitted he’ll be nervous. “It’s been a while since I’ve been in the lead like this, and I’m sure I will be nervous,” Im said. “But the best I can do is just to play my own game.” Good luck with that, Sungjae. We’ll see how that plays out.

But don’t count out the guys breathing down his neck. Brandt Snedeker is right there at nine under. Yeah, the Presidents Cup captain himself. He’s got nine PGA Tour wins, but his last victory was way back in 2018. Talk about a drought. And then there’s David Lipsky, also at nine under. This guy is still looking for his first PGA Tour win. So, you’ve got experience, you’ve got a guy trying to break a long dry spell, and you’ve got a hungry contender. This is exactly what makes Sunday golf so damn compelling.

The Final Pairing: Im and Snedeker Take Center Stage

For those of you who like to follow the leaders, the main event is set. Sungjae Im and Brandt Snedeker will be in the final pairing, teeing off in the afternoon. Mark your calendars: 1:50 p.m. ET. That’s when the real pressure cooker starts. You know Snedeker is going to have that fire in his belly, and Im will be trying to hold on for dear life. It’s going to be a battle, no doubt about it. You don’t want to miss how these two handle the heat.

Lipsky will be out there too, trying to make some noise and force his way into the conversation. The beauty of golf is that nothing is decided until the last putt drops. A two-shot lead can evaporate quicker than a puddle on a hot day if things go south. We’ve seen it a hundred times. A couple of shaky pars, a missed putt, and suddenly the guys behind you are smelling blood. It’s going to be fascinating to see who cracks and who rises to the occasion.

How to Watch: TV Coverage and Streaming Deets

Now, for the crucial part: how are you going to watch this thing? You’ve got options, thank God. Nobody wants to spend their Sunday trying to find a dodgy stream on some sketchy website. Here’s the breakdown:

Golf Channel: Kicking things off on TV, the Golf Channel will have you covered from 1 p.m. ET to 3 p.m. ET. That’s your early afternoon dose of the final round. Get your snacks ready.
NBC: Then, the big guns come out. NBC takes over from 3 p.m. ET all the way until 6 p.m. ET. This is where you’ll likely see the championship decided. Make sure you’re tuned in for those crucial back-nine moments.

If you’re more of a digital native, or just prefer streaming, you’ve got that covered too. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ is your best friend here. They’re starting their coverage super early on Sunday, at 7:30 a.m. ET. That’s right, before most of us have even had our first cup of coffee. They’ll be offering exclusive streaming, including featured groups and specific holes. So, if you want to follow your favorite player who isn’t in the final pairing, or just watch how they tackle a particular challenging hole, this is your ticket.

And if you’re on the NBC broadcast side of things, Peacock will be streaming that coverage. So, no matter your preference, you’ve got a way to watch the conclusion of the Valspar Championship. Don’t say we never did anything for you.

Sunday Tee Times: Know When Everyone's Playing

For the truly dedicated, or those who just like to know who’s playing when, here’s a look at the Sunday tee times. It’s a long list, but it’s important if you’re trying to track specific players or just get a feel for the flow of the day. Remember, these are all from Tee No. 1. The early risers get going before the sun is even fully up.

7:35 a.m. – David Ford, Vince Whaley
7:44 a.m. – Rasmus Hojgaard, Bud Cauley
7:53 a.m. – Kevin Streelman, Davis Thompson
8:02 a.m. – Billy Horschel, Matti Schmid
8:11 a.m. – Kensei Hirata, Pierceson Coody
8:20 a.m. – Kevin Roy, Justin Thomas
8:30 a.m. – Keegan Bradley, Henrik Norlander
8:40 a.m. – Nicolai Hojgaard, Andrew Novak
8:55 a.m. – Blades Brown, Alejandro Tosti
9:05 a.m. – Ricky Castillo, Sam Ryder
9:15 a.m. – Chad Ramey, Karl Vilips
9:25 a.m. – Michael Kim, Joel Dahmen
9:35 a.m. – Mackenzie Hughes, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
9:45 a.m. – Hank Lebioda, John VanDerLaan
9:55 a.m. – Andrew Putnam, Chandler Phillips
10:05 a.m. – Emiliano Grillo, Takumi Kanaya
10:20 a.m. – Jimmy Stanger, Webb Simpson
10:30 a.m. – Justin Lower, Denny McCarthy
10:40 a.m. – Alex Smalley, John Parry
10:50 a.m. – Xander Schauffele, Patrick Fishburn
11:00 a.m. – Matt Wallace, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
11:10 a.m. – Isaiah Salinda, Ryo Hisatsune
11:20 a.m. – Dylan Wu, Lee Hodges
11:30 a.m. – Davis Chatfield, Stephan Jaegar
11:45 a.m. – A.J. Ewart, Patrick Rodgers
11:55 a.m. – Jacob Bridgeman, Doug Ghim
12:05 p.m. – Jordan Spieth, Danny Walker
12:15 p.m. – Patrick Cantlay, David Skinns
12:25 p.m. – Matthieu Pavon, Seamus Power
12:35 p.m. – Gary Woodland, Jordan Smith
12:45 p.m. – Brooks Koepka, Tony Finau
12:55 p.m. – Kevin Yu, Rico Hoey
1:10 p.m. – Corey Conners, Chandler Blanchet
1:20 p.m. – S.H. Kim, Tom Kim
1:30 p.m. – Matt Fitzpatrick, Adrien Dumon de Chassart
1:40 p.m. – David Lipsky, Marco Penge
1:50 p.m. – Sungjae Im, Brandt Snedeker

You can see the big names are clustered in the afternoon, which is standard. Keep an eye on those times. If you’re following someone like Xander Schauffele or Brooks Koepka, you know they’re going to be in the mix if Im and Snedeker stumble. This is the kind of stuff that makes you want to call in sick to work, isn’t it? Just saying.

The Copperhead Course: A True Test

Let’s not forget the golf course itself. The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook is no pushover. It’s known for its challenging layout, tight fairways, and devilish greens. It’s a true test of golf, often referred to as the “Snake Pit.” Players who can navigate its hazards and manage their game under pressure are the ones who usually end up on top. It’s not just about bombing it off the tee; you need precision, strategy, and a solid short game. This course has a way of exposing flaws, and on a Sunday with the trophy on the line, those flaws become magnified.

The pressure cooker environment of a final round, combined with a demanding course like Copperhead, is where legends are made and dreams are shattered. Im’s admission of nerves is genuine. Everyone feels it. The question is who can channel it, and who lets it get the better of them. Snedeker, with his experience, might have a slight edge in managing those nerves. Lipsky, playing with house money, could be dangerous if he gets hot.

What to Expect on Sunday

Expect a tense final round. Im will be trying to play his game, but Snedeker and Lipsky will be doing everything they can to make him uncomfortable. We’ll see plenty of strategic golf, some brilliant shots, and inevitably, a few mistakes. That’s golf. The key will be how players respond to those mistakes. Do they let it derail their round, or do they shake it off and focus on the next shot?

Keep an eye on the weather, too. Sometimes a bit of wind or rain can throw a wrench into everyone’s plans and level the playing field. The Copperhead Course can be brutal in tough conditions. Whatever happens, it promises to be an exciting conclusion to the 2026 Valspar Championship. Make sure you’re watching. You can find more information about the PGA Tour and upcoming events on their official website, PGATour.com. It’s where all the official stuff lives.