Valspar Championship 2026: Your Ultimate Guide to Tee Times and Top Contenders

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Alright, let’s talk golf. The 2026 Valspar Championship is here. Kicking off Thursday, March 19th, at that beast of a course, Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor, Florida. You want to know who’s playing when? You’ve come to the right damn place. Forget all the fluff. We’re getting straight to the good stuff: the tee times and who you should actually be watching.This isn’t just another tournament. This is where narratives get written, where careers can get a serious boost. We’ve got some serious talent lining up, and you don’t want to miss a single swing. Especially with guys like Matt Fitzpatrick looking like they’ve finally put the pieces back together. Remember that U.S. Open win? Yeah, he’s got that kind of game. He’s been a bit of a rollercoaster since, but last fall’s DP World Tour Championship win? That was a statement. And this 2026 PGA Tour season? He’s been solid. No missed cuts, two top-10s in six starts. Last week at The Players Championship, he was *so close*. One bogey on the final hole, lost by a shot. Brutal. But that kind of performance? That’s momentum, my friends. He’s chasing his third PGA Tour title here at the Valspar, and you bet he’s got the fire.

Early Birds and Late Risers: Thursday's Opening Tee Times

So, who’s out there first, and who’s getting the prime-time treatment? Let’s break it down. You’ve got your early risers, the ones who are probably already regretting that late night. And then you’ve got your afternoon squads, the ones who might have had an extra cup of coffee.

Tee No. 1: The Morning Crew

The sun barely up, and these guys are already pounding balls.* 7:35 a.m. – Alex Smalley, Justin Lower, Max McGreevy * 7:46 a.m. – Brandt Snedeker, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Takumi Kanaya * 7:57 a.m. – Thorbjørn Olesen, Chandler Phillips, Hank Lebioda * 8:08 a.m. – Steven Fisk, Nick Taylor, Aaron Rai * 8:19 a.m. – Brian Campbell, Cam Davis, Patrick Rodgers * 8:30 a.m. – Matt McCarty, Davis Thompson, Matt Kuchar * 8:41 a.m. – Joe Highsmith, Davis Riley, Pierceson Coody * 8:52 a.m. – Matthieu Pavon, Eric Cole, Kevin Roy * 9:03 a.m. – Chad Ramey, Andrew Putnam, Luke Guthrie * 9:14 a.m. – Jeremy Paul, A.J. Ewart, Gordon Sargent * 9:25 a.m. – John Parry, John VanDerLaan, Marcelo RozoThese early groups are crucial. They set the tone. A good start can calm the nerves for the rest of the day. A bad one? Well, it’s a long damn day ahead. You want to see how the course is playing, how the pins are set. These guys are your guinea pigs.

The Afternoon Shift: Prime Time Golf

Then you’ve got the afternoon groups. These are the ones who get to sleep in a bit, maybe have a leisurely breakfast. They also get the pressure cooker of moving day and the weekend looming.* 12:30 p.m. – Patton Kizzire, Gary Woodland, Adam Hadwin * 12:41 p.m. – Taylor Moore, Beau Hossler, Max Greyserman * 12:52 p.m. – Peter Malnati, Nicolai Højgaard, Marco Penge * 1:03 p.m. – Akshay Bhatia, Justin Thomas, Matt Fitzpatrick * 1:14 p.m. – Jacob Bridgeman, Wyndham Clark, Jordan Spieth * 1:25 p.m. – Ben Griffin, Sahith Theegala, Tony Finau * 1:36 p.m. – Max Homa, Kevin Streelman, Danny Walker * 1:47 p.m. – Vince Whaley, Kristoffer Reitan, Johnny Keefer * 1:58 p.m. – David Skinns, Dan Brown, Davis Chatfield * 2:09 p.m. – Jordan Smith, David Ford, Greg Koch * 2:20 p.m. – Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Jimmy Stanger, Tyler WilkesNow, look at that 1:03 p.m. group. Fitzpatrick, Bhatia, and Justin Thomas. That’s a heavyweight trio right there. Thomas, a proven winner, always a threat. Bhatia, young and hungry. And Fitzpatrick, as we said, looking like his old dominant self. That’s a group to circle.

Tee No. 10: The Other Side of the Course

It’s not just about Hole 1. The action is happening all over Copperhead. Here’s who’s kicking off from the 10th tee.

Morning Starters (Tee No. 10)

More early birds, getting after it.* 7:40 a.m. – Emiliano Grillo, Charley Hoffman, Danny Willett * 7:51 a.m. – Matt Wallace, Matti Schmid, S.H. Kim * 8:02 a.m. – Mackenzie Hughes, Denny McCarthy, Austin Smotherman * 8:13 a.m. – Viktor Hovland, Brooks Koepka, Corey Conners * 8:24 a.m. – Xander Schauffele, Keegan Bradley, Patrick Cantlay * 8:35 a.m. – Ricky Castillo, J.J. Spaun, Billy Horschel * 8:46 a.m. – Andrew Novak, Karl Vilips, Sungjae Im * 8:57 a.m. – Lee Hodges, Mark Hubbard, Henrik Norlander * 9:08 a.m. – Erik van Rooyen, Tom Kim, Zac Blair * 9:19 a.m. – Jesper Svensson, Zach Bauchou, Jeffrey Kang * 9:30 a.m. – Kris Ventura, Kensei Hirata, Adrien SaddierHold up. 8:13 a.m.? Hovland, Koepka, Conners. That’s a group that could light up the leaderboard. Koepka, when he’s on, is an absolute monster. Hovland’s game is pure class. Conners, steady as a rock. This group is going to be fun to watch. And then, just an hour later, 8:24 a.m.? Schauffele, Bradley, Cantlay. Seriously? These are all top-tier players. Schauffele, always knocking on the door of majors and big wins. Bradley, rediscovered his form. Cantlay, that cool, collected assassin. This is prime viewing right here.

Afternoon Grind (Tee No. 10)

The back nine gets its own spotlight in the afternoon.* 12:25 p.m. – Austin Eckroat, Doug Ghim, David Lipsky * 12:36 p.m. – Rafael Campos, Seamus Power, Rasmus Højgaard * 12:47 p.m. – Adam Svensson, Michael Kim, Bud Cauley * 12:58 p.m. – Michael Brennan, Stephan Jaeger, Lucas Glover * 1:09 p.m. – Adam Schenk, Kevin Yu, Webb Simpson * 1:20 p.m. – Garrick Higgo, Taylor Pendrith, Ryo Hisatsune * 1:31 p.m. – Brice Garnett, Dylan Wu, Mac Meissner * 1:42 p.m. – Nick Dunlap, Rico Hoey, Chandler Blanchet * 1:53 p.m. – Zecheng Dou, Jackson Suber, Neal Shipley * 2:04 p.m. – Paul Peterson, Paul Waring, Blades Brown * 2:15 p.m. – Patrick Fishburn, Isaiah Salinda, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen * 2:26 p.m. – Alejandro Tosti, Luke Clanton, Pontus NyholmThis is where you’ll see players trying to make a move, trying to get into contention before the weekend. Some of these names might not be household ones, but that’s the beauty of golf. You get guys grinding, fighting for every shot.

Watching the Action: Where to Tune In

Can’t be there in person? No sweat. You’ve got options.You can catch Thursday’s first round coverage on the Golf Channel from 2-6 p.m. ET. If you want the super early stuff, the nitty-gritty, PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ is your jam. They’ll be streaming from 7:30 a.m. ET, plus they’ve got featured groups and holes. So, you can basically watch golf all damn day if you want.

The Copperhead Course: A True Test

Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course. It’s not a pushover. It’s known for its tight fairways, rolling hills, and those infamous “snake” holes on the back nine. You’ve got the Mamba, the Copperhead, and the Rattler. They’ll test your nerve and your ball-striking. Don’t expect to just bomb and gouge your way to a win here. You need precision. You need strategy. You need to manage your game.The PGA Tour has a long history with this course, and it always produces drama. It’s a proper test of golf, and that’s why the best players still show up. It separates the pretenders from the contenders.

Betting on the Valspar?

If you’re the type who likes to put a little something on the line, there are always ways to get involved. And hey, maybe you’ll get a nice little bonus if your pick comes through. For those looking to wager, there are plenty of sportsbooks out there. Just make sure you’re responsible about it. Betting on golf can be fun, but don’t go blowing your rent money on some long shot.

Final Thoughts on Round 1

This first round is massive. It’s about getting off to a solid start. Avoiding disaster. Setting yourself up for the rest of the tournament. You’ll see some guys come out firing, others might be a bit tight. Keep an eye on those groups we highlighted – Fitzpatrick/Thomas, Hovland/Koepka/Conners, Schauffele/Bradley/Cantlay. Those are the ones that have the potential for fireworks and could set the tone for the entire Valspar Championship.Good luck to all the players. May your drives be long, your approaches accurate, and your putts find the bottom of the cup. Let’s see who can handle the Copperhead.For more on the PGA Tour and upcoming events, you can always check out the official PGA Tour website.