Innisbrook’s notorious Copperhead Course bared its fangs once again. The challenging layout demanded precision and patience from the field at the 2025 Valspar Championship. Many thought the cut line would fall deeper, but Mother Nature had other plans. Swirling winds and firm greens pushed the cut to 2-over par, sending numerous notable names home early.
Players like Jacob Bridgeman and Viktor Hovland thrived under pressure to lead the tournament at 6-under and 5-under, respectively. Meanwhile, several pre-tournament favorites found themselves booking early flights home. Let’s take a closer look at five prominent players who couldn’t solve the Copperhead puzzle this year.
Sam Burns
Sam Burns surprisingly missed the weekend at a venue where he’s etched his name into tournament history. The two-time Valspar champion (2021, 2022) posted disappointing rounds of 72, and 73 that left him at 3-over par, just one stroke shy of making the cut.
Burns struggled particularly with his approach play and around the greens. His SG: Approach to Green (-1.488) and SG: Around The Green (-2.707) statistics tell the painful story. Despite a solid driving performance, averaging 297 yards off the tee, Burns couldn’t capitalize on scoring opportunities.
May 2, 2021; Palm Harbor, Florida, USA; Sam Burns tees off on the 15th hole during the final round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
His second round showed moments of brilliance with birdies on holes 1, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 15. However, a devastating triple bogey on the 16th hole Friday ultimately sealed his fate. The world number 22 now looks to regroup before a potential start at the Texas Open or final preparations for the Masters.
Peter Malnati
Last year’s emotional champion couldn’t recapture the magic. Peter Malnati, who claimed his second PGA Tour victory at this very tournament in 2024, faltered with rounds that left him at 4-over par. His putting, typically a strength, abandoned him with a -0.825 SG: Putting mark.
After his round, Malnati didn’t hide his disappointment. “A cut is an integral part of professional golf… I hate every missed cut,” he told reporters. This marks his sixth missed cut in nine starts this season, for sure.
Malnati’s erratic driving (hitting just 30.77% of fairways) placed him in difficult positions throughout both rounds. Despite some stellar iron play (0.668 SG: Approach), he couldn’t overcome early mistakes. The defending champion will likely regroup before the Texas Open, hoping to find the form that delivered his breakthrough victory here just 12 months ago.
Joel Dahmen
Joel Dahmen’s recent momentum hit a roadblock at Innisbrook. The fan-favorite posted identical rounds of 74 (+3) for a 6-over total, missing the cut by four strokes. His statistics tell the painful story – Dahmen lost over two strokes putting (-2.227) despite finding nearly 58% of fairways and over half his greens in regulation. His approach play also faltered (-1.496 SG: Approach), leaving him scrambling throughout both rounds.
Dahmen managed just four birdies against ten bogeys over 36 holes. Despite solid driving (1.044 SG: Off The Tee), Dahmen couldn’t capitalize on scoring opportunities, averaging a costly 1.85 putts per green in regulation. This setback comes just weeks after an encouraging sixth-place finish at the Mexico Open, where the 2021 Corales Puntacana champion had shown flashes of his potential.
Ben Griffin
Ben Griffin’s inconsistent season continued at Valspar. The world number 66 carded rounds of 75 (+4) and 70 (-1) for a 3-over total, missing the cut by one stroke. His second-round scorecard showed impressive ball-striking with five birdies, but the damage from Thursday proved too much to overcome.
Griffin’s stats reveal the story of his missed cut. Despite positive Strokes Gained in driving (1.865) and approach play (1.079), his short game betrayed him. He lost over two strokes around the green (-2.078) and another 1.248 strokes putting. His 53.85% scrambling rate and 1.83 putts per green in regulation proved costly on Innisbrook’s demanding surfaces.
The former University of North Carolina standout has previously spoken about mental resilience after nearly leaving professional golf altogether. “Having a team supporting me has given me a clear mind,” he noted earlier this season. That mental strength will now be tested as he looks toward the Texas Open.
Jake Knapp
Fresh off a T12 finish at THE PLAYERS Championship, Jake Knapp couldn’t maintain momentum at Valspar. The 2024 Mexico Open champion posted a disastrous second-round 77 (+6), highlighted by a catastrophic front nine 43 and triple bogeys on holes 2 and 11.
Knapp’s statistics paint a clear picture of his struggles – he lost nearly 7 strokes to the field, with poor approach play (-2.785) and short game (-3.987) being the primary culprits. Despite solid driving distance, he found just 38.46% of fairways, leaving himself scrambling throughout both rounds.
Which of these stars do you think will bounce back strongest at their next start? Let us know in the comments section below!
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