The PGA Tour visits the west coast of Florida this week, where players will take on one of the more dificult tracks they'll face this season - the par-71, 7,340-yard Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort.
Copperhead is not your typical Florida course, featuring tight, tree-lined fairways, hilly terrain and challenging greens. It's a course that favors good ball-strikers and as Titleist golf ball loyalist Henrik Stenson (Pro V1) noted, the second shot is frequently the key to success:
“A lot of times it's those kind of mid-irons," Stenson said. "It's the 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-irons into the greens, and when I'm hitting it well, then that's the strong part of my game.”
The mid-irons were certainly working for Stenson in Round 1. He opened with a 7-under-par 64, good for a share of second place with Titleist Brand Ambassador Russell Henley (Pro V1x) heading into Friday's action. Stenson and Henley sit two shots back from Titleist golf ball loyalist Jim Herman (Pro V1), who shot a 9-under-par 62 on Thursday, a round that included a back-nine 30 (1-under through the Snake Pit).
Herman, Stenson and Henley lead a host of Pro V1 and Pro V1x players who are crowded at the top of the current leaderboard. And once again at the Valspar Championship, Titleist is the overwhelming golf ball choice with 100 players trusting a Titleist Pro V1 or Pro V1x golf ball for their success. That’s more than five times the nearest competitor with 17 and more than all competitors combined.
Titleist is also the top choice of players in the hybrids (31) and irons (48) categories. Vokey Design Wedges topped the approach, sand and lob wedge (188) category. Scotty Cameron putters were the top choice in the putter (57) category.
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FAST FACTS:
- The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort ranked No. 6 on the list of toughest courses (including majors) on the 2015-2016 PGA Tour schedule, with the field averaging 1.618 strokes over par. The toughest courses last year?
- Oakmont CC, U.S. Open, par 70, 3.562 over par
- Torrey Pines GC (South), Farmers Insurance Open, par 72, 2.498 over par
- Augusta National GC, Masters Tournament, par 72, 2.421 over par
- Royal Troon GC, The Open Championship, par 71, 2.161 over par
- PGA National (Champion), The Honda Classic, par 70, 1.768 over par
- Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead), Valspar Championship, par 71, 1.618 over par
- Firestone CC (South), WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, par 70, 1.416 over par
- Harbour Town GL, RBC Heritage, par 71, 1.285 over par
- Quail Hollow Club, Wells Fargo Championship, par 72, 0.953 over par
- TPC Southwind, FedEx St. Jude Classic, par 70, 0.93 over par
- The signature hole at the Copperhead Course is the double dogleg, par-5, 590-yard 14th. One of the last realistic chances at birdie come here
- The Copperhead Course is known for its 3-hole stretch of closing holes known as "The Snake Pit". This intimidating trio consistently produces dramatic finishes at the Valspar. Last year, the following holes averaged 0.598 strokes over par, collectively:
- No. 16 | "Moccasin", a 460-yard par-4 that many consider the most difficult of the three finishing holes
- No. 17 | "Rattler", a 215-yard par-3 that features the largest green on the course. Surrounded by trouble everywhere.
- No. 18 | "Copperhead", an uphill, heavily bunkered, 445-yard par-4 where the outcome will most likely be decided. You have to go back to 2006 to find a Valspar champion who won by more than 2 strokes.
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SOCIAL BUZZ:
Welcome to the Snake Pit!
A more serene view on the Copperhead Course:
Titleist Brand Ambassador Jason Dufner made the highlight reel early in Round 1:
Titleist golf ball loyalist Jim Herman seized the first round lead following a 9-under-par 62, one stroke shy of the course record!
Titleist golf ball loyalist Henrik Stenson gave his keys to playing the Snake Pit earlier in the week. Other players should pay attention, as Henrik fired a 7-under-par 64 on Thursday (T2):
Titleist Brand Ambassador Tyrone van Aswegen is heating up as we look forward to another exciting finish at the Valspar Championship.
Good luck to all of #TeamTitleist!
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