Looking for a Repeat at the Valspar Championship
Story and Photos by: Pat Eastman
Viktor Hovland returns to the “Most Colorful Tournament on the PGA Tour,” the Valspar Championship as the defending champion at the 2026 Valspar Championship, having secured victory with a score of 11-under in 2025. He is scheduled to compete at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club’s Copperhead Course from March 19-22, where he will aim to retain his title.
To date, only two players have successfully defended their titles at the Valspar Championship (previously known as the PODS Championship and Tampa Bay Championship): Paul Casey (2018, 2019) and Sam Burns (2021, 2022). These athletes are the sole back-to-back winners in the tournament’s history, which takes place at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead course.
“I remember last year as a very special week, my putter was clutch down the stretch… with birdies on 14, 16, 17 and finished with the sweet victory,” Hovland explained.
“Is back-to-back possibly this year for me? — I really like Copperhead, it suits my game so just coming to Copperhead, it feels comfortable. Hopefully, I can channel some old good stuff and we’ll go from there.”
Norway is obviously known for winter sports, so why golf?
“Well, my dad worked in the United States and got introduced to the game here. When he came back home, that’s kind of how I hit my first shots when I was three or four years old. But I also did martial arts, I do Taekwondo. Soccer is basically the most popular sport back home. Obviously, we do cross country skiing, downhill skiing, so very active as kid.”
“When I was 11 or 12, I moved away from soccer because I would change from elementary school to a different school. If I wanted to continue playing soccer, it would be with a different team, not my old friends. And then I noticed I wasn’t as interested in playing soccer.”
“I wanted to play golf because it was an individual sport and, yeah, it just kind of went from there.”
One would have to wonder… with Norway in the World Cup. If Viktor would have continued with soccer… would he playing in World Cup for his country… instead of deciding on golf?
Pat Eastman
Clearwater, FL resident likes to walk 9 holes daily. Except on Friday, I work as Hospice volunteer. Enjoy my summers in Hyannis, MA.
Retired MA elementary school teacher. Starting in 1981 spent summers covering PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Champion Tour, Legends of the LPGA Tour, and USGA tournaments. Some of my favorite photos were of Sam Sneed, Jan Stephenson, Tiger Woods, and Kenny Perry.
