Sunday Swing | Moore's Superb Sunday Secures Valspar Championship

Welcome back to the Sunday Swing presented by 2nd Swing Golf. This week in the world of golf, the PGA Tour remained in Florida for the Valspar Championship at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort. 

The Valspar Championship - Tournament History

The Valspar Championship dates back to 1977 when the inaugural event was won by Jerry Pate. Played at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook, the world's best are put to a serious test every year. The closing stretch features “The Snake Pit” which consists of the 460-yard par-4 16th, 215-yard par-3 17th, and 445-yard par-4 18th. Every year these holes provide a thrilling finish where only one player emerges victorious. 

This year, Sam Burns arrives at the Valspar Championship looking to defend his title for the second straight year. Last year it was decided in extra holes when Burns took down PGA Tour rookie Davis Riley in a playoff with a long birdie putt. In 2023, the Valspar Championship delivered more Sunday theatrics.

• 2023 - Taylor Moore (-10)
• 2022 - Sam Burns (-17)
• 2021 - Sam Burns (-17)
• 2019 - Paul Casey (-8)
• 2018 - Paul Casey (-10) 

The Big Swing 

This week the big swing goes to the first time champion Taylor Moore, who was a bit of an afterthought heading into the final round. Jordan Spieth and Tommy Fleetwood garnered most of the attention at one shot back, while 54-hole leader Adam Schenk seemed poised for his first career PGA Tour win. Moore, looking for his first PGA Tour win as well, had been lurking all week and took advantage of his opportunities on Sunday’s back nine. He made birdies on holes 12, 15, and 16 – none of which are easy birdies – to grab a share of the lead. He survived the final two holes to shoot a final-round 67, one of the best rounds of the day, and set the clubhouse mark at 10-under par. 

Then, one by one, the rest of the contenders flamed out. Fleetwood hit a poor second shot on the par-5 14th hole which led to a bogey, dropping him to -8. Spieth, meanwhile, made his costly mistake on the 16th tee when he drove it into the water and made bogey. Schenk stood on the 18th tee in a tie with Moore, needing a par to force a playoff. However, his tee shot was pulled well left and rested up against the trunk of a tree. He was unable to scramble for par, and Moore remained the lone player at 10-under-par. 

Winner’s Bag - Taylor Moore 

Taylor Moore claimed his first title on the PGA Tour at the Copperhead Course. In doing so, he also got Team PING in the win column on the PGA Tour in 2023. Moore was impressive in nearly every facet at the Copperhead Course, finishing third in strokes gained off the tee, fifth in strokes gained on approach shots, and 10th in strokes gained putting. Off the tee, Moore plays the new PING G430 LST (10.5 degrees). He also has a pair of PING G430 Max fairway woods (15 and 21 degrees). Moore’s irons include a PING i230 4-iron and a set of PING S55s (5-PW). Around the greens, Moore uses a set of the PING Glide Forged Pro wedges (50, 54, and 60 degrees) and a PING PLD Oslo 4 Prototype putter.