PALM HARBOR, Florida – When the 2025 Valspar Championship hits the Tampa Bay area next week, Peter Malnati will be trying to make it back-to-back victories on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort. A self proclaimed “journeyman” on the PGA Tour, Malnati isn’t exactly a household name. He knows it. He owns it. And he’s very happy to be where his life is today.
“I have been on the PGA Tour for 11 Years,” said Malnati. “I have been a professional golfer for 15 years. I am a journeyman. I wish there was a better word for it, but it means you have been on Tour for a long time and struggled. To win the Valspar last year was huge. My first thought was that I’m guaranteed two more years on Tour. Winning provides a security that is so precious in my profession.”
The Valspar was 37 year old Malnati’s second win on the PGA Tour. He captured the Sanderson Farms Championship in 2015. There no need to feel sorry for the Indiana native and former University of Missouri player that has “struggled” on Tour. He has over $10 million in career earnings. This season he is 147th on the PGA money list with over $88,000. In 7 tournaments in 2025 he has missed the cut 4 times with his best finish a T-49 at the Phoenix Waste Management Open. So how does he feel about his game as he approaches the Valspar? Well, if Peter Malnati is one thing, he’s honest.
“My game is absolutely dreadful,” he said at a recent media day held to promote the upcoming tournament scheduled March 20-23. “From last year’s US Open, where I missed the cut, up until about three weeks ago, I was on a slow steady downward. But then my wife said to me, “you are pretty mopey about your golf game. That’s not helping so make a plan, get to work but don’t mope.”
So Malnati came up with a plan. He also talked with his trainer who helped him as well. Not with a new training strategy, but a new approach to getting his golf game back in line.
“I changed my practice routine,” he said. “I’d work on my game and if I didn’t get the results that I wanted that day I would practice longer and work harder. It’s been kinda fun. In Phoenix I didn’t play particularly great, but I grinded and made the cut for the first time in a long time. In Mexico I played a nice round on Friday and made the cut. I’m trending in the right direction and I think I have just enough time to be peaking in Tampa.”
To the victors go the spoils. As a paint company, Valspar prides itself in sponsoring “the most colorful tournament on the PGA Tour.” And, by the way, has signed on to sponsor the event for five more years. Each year the defending champion gets a very colorful designated parking space.
“I’m so excited to step back on those grounds,” said Malnati. “Can’t wait to see my parking spot. One of the things that the general public doesn’t get to see is the paint job on the defending champions parking spot. I’m also incredibly excited to get back on the Copperhead course. It is truly one of the best tests of golf that we play all year. It’ll be in amazing shape. I know that. I have so many good feelings about it. I can’t wait to re-live it, but not just re-live it, but to do it (win) again.”
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