Palm Harbor, Florida – For each of the last three weeks on the PGA Tour, the leader on the 16th tee did NOT win the tournament. Just ask Shane Lowry, Daniel Burger or Matt Fitzpatrick. They will tell you it’s not easy winning on the PGA Tour. They all lost.
The golf courses had something to do with it. At Palm Beach Gardens there is the famous “Bear Trap” with water on holes 15-17. At Bay Hill the 18th hole demands two good shots around the water. And at the TPC Sawgrass, No. 16-18 have plenty of water including the famous island green on 17.
Well if that’s not enough for you, this week’s Valspar Championship features the “Snake Pit”! Holes 16-18 at the Copperhead course at Innisbrook Resort decide the winner year after year after year and this Sunday final round will be no different.
“We say it every year, the tournament is won and lost on the Snake Pit,” said Innisbrook GM and PGA professional Bobby Barnes. “Sometimes there are unfortunate shots where they lose and other times they hit great shots and win. That’s the beauty of the Snake Pit.”
Last year was no different as Justin Thomas and Victor Hovland were tied for the lead on 16 Sunday. Thomas hit driver into the woods and made bogey. Hovland hit an iron off the tee and made birdie. Hovland went on to win.
“The Snake Pit demands you to hit great shots,” said NBC Golf Announcer Gary Koch. “You make par, you are happy, you make birdie you are ecstatic. Sixteen is a very awkward tee shot. You need to work the ball left to right. Being in the fairway is so critical.”
After 16, you are faced with a slightly uphill 220+ yard par three that is well protected by sand, left, right and long. The 18th hole tee shot is tight with church pew bunkers to the right with more bunkers left and very thick rough left and right.
“I think the final 3 holes at Sawgrass are a little more dramatic,” said Koch. “But the Snake Pit demands you to hit great shots.”
So tune in around 5 pm Sunday and see who handles the Snake Pit best. He who handles it best, will win the 2026 Valspar Championship.
https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard
