2026 PGA Valspar Championship odds, predictions: Top picks, props and analysis for this week's event in Palm Harbor, Fla.

Xander Schauffele looks to earn his first win of the PGA season when he takes part in the 2026 Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club - Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor, Fla. Schauffele enters as the +1100 favorite. The 32-year-old has had 10 wins on the PGA Tour with the last coming at the Baycurrent Classic this past October. He is ranked second in the world behind Scottie Scheffler.

This year's Valspar Championship gets underway at 7:30 a.m. ET on Thursday. The tournament, with a $9.1 million purse, will be played on a par-71 course measuring 7,352 yards. 

Last year's winner, Viktor Hovland, comes back at +1900, alongside Jacob Bridgeman. Hovland won the event by one stroke over Justin Thomas and two over Bridgeman. 

Before making any 2026 Valspar Championship picks, you NEED to see the predictions and best bets from elite golf expert Brady Kannon.

Kannon is an elite golfing handicapper with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. He has called eight major winners since 2013 and hit six PGA winners, including 110-1 longshot Harris English at the Farmers Insurance Open, in 2025. Additionally, he's 27-23-4 on head-to-head bets since joining SportsLine. Anyone who followed his lead could have been WAY UP!

Now, Kannon has been digging into this week's field to find the best betting value and just locked in his best bets to back. He's fading Justin Thomas (22-1 at BetMGM). 

"Thomas caught fire for the first two days of the tournament last week at The PLAYERS but dipped over the weekend, shooting two consecutive rounds of Even Par 72," Kannon said. "In the end, it was good enough for his first top 10 finish of the season and the road to recovery off his back surgery looks to be on track. However, Thomas still lost strokes to the field off the tee, nearly 1.5 strokes over the four rounds. Of the 73 players that made the cut, he ranked 57th for SG: Off the Tee and this is really my basis for choosing to stay away from JT this week at the Valspar – with performance off the tee being so crucial. He's only played in two events so far this season – last week at TPC Sawgrass and the week prior at Bay Hill where he missed the cut. 

"I don't feel the game is really ready just yet – not only to win a PGA Tour event but also to be priced in the neighborhood of 20-1 as one of the tournament favorites. Thomas did not make my outright winner list this week and may be someone I choose to go against in a head-to-head matchup. We'll see."

Kannon has revealed his best bet, and it's a surprising golfer who returns around 15-1 and is a perfect course fit!

What are the best bets for the 2026 Valspar Championship, and which massive longshot should you back? ... Join SportsLine right now to see Brady Kannon's best picks, all from the expert who nailed four winners last season!