TAYLOR MOORE CAPS FIRST PGA WIN
Another Valspar Championship is in the books with a new name on this year’s Champions Trophy. American 29-year-old, Taylor Moore, was the one to hoist the trophy on the 18th green of Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor for his first PGA Tour win. The event is one of the most anticipated PGA tournaments of the year, drawing golf fans worldwide to Greater Tampa Bay.
Moore finished the final round with an impressive 67 (-4) moments before featured group Jordan Spieth and Adam Schenk approached the 18th tee. Tied for the lead after 17 holes (-10), Schenk sent his drive on 18 into the trees and two-putted his way to a bogey instead of a playoff. Spieth, the Valspar Championship winner in 2015, needed to make up two strokes on the final hole to stay alive, but struggled on the 18th green finishing with a bogey of his own.
AN UNLIKELY CHAMPION
Moore, who entered the weekend ranked 49 in the world, had not finished in the top 10 since placing fifth at last year’s Wyndham Championship. The former Arkansas Razorback finished last season with four top-10 finishes but had none this season before Sunday. In fact, Moore missed the cut in five of the prior 12 PGA Tour events with a season best finish (t-11th) at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines before pulling out an improbable Valspar victory.
“I might have been under the radar to some people watching, but I felt like I was in the golf tournament from the time I teed off today,” Moore said, “and was just excited to control what I could control and get it done.”
Taylor Moore became the lowest World-Ranked golfer (49th) to win the Valspar Championship since 98th-ranked Adam Hadwin’s victory in 2017 (98th in the Official World Golf Ranking).
ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR GTB
Copperheads General Chair and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Rondé Barber, was on hand to present the Champions Trophy. The organization’s charity contributions to GTB have had an invaluable impact on the community. As the popularity of the Valspar Championship event at Innisbrook expands with each tournament, it only further cultivates Florida’s golf culture, making GTB one of the top golf destinations in the country.
“From the fans and sponsors who supported the event, to the prestigious field of PGA TOUR professionals who participated, and the cooperative weather, it truly was a fantastic week for our Tampa Bay community,” said Tournament Director, Tracy West.
“Copperhead Charities will be working through our tournament financials in the weeks ahead and will have our traditional annual charitable announcement in June. On behalf of our General Chair, Rondé Barber, and all of our Copperheads, and our title sponsor Valspar, we thank all of our fans, sponsors, and volunteers who make this event happen,” added West.
The 2024 Valspar Championship is scheduled to be played March 18-24 of next year.
By Jordan Ogren.
