Viktor Hovland closed strong at the 2025 Valspar Championship, dropping birdies on two of his last three holes to shoot a final-round 67 and finish 11-under par. That was just enough to edge out Justin Thomas by a single stroke in a thrilling Sunday finish at Palm Harbor, Florida.
That dramatic stretch capped a week full of excitement at one of the most colorful and competitive events on the PGA Tour calendar. Here’s a closer look at the standout moments from Innisbrook.
All Eyes on Innisbrook
Valspar Championship was held following the Players Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, yet 24 of the world’s top 50 were able to compete in Innisbrook Golf and Spa Resort in Florida. The two big golf events before the Vaspar attract the PGA Tour’s best, so given the timing, it’s reasonable to assume that some might take the week off that the Valspar will be hosted.
Still, many showed up in pursuit of the $1,566,000 first-place prize. Fans, too, were excited, knowing the tournament carried an impressive $8.7 million purse, enough to keep the field competitive and the energy high.
The challengers took on the 7,352-yard par-71 Copperhead course, which also hosted Malnati’s 12-under win last year and Taylor Moore’s 10-under victory the year before.
For the record, the venue is ranked as the PGA TOUR’s 7th sneaky-tough course, and among Innisbrook’s four courses, Copperhead is the most recognizable as the regular host of the annual Valspar Championship. The course is distinguishable with its rolling terrain and tree-lined fairways.
It’s the kind of venue that challenges even the Tour’s elite, keeping fans and oddsmakers on their toes. While the course shines for its natural beauty and wildlife, it’s also known for turning projected favorites into underdogs in a single round. No wonder it’s frequently circled when tracking momentum shifts in the PGA odds throughout the spring season.
Hovland’s Return to Form
Hovland won for the seventh time on the PGA Tour and the first time since 2023 after closing the Valspar Championship with a final-round 4-under 67 at Innisbrook Resort to win for the seventh time on the PGA Tour. Before Valspar 2025, he had 21 starts and recorded just two top-10 finishes since 2023.
According to Hovland, the feeling is unbelievable. Making a comeback after a year-and-a-half struggle is incredible. He wasn’t really hopeful about winning the game, and to eventually win it feels unreal.
He suffered a slowdown after winning the 2023 FedEx Cup and competing in the Ryder Cup the following year. But he redeemed himself with his striking win in the final round of the 2025 Valspar Championship, which he won with birdies on two of his first three holes.
Thomas’s Close Call and Hovland’s Finish
Hovland opened the final round with a clean putt on No. 1 to take the solo lead at 8-under. He added another on the third with an 18-footer that gave him a two-stroke cushion. A bogey at the seventh briefly pulled him back into a four-way tie, but he never lost focus.
Meanwhile, Justin Thomas made an unexpected run at the title. After opening with a 4-over 40 on Thursday’s front nine, he barely made the cut. But he roared back with a Saturday 65—one of the lowest rounds of the tournament.
On Sunday, Thomas birdied three of his first six holes and reached 10-under with a clutch putt at No. 12. After adding birdies on 14 and 15, he surged into the lead—until the infamous Snake Pit changed everything. Errant drives at 16 and 18 led to bogeys, and his final-round 66 left him one shot short.
Hovland took full advantage, landing pinpoint approaches on 16 and 17 that set up back-to-back birdies. Despite a bogey on 18, his earlier cushion held, sealing a well-earned victory at 11-under par. For fans tracking the Latest PGA News and Trends, it was a reminder of how quickly fortunes can flip—and how previous form isn’t always predictive when it comes to tournament play.
Hovland’s win was a story of trying and winning. Hovland was in Florida, had time with his coach, and figured he might as well give it a shot. Turns out, that last-minute call turned into a win, and one he’ll definitely be glad he showed up for.
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