When 30 mph gusts swept across the Copperhead Course during the 2024 Valspar Championship, players watched their shots dance unpredictably through the air. Fast forward one year, and history is repeating itself. The second round of the 2025 Valspar Championship now faces another day of wind challenges, though conditions show signs of improvement as players battle to make it to the weekend.

Thursday’s opening round tested players with sustained winds of 15-20 mph and gusts reaching 30 mph. The afternoon wave caught the worst of it when pop-up showers combined with those howling gusts. The winds wreaked havoc with only 21 players managing to break 70. The challenging conditions ultimately forced officials to suspend play due to darkness at 7:39 p.m. ET, with several players unable to complete their rounds. The R1 will now resume at 9 am on Friday.

Now, as we head into a busy Friday of golf, the wind remains a significant factor, though players can expect some relief as the day progresses.

Friday’s conditions at Innisbrook feature sunny skies with absolutely no chance of precipitation. Morning players face cooler temperatures around 51°F, rising to about 65°F in the afternoon. The wind, while still challenging, shows improvement from yesterday. Morning groups must contend with 15-16 mph winds from the north with gusts up to 23 mph. Afternoon players catch a break with winds decreasing to around 12 mph and gusts dropping to 18 mph.

This north wind direction significantly changes playing conditions compared to yesterday. Different holes now face crosswinds, forcing players to adjust their strategies yet again. The “Snake Pit” finishing stretch (holes 16-18) remains challenging, though slightly more manageable than during Thursday’s first round. With excellent visibility and clear skies, players face ideal conditions except for the persistent wind. The tournament’s 7:42 PM sunset provides ample daylight for completion of all rounds, even for the latest afternoon tee times.

But today’s wind challenges are nothing new for this demanding Florida course, which has a long history of testing players with similar conditions.

Copperhead’s windy reputation grows stronger

The Valspar Championship at Innisbrook has built a reputation for wind challenges, particularly when played in mid-March. Similar gusts made the course brutally difficult in 2015, with a scoring average of 72.88, ranking it the third hardest course that year.

Stewart Cink, who shared the lead after the second round in 2024, demonstrated remarkable composure amid gusts that bent pine branches and snapped pant legs. “This place is tough even in good weather,” Kevin Streelman noted during last year’s wind-battered rounds. The Copperhead Course reveals its true character when the wind howls. In calm conditions like 2017, the course played significantly easier, with a 71.51 scoring average. Add substantial wind, and it transforms into what players consistently describe as “an absolute grind.”

Weekend players can expect increasingly favorable conditions. Saturday’s third round forecasts highs of 70°F with minimal winds of just 5-10 mph. Sunday’s final round looks even better, with temperatures reaching 77°F and only light winds between 6-12 mph. Could players who make the cut be rewarded with perfect scoring conditions after surviving these windswept opening rounds? It remains to be seen.