2024 Valspar Championship : Unique Reason Behind Massive 154-Man Field Explored

Don’t be surprised to see more than the usual number of players teeing up at the Valspar Championship. Valspar, the title sponsor, agreed to a unique arrangement to offer a pathway for more golfers to tee up at PGA Tour events.

The massive field is headlined by Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, and Jordan Spieth. But a handful of Korn Ferry Tour graduates and DP World Tour stars, including the 2024 Farmers Insurance Champion, Matthieu Pavon, also highlight the field. Interestingly, the size was expanded because of creating pathways for players like Pavon.

Valspar’s unique arrangement with the PGA Tour

The Valspar Championship was slated to have a field of anywhere between 144 and 156, with the latter being the preferred choice. Inclusivity was the reason behind choosing a massive field. The Tour wanted to give more playing time to all members, including Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Q-School graduates, and players coming to Stateside through the partnership with the DP World Tour.

Sami Valimaki, Alexander Bjork, Thorbjørn Olesen, Robert MacIntyre, and others entered the field through the DP World Tour rankings. Whereas, Harrison Endycott was eligible via the top-five finishers and ties from the PGA Tour Q-School. On the other hand, Chan Kim, Alejandro Tosti, Richard Hoey, Ben Silverman, and others qualified for the Valspar Championship via the prior year’s Korn Ferry Tour Points list. 

Tracy West, the tournament director for ten years, told Forbes, “We have some prominent names and we have some of the up-and-coming new kids that people want to see play, It’s the overall strength of the field. It’s important, but we focus on trying to get enough players that people are excited to come out and see.” 

However, it has now shrunk to 154 because of Garrick Higgo’s withdrawal. The PGA Tour pro pulled out during the second round of THE PLAYERS Championship last week due to a wrist injury. And, per the rules, the organizers won’t consider a replacement unless the field size drops below 144, which seems unlikely. Before him, Patrick Cantlay also withdrew from the Valspar Championship. As did Tom Kim, who was also suffering from a health problem at TPC Sawgrass. Nevertheless, this is the highest number of players teeing up at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course, a likely aftereffect of the PGA Tour’s restructuring.

Most PGA Tour rookies have eight fewer events to vie for

The Signature events, due to their limited field—the last one at Bay Hill had only 69 players, 15 more than LIV Golf events—have squeezed the opportunity for rookies and KFT graduates to tee up at prestigious events. That’s despite the PGA Tour introducing AON Swing 5 and AON Next 10, a pathway to include players who were not otherwise exempt from these tournaments. At most, these two can offer 15 spots. 

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This year, the Tour will have eight Signature events, five of which won’t have any Friday cuts. While the purse size was increased since last year only, the field size was bigger than the maximum 80-man field that’s earmarked now. The PGA Tour also said that the next two events, Texas Children’s Houston Open and the Valero Texas Open, can also have an increased field if necessary. 

At this year’s Valspar Championship, Xander Schauffele, after his heartbreak at Ponte Vedra, returns to Tampa Bay to get back in the groove. As will Jordan Spieth, who shockingly missed the cut at last week’s THE PLAYERS Championship. Last year’s champion, Taylor Moore returns to defend his title. As does Sam Burns, who won two back-to-back Valspar Championship titles in 2021 and 2022. 

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