'Number 1' Johnson's 2nd Victory Attempt "How to Tackle Snake Pit?"... Casey Marches Toward 3 Consecutive Wins

In the Valspar Championship, 'Number 2' Thomas Competes for Victory; Key Battle at Holes 16-18; Korea's Im Sungjae and Choi Kyungju Enter the Race

Dustin Johnson has embarked on a 'second win hunt' at the Valspar Championship. The small photo shows a snake sculpture installed at the 16th hole.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Break through the Snake Pit."

World No.1 Dustin Johnson is on a quest for his second victory. The Valspar Championship (total prize money $6.9 million) opens on the night of the 29th (Korean time) at Innisbrook Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Florida, USA (par 71, 7,340 yards). This venue made news with Tiger Woods' runner-up finish in 2018. Paul Casey (England) is aiming for a three-peat following his wins in 2018 and 2019. Last year’s event was canceled due to COVID-19.

Johnson won three times in the 2020 season and also claimed the ‘Fall Masters’ included in the 2021 season. This year, he gained momentum with a victory at the European Tour’s Saudi International in February. His ‘cut off’ at the Masters title defense on the 12th was rather unexpected. His iron shots faltered, resulting in a lackluster performance with 2-over par on the first day and 3-over par on the second. Instead of resting, he immediately participated in the RBC Heritage to fine-tune his competitive shot feel, finishing tied for 13th.

It is worth noting that Johnson, who was competing for the win on the final day in 2019, slipped to a tie for 6th with a 3-over par slump. This adds motivation for revenge. The decisive stretch is undoubtedly holes 16 through 18. The fairways are narrow and winding like a snake, earning the nickname ‘Snake Pit.’ A large snake sculpture with a flicking tongue is installed at the tee box of the 16th hole (par 4). It is considered the most brutal ‘closing three holes’ on the PGA Tour.

A view of the 16th hole, the most critical battleground at Innisbrook, the venue for the Valspar Championship.

The 16th hole (par 4, 475 yards) requires a precise tee shot to avoid the lake on the right side of the fairway. The 17th hole (par 3, 215 yards) has a narrow and elongated green. Even if the ball lands on the green, depending on the spot, three-putt bogeys are inevitable. The final 18th hole (par 4, 445 yards) is an uphill hole lined with large and small bunkers on both sides of the fairway. The tee shot plays a crucial role in the final stages of the competition.

It is interesting that Casey is particularly strong at this tournament. He defeated Woods in 2018 and outpaced Johnson in 2019, drawing the spotlight. This is why experts rank him as the ‘top favorite’ to win. The ‘fifth major’ The Players Champion Justin Thomas (USA) has joined the competition, and 2019 co-second-place finishers Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) and Jason Kokrak (USA) are once again at the starting line. Phil Mickelson (USA) is competing for the first time in 17 years since 2004.

Korea is represented by world No.19 Im Sung-jae (23, CJ Logistics), who tied for 4th in 2019. ‘Tank’ K.J. Choi (51, SK Telecom) won two of his total eight PGA Tour victories at this venue, in 2002 (then Tampa Bay Classic) and 2006 (Chrysler Championship). Adding his runner-up finish at the Transitions Championship in March 2010, he is truly a perfect match for this course. Kang Sung-hoon (34), An Byeong-hun (30), and Lee Kyoung-hoon (30, all CJ Logistics) are also looking for their opportunities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.