Golf : Stenson, Thomas Co-Faves at Valspar Championship

The PGA Tour is back in Florida this week for the 2017 Valspar Championship, and there are two golfers standing head-and-shoulders above the pack. Henrik Stenson and Justin Thomas are +1000 co-favorites at press time, well ahead of Ryan Moore at +2200. Action begins Thursday at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor. Golf Channel and NBC will share the coverage.

Stenson is the biggest name in this field; he’s the 2016 British Open winner and reigning Race to Dubai champion. However, Stenson was forced to withdraw from last week’s WGC-Mexico Championship with a stomach virus, so his health is in question. The veteran Swede tees off Thursday at 7:56 PM ET alongside reigning Valspar champ Charl Schwartzel and big-hitting Bubba Watson, each priced at +4000.

Thomas is a relatively new name on the Tour, having turned pro in 2013, but he already has four PGA titles to his credit, including back-to-back wins in Hawaii to start the 2017 campaign. That’s enough to put Thomas at No. 7 on the Official World Golf Ranking, one spot behind Stenson. He’ll be teeing off at 12:35 PM ET with Daniel Berger (+2500) and Steve Stricker (+7500).

Golf Odds: Is Henrik Stenson Healthy for Valspar?

Henrik Stenson is the top golfer in this week’s field for the 2017 Valspar Championship in Florida, but after pulling out of last week’s event in Mexico with a stomach virus, Stenson has to settle for co-favorite status with Justin Thomas at +1000.

It’s a long drive from the favorites to the rest of the pack. Ryan Moore is third on the odds list at +2200; he finished third at the Valspar last year and fifth in 2015, but Moore currently sits at No. 37 on the Official World Golf Ranking, well behind Stenson (No. 6) and Thomas (No. 7).