Top 5 Storylines Primed to Unfold at Valspar Championship Sunday

Palm Harbor, Fla. — The Valspar Championship reaches its final round Sunday at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course. Filmogaz.com brings five top storylines primed to shape the finish. This update is current as of Mar 21, 2026.

Sungjae Im leading and hunting a breakthrough

Sungjae Im holds the 54-hole lead at 11-under. He sat two shots clear after a third-round 65 that included a clutch 13-foot birdie on the 18th.

Im fired a 64 in the opening round and has led the event since. This is his first 54-hole lead on the PGA TOUR since 2022.

Matt Fitzpatrick seeks redemption

Matt Fitzpatrick sits three shots behind the leader after a third-round 68. He arrives here after a runner-up finish at THE PLAYERS a week ago.

Fitzpatrick is chasing his third PGA TOUR victory. His most recent win came at the 2023 RBC Heritage.

The Snake Pit will test contenders

The Copperhead finish, known as the Snake Pit, features holes 16 through 18. Those holes ranked second, fifth and seventh toughest this week.

Players recorded 254 bogeys or worse on those holes during the tournament. Sunny and breezy conditions have firmed the greens, making the closing stretch treacherous.

Brooks Koepka’s Florida Swing conclusion

Brooks Koepka is at 4-under after an even-par third round. He slipped out of contention after starting the weekend five shots back.

Koepka gained 2.442 strokes putting over the week. He hopes that progress continues as the Masters approaches in three weeks.

Two potential first-time winners in contention

David Lipsky and Marco Penge are the only top-five players without a PGA TOUR victory. Both will play in the penultimate group on Sunday.

Lipsky, 37, is from Los Angeles and found steady form after time on international circuits and the Korn Ferry Tour. His Saturday 70 left him two shots off the lead.

Penge, an Englishman, joins the TOUR after a three-win 2025 DP World Tour season. Now based in Florida, he sits three shots behind and is still adapting to U.S. setups.

What to watch on Sunday

Im’s ability to protect a 54-hole lead will be central. Fitzpatrick’s short-memory approach could alter the closing holes.

The Snake Pit’s difficulty, Koepka’s putting surge, and the composure of Lipsky and Penge are all variables. Expect drama down the stretch at the Valspar Championship.