There is one final PGA Tour stop before the first major of the season and that takes place this week in San Antonio at the Valero Texas Open. With a number of prominent players absent following a thrilling conclusion at the WGC Match Play, the field is a little lighter, though not without quality. Needing a win to avoid missing the Masters for a third consecutive year, Rickie Fowler is among the headliners. Winner of the green jacket a few years ago, Hideki Matsuyama will get a few swings in before he returns to Augusta. The field is looking up at outright betting favorite Tyrrell Hatton, the only player with shorter than 15/1 odds. J.J. Spaun finished two shots ahead of a strong field last year for his first Tour title and enters after reaching the knockout stage at last week’s WGC. Visit BookMaker.eu for updated tournament matchup odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Valero Texas Open Matchup Odds
Tyrrell Hatton -140 vs. Corey Conners +117
Si Woo Kim -120 vs. Rickie Fowler +100
Taylor Montgomery -145 vs. Davis Riley +121
Chris Kirk -110 vs. Matt Kuchar -110
JJ Spaun -110 vs. Alex Noren -110
Cameron Davis +112 vs. Ryan Fox -134
Brendon Todd -120 vs. Thomas Detry +100
Matt Wallace -127 vs. Nicolai Hojgaard +106
Christiaan Bezuidenhout +108 vs. Ben Griffin -129
Andrew Putnam -129 vs. Adam Schenk +108
Taylor Pendrith +116 vs. Nick Taylor -139
Davis Thompson +112 vs. Sam Ryder -134
Byeong Hun An -134 vs. Emiliano Grillo +112
Beau Hossler +105 vs. Aaron Rai -125
Will Gordon +100 vs. Robby Shelton -120
Brandon Wu -135 vs. S.H. Kim +113
Alex Smalley -129 vs. Nick Hardy +108
Patrick Rodgers -129 vs. Hayden Buckley +108
Trey Mullinax +105 vs. Luke List -125
Eric Cole -110 vs. Sam Stevens -110
Ben Martin -147 vs. Austin Eckroat +122
Charley Hoffman -110 vs. Kevin Streelman -110
David Lingmerth +115 vs. Joseph Bramlett -138
Francesco Molinari -105 vs. Garrick Higgo -115
Padraig Harrington -105 vs. Erik Van Rooyen -115
Harry Hall -120 vs. Kramer Hickok +100
Tyler Duncan -110 vs. Ryan Palmer -110
MJ Daffue -120 vs. Adam Long +100
Nate Lashley -120 vs. Matthew Nesmith +100
Pierceson Coody +125 vs. Akshay Bhatia -150
Chesson Hadley -144 vs. Chad Ramey +120
Harry Higgs -120 vs. Luke Donald +100
Stewart Cink +100 vs. Lucas Glover -120
Need to Know
The Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio has hosted since 2010. The lengthy 7,435-yard layout is forgiving off the tee allowing for big hitters to step up. The overall length and difficult par 5s tend to keep scores down while limiting eagle chances. Even with four par 5s the course has never averaged under par, but it appears to be getting easier for the pros with the three lowest winning scores on the Oaks Course all coming in the last four years. The track is exposed to the elements and winds in south Texas are notoriously strong. Also, if not already invited, a spot in the Masters is given to the winner upping the stakes slightly for those looking to don the green jacket.
Valero Texas Open – Matchup Picks
Rickie Fowler +100 vs. Si Woo Kim
He’s missed the cut just once in 11 starts this season so the argument could be made that Fowler is playing his best golf in years. He hasn’t won since 2019 and is on the verge of missing the Masters for a third straight time, however a win would remedy a number of things for him and I think Fowler is in a good spot to do that. He went 2-1 in the group stage last week beating Jon Rahm, and with some decent results in this tournament I have no issues backing Fowler.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout +108 vs. Ben Griffin
A fixture on the European Tour for years, Bezuidenhout enjoyed success winning five times including three titles in 2020. His transition to the PGA side has yet to yield a trophy but we’ve seen the South African maintain his solid level of play going 9 for 12 this season with a trio of top 25s. Just a few weeks ago he was in the running until a closing 74 left him with a share of 13th at THE PLAYERS, and with this being more of an ET field we could see Bezuidenhout shine.
Thomas Detry +100 vs. Brendon Todd
I backed Detry last week at Puntacana and he won the matchup by finishing T8, his fifth top 15 in 13 starts this season. His best results have come in tournaments with similar fields with a runner-up in Bermuda, a T9 at the Sanderson Farms and a T12 in Napa, so backing him again this time at even money is a plus.
Charley Hoffman -110 vs. Kevin Streelman
Hoffman has played every Texas Open held at TPC San Antonio and few if any have had the same amount of success. He made the cut in his first 11 trips with a win in 2016 and three runner-up showings, including two straight in 2019 and 2020. Overall he’s finished among the top 13 nine times here, which is enough to give me the confidence to back him despite some recent struggles that saw him miss the cut in his last four starts.
Chris Kirk -110 vs. Matt Kuchar
I was torn on whom to back in this matchup with both playing so well on the lead up and having success in this event. Kuchar reached the knockout stage at the WGC last week and hasn’t missed a cut here in his last 10 starts. But Kirk has continued to roll after his Honda Classic triumph and he’s finished with three top 10s and a T13 in his last four paydays at TPC San Antonio. Additionally, Kirk is working magic with the flat stick making all the difference.
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