The Valero Texas Open lacks any prime 10 gamers on this week’s area, however it doesn’t lack for intrigue.
Of the 144 gamers within the area, solely 11 are at the moment eligible for the Masters subsequent week. The different 133 must hoist the trophy in San Antonio on Sunday to punch the ultimate ticket to Augusta National.
That consists of fan favourite Rickie Fowler, who fell simply in need of incomes his Masters invite on the Match Play. Can he earn his first victory since 2019 to return to Augusta?
Our golf consultants break down this week’s occasion together with their favourite props and greatest bets.
VALERO TEXAS OPEN
Location: TPC San Antonio, Oaks Course (Par 72, 7,438 yards)
Purse: $8.9M (Winner: $1.602M)
Defending Champion: J.J. Spaun
FedEx Cup chief: Jon Rahm
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday, 4-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday, 1-3:30 p.m. (GC), 3:30-6 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m. (GC), 2:30-6 p.m. (NBC)
Streaming on ESPN: Thursday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Twitter: @ValeroTXOpen
PROP PICKS
–Corey Conners to Beat Matt Kuchar (100 at DraftKings): Kuchar enters the week in barely higher kind, posting a pair of top-10s to book-end consecutive missed cuts in his previous 4 begins. Conners’ final top-10 got here seven months in the past however the Canadian has two issues Kuchar at the moment lacks – an invitation to August subsequent week and a earlier win in San Antonio (2019). While a T35 right here final 12 months is nothing to put in writing house about, Conners does know this course nicely.
–Chris Kirk Hideki Matsuyama to Both Finish Top 20 Inc. Ties (350 at BetMGM): Matsuyama withdrew from the Match Play to guard his ongoing neck points forward of the Masters. That’s our greatest concern right here, however he does need to sharpen his recreation earlier than reaching Magnolia Lane. Matsuyama completed solo fifth on the Players and needs to be a menace to win towards this area come Sunday so long as the neck holds up. So, too, ought to Kirk, who’s trying to rebound from three poor begins since successful the Honda Classic.
–Si Woo Kim to Win Tournament 3-Ball (170 at DraftKings): Fowler (160) is the sentimental favourite and is enjoying his most constant golf in years. Kuchar (185) is the third participant on this group. We like our probabilities — and the percentages — with Kim. A winner in Hawaii earlier this 12 months, the South Korean hasn’t been stellar since however does have 4 top-30s in six stroke play occasions for the reason that Sony Open and needs to be a consider a weaker area.
2023 Prop Picks Record: 14-16-1
BEST BETS
–Tyrrell Hatton (1200 at BetMGM) makes his event debut because the highest-ranked participant within the area at No. 17. He has three top-10s in seven begins this season, together with a runner-up at The Players.
–Fowler (1800) has three top-10s in 11 begins this season, his most since 2018-19. Fans desirous to see Fowler at Augusta have helped drive him to be the sportsbook’s greatest legal responsibility this week, backing him with a whopping 12.8 % of the entire successful bets and 18.1 % of the deal with.
–Kim (1800) received the Sony Open to start his 2023 schedule and is coming off a T17 final week. He’s the third-biggest legal responsibility, having drawn 6.0 and seven.6 % of the motion, respectively.
–Matsuyama (2500) cited his recurring neck damage in withdrawing from final week’s Match Play, however he did submit a solo fifth on the Players earlier this month. One of probably the most completed gamers within the area, the Japanese star has been backed by 4.6 % of the entire bets.
–Taylor Montgomery (2500) is the highest rookie within the FedEx Cup standings at No. 22 as he comes off a playoff loss in group play final week.
–Davis Riley (2800) enters in stable kind, with a pair of top-30s in three occasions since a T8 at Bay Hill.
NOTES
–Spaun earned his first PGA Tour victory in his 147th profession begin final 12 months. The final participant to efficiently defend a Valspar title was Zach Johnson in 2009.
–Lucas Glover will make his five hundredth profession PGA Tour begin.
–Nicolai Hojgaard and Ricky Barnes are within the area courtesy of top-10 finishes finally week’s Corales Puntacana Championship.
–Tommy Armour III holds the event scoring document of 254 set in 2003.
–Arnold Palmer received the primary three editions of the occasion from 1960-62.
–Field Level Media