Valero Texas Open: PGA Golf Odds and Predictions

The History of the Valero Texas Open

There were several major changes on the PGA Tour’s 2018-19 wraparound schedule, and one of those involved the week before the Masters, which is where we are on it. The Houston Open had been held in that spot for 10 of the previous 11 years, and the course there was set up as best as possible to mimic Augusta National. However, because of sponsorship issues the Houston Open was given the boot from this spot and replaced with the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio on a 10-year contract. It has been held the week before the Masters once previously: In 2013 when Scotland’s Martin Laird was the winner.

TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course is a par 72 measuring 7,435 yards and there have been some minor design changes ahead of the Masters in terms of the fairways and the rough. The Texas Open is the PGA Tour’s oldest event that has remained in the same city since its inception. The first one was held way back in 1922.

The winner of this tournament earns the last spot in the Masters field if not already qualified. The biggest name in the field likely without a spot as of yet is Hall of Famer Ernie Els.

Valero Texas Open Betting Favourites

Golfers are a superstitious bunch and some guys simply don’t like playing the week before a major. Thus, no Dustin Johnson or Rory McIlroy or Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson or a few other stars will play in San Antonio.

Rickie Fowler is the clear +1100 favourite. He skipped last week’s Match Play event in Austin so should be fresh. Fowler always played the Houston Open to prepare for the Masters but it’s his first time in this event.

Matt Kuchar and Tony Finau are both +1600 on Sports Interaction’s PGA odds. Kuchar’s best recent result at this event is fourth in 2013. He comes off a loss in the Match Play final to Kevin Kisner – that’s a lot of golf Kuchar played. Finau was third in this event in 2017.

Jordan Spieth is +2000 and defending champion Andrew Landry +9000. Spieth is having a horrible season but was runner-up in the 2015 Texas Open. Landry won by two shots last year at 17 under but has done nothing this year. Three players this century have repeated at TPC San Antonio.

Canadian Golfer Odds

The highest-ranked Canadian, Adam Hadwin, isn’t playing. Nick Taylor is +8000. He missed the cut last year but was Top 25 the previous two. Mackenzie Hughes is +9000. He finished second on Sunday at the opposite-field Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship but missed the cut in San Antonio the past two years. Roger Sloan and Ben Silverman are each +15000 with Adam Svensson +22500.  

No Canadian player has won this tournament.

Valero Texas Open Predictions

Bet Fowler and Jim Furyk for Top 10s, but the winner is Billy Horschel at +2500. He has two thirds, a fourth and a T11 his past six trips to San Antonio.