The PGA Tour heads to the Lone Star State this week for the Valero Texas Open, hosted at TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course. As one of the final tune-ups before The Masters, this event offers players a last chance to sharpen their game and secure a coveted invitation to Augusta.
The Oaks Course is no easy test, demanding precision, patience, and a well-rounded skill set to navigate its rugged Texas terrain. With past champions like Jordan Spieth and Corey Conners conquering the challenge, who will rise to the occasion this year?
The Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio is a par-72, 7,438-yard test that rewards strong tee-to-green play and punishes mistakes with deep bunkers and native Texas brush. Driving distance is a valuable asset here, as longer hitters can set up shorter approach shots into firm and fast greens. However, around-the-green play is equally critical, with run-off areas and tight lies demanding creativity and touch.
Birdie-or-better percentage is key to staying in contention, but players must also avoid costly mistakes—bogey avoidance will be a major factor on a course where trouble lurks on nearly every hole.
Expect contenders to excel in these areas as they battle for the trophy in San Antonio. Memorial Park is sure to deliver another unforgettable week of world-class golf.
Since the Black Desert Championship, Hodges has reeled off 8 Top 40 finishes in 10 starts. 6 of those starts were inside the top 16 and he's been doing it by gaining strokes across his bag.
He has gained strokes putting in 5 of his last 6 events, and has been on fire, gaining Total strokes in 6 of his last 8 events all over 4.3 strokes! With his approach game and his tee-to-green locked in he has another chance to finish inside the Top 40.
He was cut in his last event here, but the year prior, he finished T6. Putting together what went wrong last year and his current form, he has a good shot here!
We have won a decent amount of bets backing him, and I think we can find another good finish here. Though he has been struggling since the Pebble Beach, there has been a tough stretch of courses recently.
Like Hodges, since the Black Desert, he has 9 Top 40 finishes. Between October last season and the end of January of this year, he finished 7 straight events inside the Top 40, 6 inside the Top 21.
He is coming off a T18 at the Houston Open, where he gained in almost every part of his bag except approach. Hall stacks up as one of the top players in this field and sits with the 5th best Course Fit this week.
I am going to trust that Fitzy is going to get locked in before The Masters here! Coming off a Cut at the Players, he has a good chance to finish inside the Top 40 as he rarely misses 2 cuts in a row. Before that, he had a T22 and a 49 in two very tough events (Arnold Palmer and Genesis at Torrey Pines).
Fitz finished Top 10 here last year, and he is one of the more talented players in this field. He has been hemorrhaging strokes from tee-to-green, giving back over 15 in the last 3 events. If he can right that ship and lock in, he can hang around on the weekend and get a little more work in before the Masters!
Top 40 (Including Ties) Bet365
Lee Hodges (-125)
Harry Hall (-105)
Matt Fitzpatrick (-105)
(+) Money Bonus Plays
Chris Kirk Top 40 (+105)
Justin Rose Top 40 (+110)