The PGA Tour stops off at a familiar spot this week when it heads to San Antonio for the Valero Texas Open. This tournament is always a good week of golf and I’m sure this year will be no different as the Texan specialists look to get to work.
One of those is Charley Hoffman and the man who led The Masters after 18 holes is the defending champion having landed the title a year ago.
Recent Winners
2016 – Charley Hoffman
2015 – Jimmy Walker
2014 – Steven Bowditch
2013 – Martin Laird
2012 – Ben Curtis
2011 – Brendan Steele
2010 – Adam Scott
2009 – Zach Johnson
2008 – Zach Johnson
2007 – Justin Leonard
The Course
The TPC San Antonio is once again the venue for this tournament as it has been since 2010 when Adam Scott won. It is a par 72 which measures 7,435 yards and is treelined as Kevin Na can testify as this is the scene of him taking 16 on one hole a few years ago.
It is a fairly long course though and with the greens trickier to hit the shorter an iron you go into them with the better the chance of scoring. Most of the par 5s need two hefty blows to get home so that is something else which is going to favour the longer hitters. You also need to putt well around here so experience of the track is no bad thing.
The Field
With a large run of tip top events on the horizon the field this week isn’t the strongest it would have to be said but we do have some household names on show. Matt Kuchar, Ryan Moore, Jimmy Walker, Zach Johnson and Brooks Koepka were all part of USAs winning Ryder Cup team last season while Charley Hoffman, the defending champion is a tournament specialist.
A lot of the coverage on the TV this week, at least in the UK, will centre around Ian Poulter who needs to finish no worse than a two way tie for 36th to retain his playing rights on the PGA Tour.
Market Leaders
For the second week in a row Matt Kuchar is the market leader heading into the week. The fact he is 20/1 to win the event shows both how open and how competitive it is expected to be. He never really landed a blow in The Heritage last week which is enough to put me off.
Charley Hoffman has a fantastic record in this tournament although his record defending a title isn’t so strong. I’m not a backer of defending champions per se and I’m not going to break that rule but those who don’t mind backing them can get 22/1 on retaining the title. Brooks Koepka is the same price for a title many people believe he is ideally suited to win.
Ryan Moore and Branden Grace are top level players who are looking for their first titles of 2017. They are 25/1 each although Grace didn’t offer too much in the way of a defence last week so maybe his form isn’t quite there. It is 28/1 bar.
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Main Bets
I always find this a tricky week to find players who stand out and when that is the case I like to go with course machines and that is what I’m doing here. Brendan Steele is a former winner around this track and that isn’t a surprise because he hits the ball really sweetly and is long off the tee. He can be a bit of an enigma with the putter but he has putted better this year and tends to putt well at places he’s gone well at before such as here. If it all comes together again he’ll take some stopping.
Ryan Palmer has a decent record in Texas and his run in the Heritage last week suggests he might be finding his game at the right time to contend in his home state once again. Palmer has four top 15 finishes in the last seven years here including sixth and fourth in the last two years. He has had his issues away from golf in that time but if last week has kick started a run of form he could deliver a big week at a tidy price.
Outsiders
I’ve not had much more joy finding outsiders to have a go at, not really big priced ones at least, so my two outsiders for this tournament are both double figured prices who have decent records here.
Harold Varner III has only played here once but he cracked the top 10 and having won in Australia at the end of last year we certainly know that tree lined courses hold no fear for him. He is a big hitter who can get it out there and if he has a top week with the short stick he is likely to get himself in contention. Australia showed us he can win so he makes sense at 66/1.
Daniel Summerhays also likes it around here. He doesn’t have the best of records elsewhere but something clicks in his game when he pitches up in San Antonio. He hasn’t been outside the top 13 in the last four years here and with the field being weaker this year than some previous ones he could easily be in the mix again. He’s also 66/1 and there’s plenty of value in that.
Tips
Back B.Steele to win Valero Texas Open (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 26.00 with Coral (1/5 1-7)
Back D.Summerhays to win Valero Texas Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 67.00 with Coral (1/5 1-7)
Back them here:
PLACED – Back R.Palmer to win Valero Texas Open (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 36.00 with Boylesports (1/5 1-6)
Back H.Varner III to win Valero Texas Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 67.00 with Boylesports (1/5 1-6)
Back them here:
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