The Valero Texas Open will see a mad scramble this week as top players from around the world try to secure their spot at Augusta National next week. Damien Kayat previews
2022/2023 US PGA Tour
Valero Texas Open
TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course), San Antonio, Texas
30th March- 2nd April
I really hope that the US PGA Tour can get its act together and ensure some match-pay action next season. The final edition of the WGC Match-Play turned out to be a real barnstormer (lopsided final aside).
Sam Burns thrashed Cameron Young 6&5 in a final that never typified the craziness of the tournament. Scotti Scheffler’s comeback win over Jason Day will go down as one of the most courageous match-play performances in recent memory.
Valero Texas Open
The tour stays in Texas this week for The Valero Texas Open. It was first staged in 1922 and is the third longest-running event on the entire PGA Tour.
In fact, it is the sixth oldest professional golf tournament worldwide and it has always been held in the San Antonio area. The event has lost a little spark over the past two decades.
It was first demoted to the Fall Series and played as an opposite event to both the President’s Cup and Ryder Cup. The event then moved to a week after the Masters.
It started to regain a bit more credibility when it was moved to the week immediately preceding the Masters (its current spot). This has seen an increase in the number of quality golfers desperately trying to pick up that final qualification spot for next week.
The event was a fixture at La Cantera Golf Club between 1995 and 2009 before switching to current host venue TPC San Antonio. The event was cancelled due to the pandemic in 2020- making this the 13th renewal staged at TPC San Antonio.
TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course)
Opened in 2010, the Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio was designed by the Darth Vader of contemporary golf: Greg Norman. Fellow Aussie Adam Scott actually won the inaugural staging of this event.
This Bermuda layout can prove tough if those typical Texas winds come into play (meaning the draw could prove crucial this week). Driving distance and accuracy aren’t of primary importance here.
There are a plethora of fairway bunkers that often prove tougher than the rough. Sand save percentage could be a good stat to look at this week. But recent renewals suggest that GIR and putting will prove most critical.
Also keep an eye out for perhaps the quirkiest par 3 on the PGA Tour: the 16th. It features a bunker in the middle of the green, portioning it into two segments. It’s a cool little feature that gives the Oaks Course that extra bit of character.
The Contenders
Tyrell Hatton is a worthy favourite despite a poor performance in Austin. He has form figures of 6-40-4-2 leading into this event. But I always get concerned about backing players here who have already qualified for the Masters.
The likes of Hatton and Matsuyama are probably just attempting to fine-tune their game ahead of next week’s Masters. I always feel more inclined towards players who desperately need victory to qualify for Augusta.
Rickie Fowler falls in that bracket despite emerging triumphant against Jon Rahm in last week’s match-play. Defending champion JJ Spaun and last week’s Corales champ Matt Wallace also fit into that category.
This could make for nail-biting television as players duke it out for that coveted final place at Augusta National.
Past Winners
2022: J.J Spaun (-13)
2021: Jordan Spieth (-18)
2020: event cancelled
2019: Corey Conners (-20)
2018: Andrew Landry (-17)
2017: Kevin Chappell (-12)
To Win Outright:
Tyrell Hatton 12/1 | Corey Conners 18/1 | Rickie Fowler 18/1 | Si Woo Kim 18/1 | Hideki Matsuyama 22/1
Value Bets
Chris Kirk- To Win 25/1 |To Place 9/2
Chris Kirk’s success story is enough to make even the most jaded sports scribe smile. He battled alcoholism for many years and almost turned his back on the game. But he soldiered on and has recently been playing some of the best golf of his life. He followed 3rd place finishes at the Sony Open and American Express with a victory at the Honda Classic. Sure, his form has tapered slightly since then. But he should thrive in a weakened field. He is striking the ball brilliantly and has finished 6th and 35th in his last two starts here.
Matt Wallace- To Win 33/1 | To Place 7/1
This one just makes a lot of sense. The temperamental Englishman has often lacked the patience to really make an impression on the Tour. But he comes into TPC San Antonio riding the crest of a really amazing wave. He finished in a tie for 7th at the Valspar Championship before winning his maiden PGA Tour title at last week’s opposite-field event: the Corales Puntacana Championship. He finished 3rd here in 2021 and he screams value at 50/1.
The Man to Beat- Matt Kuchar- To Win 25/1 | To Place 5/1
The iconic screams of Kuuuch are always diminished around the more refined surrounds of Augusta National. But Matt Kuchar will need to win this week if we are to hear even a whisper of that at next week’s first Major Championship. But there have been signs of encouragement for the 44-year-old American. He has two top-10 finishes this year (including an 8th pace at Riviera). And he is coming off a really impressive showing in Austin. He went unbeaten in a group featuring Chris Kirk, Viktor Hovland and Si Woo Kim. And he also plays brilliantly here, with finishes of 7th, 12th and 2nd in his last three visits.
