2023 Valero Texas Open Best Bets

The 2023 Valero Texas Open, one of the oldest tournaments on the PGA Tour, begins to play on Thursday and presents a chance for some players to secure a spot at Augusta National the following week. The Texas Open will be hosted for the 101st time this year, making it the third-oldest PGA Tour event and the oldest to take place in the same location every year.

The Texas Open will be hosted for the 101st time this year, making it the third-oldest PGA Tour event and the oldest to take place in the same location every year. The fact that the Masters will take place the following week has somewhat diluted the field, but fan favorites like Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar will be competing to secure a trip to Augusta. Other well-known competitors that will participate in the 2023 Texas Open who already have the Masters on their schedule are Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, Tyrrell Hatton, and Corey Conners, the 2019 Texas Open victor.

In San Antonio last year, J.J. Spaun earned his first Tour triumph, and in recent years, underdog and first-time winners have become the standard. Let’s take a closer look at how things might shake out this time around.

Best 2023 Valero Texas Open Bets

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

Previous Winners of the Valero Texas Open

- 2022: JJ Spaun
- 2021: Jordan Spieth
- 2019: Corey Conners

Course Preview: Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio

Coming in at 7,438 yards and a Par 72, TPC San Antonio comes in at just over the Tour average, as driving distance will come into play this week as it usually does. Like players saw last week in Austin, the greens will feature Bermuda grasses and be tougher than the average Tour stop.

Because of the distance and tight approach shots, tee-to-green metrics will be critical for success here in San Antonio, a great warm-up for the challenges that await next week at Augusta National.

Check out our full course preview >>

Best Bets

Rickie Fowler (Outright +1800 [1u]; Top-10 +210 [1u])

This is the last gasp for a golfer to receive an invitation to take the drive down Magnolia Lane next week. Rickie Fowler must win in order to play at Augusta. He is also set up to do just that. Fowler excels in windy conditions and has been playing his best golf in years. Rickie will have most golf fans’ rooting interests behind him this week, so I must follow suit with my own bets.

Davis Riley (Outright +2500 [0.5u]; Top-10 +280 [0.5u])

The thought behind Davis Riley is that his best form is plenty good enough to win the Texas Open. We saw him finish 19th in his last event at the Valspar and 8th at Bay Hill. He was thoroughly underwater at the PLAYERS, but I have come to expect streaky play from Riley over the years. TPC San Antonio will offer Riley plenty of opportunities to show off his ball-striking skills and make birdies.

Check out all of our top picks >>

Best Longshot Picks

Andrew Putnam (+5500 via BetMGM): 0.2u

The first golfer we are targeting this week is Andrew Putnam, who currently sits at 55/1 at BetMGM. Now is the time to buy low on Putnam, who missed four of his last five cuts prior to last week’s WGC match play event.

In that tournament, he finished T9 in a performance that could turn things back around for the Washington native. Prior to his cold streak, Putnam kicked off the season with 10 straight made cuts, including his T2 finish at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP and T4 finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

The main reason for that impressive start was Putnam’s tremendous putting. This season, he ranks seventh on TOUR in SG: Putting.

Therefore, it is not surprising that Putnam has found success at TPC San Antonio. Not only has Putnam made 4-of-5 cuts at this tournament in his career, but he posted an eighth-place finish here in 2018.

Perhaps last week’s solid play at the match play event will turn things back around for Putnam, and considering his strong putting and previous results at this course, it is worth taking a shot at him to earn his second career TOUR victory at 55/1.

Check out all of our longshot picks >>

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