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2023 Valero Texas Open Match Play Betting Preview, Predictions & Top Pick

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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.

Relevant Betting Stats

    • SG: Putting on Bermuda
    • SG: Approach
    • Driving Distance

Outright Betting Pick: Rickie Fowler – Top 10 (+210) 

Fowler is one of the favorites to win in San Antonio because he is beginning to improve, and more importantly, he desperately needs a high finish here to get into Augusta next week.

The American defeated Jon Rahm in the opening group match at the WGC-Dell Match Play last week and finished inside the top 20 in four of his last five competitions. Despite missing the cut last year, Fowler has played in the Valero four times and has two T17 finishes at TPC San Antonio to show for it.

The 34-year-old has also made significant strides in his putting and strokes gained off the tee, so a strong week in Texas should be in the cards for him.

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