With the much anticipated Masters now just over one week away it’s the very last chance for a few this week to make final adjustments at the Valero Texas Open, TPC San Antonio, AT&T Oaks Course, Texas.
The 144-field will be competing on this par 72 parkland course for the $7.7million purse with the winner collecting $1.38million.
Corey Conners will return to defend the title he won in 2019 with last year’s tournament cancelled. It was at this event Conners won his maiden PGA Title to make his breakthrough on the Tour.
This course was designed by Greg Norman with some assistance from Sergio Garcia. It can be challenging so the key attribute will be power, with greens in regulation the order for any success around this Oaks Course.
The weather is forecast to be sunny for the first two days with clouds and breezes to pick up over the weekend.
This event will be screened live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Golf starting 1.15pm GMT on Thursday.
Abraham Ancer
For my first selection this week I’m going to suggest Abraham Ancer 25/1 EW Betfair. Ancer is a local resident in San Antonio and uses this course as his practice ground so know one knows this track any better this week than Ancer.
The Mexican is up there with the best using a driver and very rarely misses the fairways. Ancer has made the cut in all his previous three visits at this event.
His iron game which has been his nemesis in the past seems to be coming together, especially his approach play.
With greens in regulation key this week and the fact the Mexican knows this course like the back of his hand, this should set him up nicely to be a leading contender and give him every chance to finally make his breakthrough on the PGA Tour. He can go on and win that maiden title that eludes him just in time for The Masters at Augusta next week.
Scottie Scheffler
For my next pick I’m going to choose another golfer looking for his breakthrough on the PGA Tour, runner up at last weeks WGC Dell Matchplay, Scottie Scheffler 18/1 EW Bet365.
The only matter that concerns me that Scheffler had a long week last time out playing seven rounds of golf from Wednesday through to Sunday on his way to the final which he eventually lost to Billy Horschel.
However the young 24 year old American, a native to Texas is in the form of his life at the moment and could be the one they all have to beat this week.
He has rapidly risen up to 22nd in the world rankings and has finished inside the top 20 in four of his last five tournaments, with three of them in the top 10. He was 2nd and runner-up as mentioned at the WGC Dell Matchplay last week, 5th at the WGC Workday at the Concession, 20th at the Genesis Invitational and 7th at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
This is all events Scheffler has participated in this year so it’s fair to say he is currently knocking on the door and I feel it’s not going to be long before this talented American makes his breakthrough, claiming his maiden PGA Tour victory and it could be here in his backyard this week to make it all that more special.
Cameron Davis
For my next selection I’m going to look further up the field and look for some value and for that reason I’m going to include Cameron Davis 50/1 EW Betfair. The young 26 year old Australian is another talented golfer producing good form lately.
He was an impressive 3rd at The American Express and 14th at AT&T Pebble Beach, mixing it with the worlds finest. Yet another youngster looking to break his duck on the PGA Tour, Davis is currently ranked 8th off the tee and 13th with his approach shots.
The Australian has that winning pedigree and although he hasn’t yet won in the PGA Tour he has claimed the Australian Open on home soil. Davis is another who I feel will win on the PGA Tour sooner rather than later.
With no added distraction on his shoulders preparing for the Masters, Davis can relax this week in San Antonio and get in with the job in hand and can be a leading contender at an attractive price.
For my last prediction it’s a 72 hole match bet and I’m going to take the man in form Jordan Speith to get the better of Hideki Matsuyama 10/11 Nap Bet365.
