This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
Valero Texas Open
TPC San Antonio Oaks Course
San Antonio, TX
The PGA Tour arrives in San Antonio for the annual Valero Texas Open, a staple event on the schedule.
Before we look ahead to San Antonio, let’s reflect on Houston. First off, congratulations to Min Woo Lee, who achieved his first PGA Tour victory, indicating the start of realizing his potential. While it’s premature to speculate, this initial win could pave the way for greater achievements. Lee has long been expected to deliver at this level, and his performance last week showcased the high-quality golf and enthusiasm many anticipated. His next goals will be to triumph in major events, and while he has the talent for it, we’ll have to see if he can build on this success or if it leads to a temporary halt.
Additionally, we witnessed a promising comeback from Scottie Scheffler. Although Scheffler hadn’t been a significant contender for most of the season, he made his presence known last Sunday, keeping the competition intense. While he didn’t lead, his performance hinted that he’s regaining form leading up to Augusta. Interestingly, despite his improved gameplay, his odds for the Masters seem misaligned; he should be no higher than 8-1 but that’s a discussion for another time.
This week acts as the second preparatory outing, and if it mirrors the excitement of the first, fans might be in for a thrilling experience. Despite expectations that top players might hold back with the Masters looming, both Scheffler and Rory McIlroy performed admirably. Let’s hope we see similar intensity from the favorites this time around.
LAST YEAR
Akshay Bhatia secured a playoff victory with a final round of 67 against Denny McCarthy.
FAVORITES
Ludvig Aberg (12-1)
Aberg is now tasked with meeting higher expectations following his signature win, but he is adaptable to high-pressure situations. The question remains if he’ll be preoccupied with the upcoming major, but given how seasoned players in Houston maintained focus, I expect Aberg to do the same. This makes 12-1 a reasonable bet.
Tommy Fleetwood (16-1)
Fleetwood is having a solid season yet remains winless in his PGA Tour career. His performance remains consistent, giving him chances, but one wonders about the value of investing in a player without a victory. With lesser threats in the current field, he could be in contention for a win, though I may not recommend a bet at 16-1. He placed T7 here last year.
