Valero Texas Open Preview: TV times, betting tips
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The PGA Tour moves from Austin to San Antonio this week for the Valero Texas Open: Here’s how to watch, and who to back this week
The Valero Texas Open is the last stop before the first major of the year next week, presenting a final opportunity for those who aren’t in the field to earn their spot with a victory.
Assuming a new position on the revised PGA Tour schedule for this year, the Valero Texas Open features just 17 players in the field who are already exempt for the Masters.
Last year, Andrew Landry achieved his maiden PGA Tour victory, holding his nerve on the back-nine to beat Trey Mullinax and Sean O’Hair by two shots.
Landry returns this week, along with bookies favourite Rickie Fowler, along with Jordan Spieth, Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar, who finished second to Kevin Kisner at last week’s WGC-Dell Match Play.
Defending Champion: Andrew Landry
Course: TPC San Antonio | Par 72 | 7,435 yards
FedEx Cup Points: 500
Prize Fund: $7,500,000
TV Times: Valero Texas Open
Thursday
Featured Groups: Live PGA Tour, Sky Sports Main Event (13:30), Sky Sports Golf (13:30)
Main Coverage: Sky Sports Golf (21:00), Sky Sports Main Event (22:00)
Friday
Featured Groups: Live PGA Tour, Sky Sports Main Event (13:30), Sky Sports Golf (13:30)
Main Coverage: Sky Sports Golf (21:00)
Saturday
Sky Sports Golf (18:00), Sky Sports Main Event (19:00)
Sunday
Sky Sports Main Event (18:00), Sky Sports Golf (18:00)
Valero Texas Open: Betting Tips
Rickie Fowler – 10/1
After victory at the Waste Management Phoenix Open Fowler finished 2nd at the Honda Classic before a T40 and T47. He skipped last week’s WGC-Dell Match Play so will be hoping to regain form in Texas this week. Ranks 7th SG: Putting 8th scoring average and 9th birdie average. Making first start here.
Tony Finau – 12/1
Finau won just one of his group matches at the WGC-Dell Match Play but had a T15 at the Genesis Open and two top-25s after that at the WGC Mexico and Players Championship. He’s been knocking on the door for a while now, and ranks inside the top 15 on Tour for scoring average, birdie average and SG: Off the tee. T3 when he last played here in 2017.
Matt Kuchar – 16/1
Two time winner this season and finished runner-up at the WGC Dell Match Play last week in Austin. Ranks 1st GIR, 6th driving accuracy, 10th SG: Approach the green, 13th scoring average and SG: Tee to green, and 15th birdie average this season. Best result here of T4 in 2014.
Jordan Spieth – 20/1
Has definitely been off his game, but he finished 2nd here in his last start (2015), was 10th in 2014 and was T24 at last week’s WGC Dell Match Play. Ranks 29th for birdie average so far this season.
Billy Horschel – 22/1
One top 10 this year so far and back-to-back top-30s heading in to this event, where he has finished inside the top five on three separate occasions (2013, ’15 and ’16). Ranks 8th SG: Putting.
Jim Furyk – 25/1
With two top 10s and two top 20s in his last four starts, Furyk returns to the Valero Texas Open for the first time since 2015. Best results here of T3 (’13) and T6 (’14). Ranks 1st driving accuracy, 2nd scoring average, 9th SG: Approach the green, 15th GIR and 21st for SG: Tee to green.
Jason Kokrak – 25/1
T2 in his last start at the Valspar Championship, which was his third top 10 on the PGA Tour in his last four starts. Ranks 4th SG: Approach the green, 9th SG: Tee to green, 25th for GIR and 28th for birdie average. Has a best of T11 in 2015 here.
Sungjae Im – 25/1
Finished T7 last week at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship, which follows a T4 at the Valspar, T3 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and T7 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Ranks inside the top 30 on the PGA Tour for scoring average, birdie average and SG: Tee to green. First start in Houston.
Lucas Glover – 28/1
Rebounded from a MC at the Players Championship with a T13 at the Valspar Championship. Before that, he finished inside the top 10 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Honda Classic and AT&T Pebble Beach . Ranks 6th scoring average, 10th for GIR, 17th for SG: Tee to green and 20th for SG: Approach the green.
Aaron Baddeley – 50/1
Finished T7 last week at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship, which was his second top 10 of 2019. Finished 5th here in 2017 and 3rd back in 2010. Ranks 4th SG: Around the green.
Ryan Palmer – 50/1
MC in his last start but was T4 at the Honda Classic, which was his third top 10 of the season so far. Ranks 6th for GIR and 7th for birdie average on the PGA Tour, and has four top 10s here – including for three straight years between 2015 and 2017.
Joost Luiten – 50/1
Also making his debut, but has three top 10s and a T12 in his last five starts this year so clearly on a strong run of form. Ranks 3rd SG: Off the tee, 4th SG: Approach the green, 10th scoring average and 21st for GIR.
Sunghoon Kang – 50/1
MC last year but finished T6 in 2017 and has gone T6-T47-T18 in his last three starts on Tour. Ranks 19th for total birdies on tour.
Justin Harding – 80/1
Making his debut event, but with a win on the European Tour and three other top 10s in 2019 we’re expecting him to do well here. Ranks 5th SG: Around the green, 7th for scoring average and 20th for birdie average on the European Tour this season.
