News
2022 Valero Texas Open: Outright Betting Picks
As players and fans gear up for The Masters, the Tour stays in Texas following the Dell Technologies Match Play for the Valero Texas Open.
TPC San Antonio is a 7,494 yards par 72 and features Bermudagrass greens. The main defense of the course is weather. If the wind picks up it can play pretty tough, otherwise expect the winner to be in the -20 range.
There are 140 golfers in the field this week. The field is what you would expect this week, with many golfers sitting out prior to The Masters. A few stars have made the trip to make sure their game is in top-top shape including Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, and Bryson DeChambeau.
Past Winners at TPC San Antonio
- 2021: Jordan Spieth (-18)
- 2019: Corey Conners (-20)
- 2018: Andrew Landry (-17)
- 2017: Kevin Chappel (-12)
- 2016: Charley Hoffman (-12)
- 2015: Jimmy Walker (-11)
2022 Valero Texas Open Outright Bets
Si Woo Kim (+3500) (Bet365):
Although this isn’t a Pete Dye track, which is Si Woo’s specialty, he has had success at TPC San Antonio in the past. Kim finished 23rd last year and 4th in 2019. As a golfer who resides in the Dallas area, there’s reason to believe he could be very comfortable playing this track.
In his past four stroke play events, the 26-year-old hasn’t finished worse than 26th and boasts two 11th place finishes in that timeframe. We also saw Kim play extremely well last week at the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play, where he ranked 5th in the field in Strokes Gained: Total. The results were encouraging as well. Si Woo defeated Christian Bezuidenhout 6&4 and disposed of Daniel Berger 2 up before losing on the 18th hole to Tyrrell Hatton. That may be a blessing in disguise as he didn’t have to play 18-36 more holes over the weekend and comes into the Valero Texas Open both rested and playing well.
On a card with more long shots it makes sense to have a golfer with win equity on the card. And with three PGA Tour victories before his 27th birthday, Si Woo certainly provides that.
Tony Finau (+4500):
The first bet of the week is strictly a value play. The talent level of Finau in relation to where he is on the oddsboard in such a weak field simply doesn’t add up.
Since his win at last year’s Northern Trust, Finau is yet to crack the top ten in any event. While that is what has created his downward slide in price, there are signs pointing to the 32-year-old returning to form. In late February, Finau gained 6.6 strokes on approach at the Genesis which is an encouraging sign. In his next start at THE PLAYERS he wasn’t very good, but because of the unbalanced weather draw it wouldn’t be wise to read too much into that performance. Last week at the WGC Dell Match Play, Finau ranked 13th in Strokes Gained: Total despite not making it out of the group stage. In his final matchup, he disposed of Xander Schauffele quite easily. In the match, he made eight birdies which is another sign that he could be rounding into form.
Finau has a third place finish here back in 2017, so he’s shown that the course suits him if he is playing well. This is a week where I don’t expect to bet anyone near the top of the board, so Finau at a stellar price is a good add to the card.
Kevin Streelman (+6600):
The debate between course history and recent form will always be an interesting one. Luckily for Streelman’s chances at the Valero Texas Open, he has both.
Streelman comes into the week coming off of three top 22 finishes in his past four starts. Most recently, the two-time Tour winner finished 7th at the Valspar Championship. At Copperhead, he gained 7.4 strokes from tee to green and was solid in all statistical categories.
In terms of his play at TPC San Antonio, Streelman has also excelled. He has top ten finishes (8th and 6th) in his past two trips to the course. While not a great putter, his results on Bermuda grass have been much better than other surfaces. He rolled it well in the Florida swing, gaining an average of 2.2 strokes putting on the field per event. If he can catch a hot putter this week in Texas he’s certainly the type to go well at this event.
Patton Kizzire (+7500):
Last season, we saw Patton Kizzire get extremely hot in any event taking place in Texas. He finished 3rd at the Charles Schwab Challenge, 3rd at the Byron Nelson, and 9th at the Valero Texas Open. At this event last year, the 36-year-old gained 8.1 strokes on approach, which was the most he’s ever gained in his career.
His Texas history alone is plenty of reason to bet him at this price, but he also comes into the week playing some pretty solid golf. In his past three events during the Tour’s Florida swing, he finished 32nd at API, 22nd at THE PLAYERS, and 33rd at Valspar consecutively. The field this week at TPC San Antonio will be considerably weaker than those fields which will give Kizzire a shot to notch his first PGA Tour win since the 2018 Sony Open.
Brendan Steele (+10000):
My favorite bet on the board this week is Brendan Steele. In his past two starts at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and THE PLAYERS Championship, Steele has gained 10.1 and 9.5 strokes from tee to green respectively. He ranks 2nd in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee in his past 24 rounds, which has been statistically extremely important at this event in the past.
Steele’s combination of both distance and accuracy with the driver make him an ideal course fit at TPC San Antonio. In his past five starts, he’s gained an average of 9.7 strokes on the field in driving distance and 2.9 strokes on the field in driving accuracy.
The main concern with Steele is always the putter. With that being said, when evaluating golfers who putt poorly overall, it is important to target the ones who are capable of having “spike” putting weeks. The 38-year-old is a perfect example of this. Despite losing strokes putting to the field in 25 of his past 40 events, he has 9 tournaments where he gained more than 4.0 strokes with the putter. To win a golf tournament, he doesn’t need to be a great putter; he needs to have one great putting week. The numbers prove that he is more than capable of doing that.
Steele has three PGA Tour victories on his resume. Of the three, two of those wins have come at the same course (Safeway Open 2016 and 2017). This shows me that Steele is a golfer who continuously plays well on the same tracks, and is a true “horses for courses” type of golfer. As for Steele’s third PGA Tour victory? You guessed it, the Valero Texas Open back in 2011. If he can win the Safeway twice, there’s no reason he can’t run it back this week at TPC San Antonio when he is in excellent form.
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News
Five Things We Learned: Thursday at the PGA Championship
It was a year ago that we the north, found ourselves with toes and fingers crossed. The Oak Hill PGA Championship of 2023 finished on schedule, despite the iffiness of weather in upstate New York. It’s 75 degrees today across the Niagara Frontier, which makes it two out of three (2022 was the same way) for sultry, unseasonal weather.
Louisville is, let’s be honest, a much better bet for a May PGA Championship, and Valhalla is an exciting venue for the year’s second major championship on the men’s circuit. Brooks Koepka came in as the defending champion, and Rory McIlroy arrived as the last golfer to win a major at the Nicklaus-designed course. That was a decade ago, and lord, have things changed in the world and golf.
Day one at Valhalla offered walk-in eagles, buckets of birdies, and potential for a record-low, winner’s score. We’ll get right to the meat of the matter, with five things that we learned. After all, if you can make par from the muck, anything’s possible in the land of the horses.
Cam Smith made par from here …#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/BY5ZFCiH45
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024
1. X marks this spot
Xander Schauffele went head to head last Sunday with Rory McIlroy, at least on the practice green. By the end of the round, Rors had won for a fourth time at Charlotte, while the X Man sat scratching his head, wondering what went wrong. Fortunately for us, Xander didn’t sulk.
The San Diego State alumnus absolutely torched Jack’s track with 62. Four birdies on the front nine, were followed by five more on the inward side. Schauffele never looked as if bogey was a consideration, and he might have gone even lower. Despite winning the Covid-delayed Gold medal at the Japan Olympics (I consider it a major, btdubs) Schauffele continues to chase an initial men’s major, and the validation that it brings. If 62 doesn’t get you over the hump, who knows what will.
Cam Smith made par from here …#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/BY5ZFCiH45
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024
2. Scottie starts strong? Aye.
Last month, Mr. Scheffler won a second green jacket at Augusta National. Last year in Rochester, Mr. Scheffler tied for second in this event. Mr. Scheffler began play today with a walk-in eagle, a one-hop affair that never looked as if it might go anywhere but to its home. Scheffler had a few rough holes, but that’s to be expected from a new dad. Each time he made bogey, he bounced back with birdie, so he has that short memory that winners crave. Surprisingly, Scheffler failed to manage one last birdie at the reachable 18th. Perhaps that miss will motivate him in round two.
Scottie’s shot was so nice we had to see it twice ?#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/eR1UUsyi3a
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024
3. LIV Check-In
It’s good to check in on the departed from time to time, to ensure that the fellows formerly known as PGA Tour members are doing well. It’s safe to say that some of them can still play. Defending champion Brooks Koepka posted 67 on the day, He had an eagle and three birdies on the day, with only a stumble at the 17th. He’s tied for 7th. Bryson DeChambeau made an eagle of his own, but also had a bogey, at the 12th hole. He cohabits eleventh position with Cameron Smith, who ALSO had a bogey on his card. They are one shot behind Koepka, and a fistful more behind the leader.
ON THE MONEY ?
Bryson DeChambeau for eagle! #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/Gz24VikAGQ
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024
4. Sahith and Tony at Schauffele’s heels
Both Finau and Theegala represent a special sort of athletic golfer. Their power and their charisma blend to draw golf fans to their groups. Let’s be honest, too, and say that they don’t look like the traditional professional golfer. As much as Tiger Woods did in the 1990s, they have the power to bring greater diversity to the sport.
In terms of their play today, well, only Xander was better. Finau had a clean card, with six birdies and twelve pars. Theegala had seven birdies, ten pars, and one bogey. Each combined power and finesse to insert themselves squarely in contention, ahead of round two. How will they, and Xander as well, manage the afternoon putting surface on Friday? That’s the great unknown!
SAHITH. THEEGALA. ?
This hole out puts him in a tie for the lead early at the #PGAChamp.
? @PGAChampionship pic.twitter.com/s3vLZNBQI7
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) May 16, 2024
5. All those other guys are here!
Rory, Tom Kim, Collin, and Viktor are all at minus-three or lower. Valhalla may not be a traditional golf course, but it is the type of course that the world’s best play well. McIlroy currently sits at minus-five, tied with Robert MacIntyre, Kim, and three others in fourth position. Maverick McNealy finished fast to reach the same figure, as did Tom Hoge. Morikawa closed with birdie to join the sextet at five below. Both Scheffler and Morikawa finished their rounds late on Thursday, meaning they should see smoother greens on Friday morning. If someone is a betting sould, wiser wagers could not be placed on better names than those two, two-time, major champions. Rory will tee off in Friday’s afternoon wave but, hey, he’s Rory, and he won going away last week at Quail Hollow, a course not unlike Valhalla.
The 2020 PGA Champion is making moves.
A solid approach shot from Collin Morikawa ?#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/DpD7QNfbSM
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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