This Week’s PGA Tour Predictions!
The PGA Pros head to Texas this week after a long stay in Florida to play the 2015 Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio – a 7,435 Yards, Par 72 track. Ball striking seems to be the key on what has regularly been one of the toughest par 72 track the Pros play each year.
2015 Valero Texas Open
When: March 26 – 29, 2015
Golf Course: TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks Course) – San Antonio, Texas
Tournament Format: 72-Hole, Four-Day Official PGA TOUR Event
Purse: $6,200,000 / Winner Share: $1,116,000
Par: 7,252 Yards, Par 72
Defending Champion: Steven Bowditch
***2015 BONUSES***
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That said long hitters do not seem to have an especially good record here – accuracy off the tee and greens in regulation stats are more important than distance – so is an ability to scramble. Players who traditionally do well in the wind will also have an advantage.
So who should we keep an eye on this week? Let’s take a look.
2015 Valero Texas Open Favorites:
Jordan Spieth 8/1
Spieth seems to be in a bit of a zone right now – a T-7, T-4, T-17, and win at the Valspar in his last four starts. He finished 10th in this tournament last year and has the game to justify his favorite status this week. His putter is off the charts right now which certainly doesn’t hurt!
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Dustin Johnson 9/1
This will mark DJ’s first crack at TPC San Antonio – zero course history but very good current form. He won the WGC-Cadillac Championship two weeks ago and is arguably the hottest guy on TOUR right now outside of Henrik Stenson who isn’t in the field. Johnson has three top 5s in his last five starts. His length will be an asset and his ability to hit greens is definitely reason to look out for Johnson this week.
Jimmy Walker 20/1
Has been just OK the last couple of months and was last seen finishing T31 at the WGC-Cadillac Championship which followed a T41 at the Northern Trust Open. He hits greens and is a great scrambler – perfect attributes for this track but has somehow missed the cut in his last two appearances at this event. Still, Walker is the FedEx Cup points leader and he lives in San Antonio – you have to think he will be motivated to snap a slump this week.
2015 Valero Texas Open Contenders:
Jim Furyk 22/1
Furyk disappointed in his last start – a 40th place finish at the Valspar but had a T7, a T14 and a T12 this season before that dud. Furyk had a T3 here in 2013 and T6 last year – his accuracy off the tee and incredible scrambling have him firmly on the radar again this week. Don’t let his result last time out scare you – his game is better suited for this track than almost anyone in the field. Against a slightly watered-down bunch, Furyk has a real chance to break through here.
Matt Kuchar 22/1
Kuchar is another guy that is overdue for a win – he hasn’t hit the top 10 since the Humana! But he was T4 here last year and has been inside the top 22 in his last three appearances. Kuch is fourth in scrambling on TOUR and T4 in par-4 scoring – great attributes for this tough tack.
Ryan Palmer 28/1
Palmer has quietly been very good this year – top 17 in four of seven starts including a T9 last week at Bay Hill and has six top 25s in seven starts overall. Palmer is very good off the tee, he is seventh in driving distance, ninth in strokes gained: tee to green, and fourth in scoring – all stats that will come in extremely handy this week.
Kevin Na 33/1
Na will always be remembered for the 16 he took in the 2011 Valero- it made us all feel good about our game! But he rides a streak of three straight top 10 finishes into this week and he did finish T11 on this track last year. Na has been very good lately and seems like good value here.
Martin Laird 40/1
Has three top 15s already this year and won this event in 2013 – a year he shot a course record 63.
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Laird was on my list last week as well but his price was a whole lot more appealing then!
2015 Valero Texas Open Sleepers (50/1 or higher):
Sean O’Hair 55/1
Fell apart a bit on Sunday last week but still finished T29 at the Arnold Palmer – just a week after getting into a playoff at the Valspar and finishing 25th at the Honda. O’Hair is rounding back into form and could be a threat here.
Nick Watney 55/1
First timer here should find this track to his liking. He is accurate off the tee, he hits greens and his scrambling ability is very good. Watney has two top 7 finishes already this year and could make some noise this week too.
Fredrik Jacobson 75/1
Has gone T-16 last year, T-15 in 2013, T-18 in 2012, T-5 in 2011, and in 2010 he finished 2nd in his last five appearances here – good numbers on a tough track. His best finish this year is a T32 but he did look OK at times last week.
2015 Valero Texas Open Picks:
The pick this week is Ryan Palmer at 28/1. A local guy, look for his style to suit the windy conditions very well – his present form also makes me think that he is due for a win.
My sleeper is Nick Watney at 55/1. His stats are just too difficult to ignore ahead of this week. His game is solid and his present form isn’t anything to sneeze at either.
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