Texas Valero Open 2013

This week the players move over to the TPC San Antonio for the Valero Texas Open. This event was moved from it's usual post Masters slot to it's new spot now serving as the warm up before Augusta with the lucky winner getting into the Masters if not already qualified. This is a long and difficult 7500 yard par 72 designed by Greg Norman and Sergio Garcia with narrow tree lined fairways and deep bunkers that will punish errant tee shots. Ben Curtis picked up the win here last year finishing at -9 winning by two shots over Every & Huh.

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That is great deal for that event, Woods and Mcilroy are the strong favorites along with Mickelson.

This course will demand accuracy from the tee as well as good iron play. It is currently ranked as the fourth toughest course on tour and many still remember Kevin Na penciling in a 16 on the par 4 9th hole in 2011, the highest score ever recorded on tour! This will be just the fourth time this event has been held here though the tournament dates back to 1922. Other TPC San Antonio winners include Brendon Steele '11, Adam Scott '10. Total driving, GIR, Sand Save % and par 4 performance will be some of the key things to look at this week.

The field will be fairly strong this week with Rory McIlroy in attendance still trying to get himself into form to play next weeks Masters. Ben Curtis will be back to defend his title, other notables include, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk, Charl Schwartzel, Ian Pouter and Padraig Harrington among others.

Main Picks

To Win

Fredrik Jacobson  20/1 -click here to bet

Freddie is a solid player who we'll be happy to back this week. He's had a good start to the year making five cuts in as many starts with three top tens including T3rd at the NTO and T7th at Pebble Beach. He's had good success at this course, in the last three years he hasn't finished worse then 18th. Took solo second in 2010 and tied for fifth in '11. A great putter and solid short game we can expect Freddie to be in contention this week. Some of his key stats this week, 5th Total Putting, 5th Scambling, 2nd Scoring Avg., 23rd Par 4 performance, 5th Proximity to Hole.

Each Way

Brendon Steele  40/1 EW -click here to bet

Brendon is a solid player who is offering great value and someone who we expect to perform well this week. Had a decent start to his season, he’s made seven of eight cuts highlighted by a T6th in Phoenix where he shot -18. He has had good success here to say the least, winning the tourney in ’11 and T4th last year, look for Brendon to be comfortable and confident on his way to contention once again. Some of his key stats this week include 54th GIR, 53rd Total Driving, 45th Scoring Avg., 48th Ball Striking.

Jordan Spieth  40/1 EW -click here to bet

This young phenom from Texas will be our next choice. The 19 y/o has started to make a name for himself early this season making four of five cuts and posting back to back top tens. First after shooting four rounds in the sixties he earned a T2nd in Puerto Rice then went on to a T7th at the challenging course in Tampa. He also has top ten finishes in his only two starts on the Web Tour T7th at the PCC and T4th at Colombia.  Good all around player will look for his first professional win in front of a home crowd.  He’s a good ball striker who if he can get his putter working could certainly win this event. Some of his key stats for this week, 7^th Total Driving,  3^rd All Around, 7^th GIR, 3^rd Ball Striking, 24^th Proximity to Hole, 8^th Par 4 Performance.

Ryan Palmer  60/1 EW -click here to bet

Palmer is a solid steady player we backed at a better price even though he ended up missing the cut I don’t think we’ll need to worry about that this week. T32nd here last year despite a final round 76. We’ll look for him to get rolling with his game setting up nicely for this course Ryan is a solid tee to green player offering some good value this week. Decent start to '13 for Palmer who has made 5/8 cuts and has two top 10 finishes to show for it picking up a T6th at the Humana before taking 5th in Phoenix. Some key stats, 10^th Total Driving, 28^th GIR, 20^th Scoring Avg., 36^th All Around, 10^th Ball Striking, 4^th Final Round Scoring, 41^st Proximity to Hole.

Hunter Haas 125/1 EW -click here to bet

Hunter is a grinder who has played well on this track.  Another born and raised Texas resident Hunter has made three of four cuts on the Web Tour this season with a pair of top 25’s to show for it. He made the cut last week in Houston but T65th after weekend rounds of 74, 74. Good results the past two years at the TPC San Antonio finishing T8th last year and T15th in ’11. A good iron player and solid around, look for Hunter to grind his way into contention this week at a good long shot price. 

Follow Darrell on @djs123sports and thatsbettingtips.com on @thatsbettingtip for more sports tips and banter   

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