With The Masters just over a week away, it’s the final chance for some players to brush up at this week’s Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio, AT&T Oaks Course, Texas.
That’s right, with The Masters looming just around the corner, it’s that time of the year when all golfing fanatics all over the globe start getting excited as we look forward to the thrills and spills at Augusta National from the 7-11th April.
Last week it was good to be back where we belong, in the winners enclosure thanks to the truly talented Scottie Scheffler. To say this kid is on fire at the moment is an understatement.
I’ve been ranting and raving about Scheffler for months now. I said he would win his maiden title soon, just the week before he did just that when winning the Phoenix Open. He has now won three events in as many months after doing the business for both us and him last weekend at the WGC Dell Technologies Matchplay. The other he won in between was the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
It seems that no one can touch Scottie Scheffler at the moment, can he already picture himself adorning the Green Jacket next weekend? It’s a very realistic possibility for the new World No.1 if you ask me.
Well done to everyone who collected at 18/1, enjoy your winnings. The Nap also landed on the DP World Tour last week with Calum Hill missing the cut at an advised 13/8 to make it a good week all in for everyone who follows our selections.
So back to this week for the Valero Texas Open.
The 144 field will all be competing around this par 72 parkland layout playing 7435 yards, for a share of the $7.9M prize purse with the winner collecting the title and $1.38M.
The weather is forecast to be mostly sunny and warm with some clouds over the weekend and breezes expected to peak at around 15mph.
This event will be screened on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main event with live coverage starting at 1.30pm GMT on Thursday afternoon.
Maverick McNealy
For my first and main selection at this week’s Valero Texas Open I’m going to single out Maverick McNealy 35/1 EW Bet365.
The 26 year old from California is the next player on my list to get that deserved breakthrough and win his maiden PGA Title.
McNealy has only missed one cut in thirteen attempts this season and currently sits 22nd in FedEx Cup rankings.
He will get plenty enthusiasm from his 2017 Walker Cup team mate Scottie Scheffler and it’s only a matter of time before McNealy joins his friend on the winner’s podium.
His best performance this year was 7th at the Genesis Invitational but he does have two runners-up prizes when finishing 2nd at the Fortinet Championship and AT&T Pebble Beach, both last year.
He has already risen over 100 places in SG approach play and with no added distraction worrying about The Masters next week, McNealy can focus all his attention on making that breakthrough. I just have a feeling that Maverick McNealy can finally bag that maiden title and be crowned a champion in Texas this weekend.
Rory McIlroy
For my next pick I’m going to advise Rory McIlroy 17/2 EW Unibet. The 32 year old Irishman has not entered an event just one week before The Masters for eight years now so he is taking this event more than serious as he looks to brush up before heading to Augusta.
Rory comes here as the highest ranked player in the field, currently 9th and also brings with him some fine recent form. In fact it reads more like some remarkable form with eleven Top 20 finishes in his last thirteen attempts. It gets even better ,with one of those being a victory at The CJ Cup.
Five of those were Top 10 finishes with four of them in the Top 5, earning plenty of place money.
Rory has been working hard lately, tweaking this and tweaking that but it all looks to be coming together again just in time for Augusta and also the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews.
However his focus will be on the career grand slam next week at The Masters and what better preparation for Rory than a victory this weekend at the Valero Texas Open.
Abraham Ancer
For my next suggestion I’m really liking the look of Abraham Ancer 22/1 EW Bet365.
The 31 year old is a native to Texas but of Mexican nationality so will have home field advantage this week in front of his fans.
The 2021 WGC FedEx St Jude Invitation winner is another in this field who will be playing at Augusta next week and can better the 5th place he achieved at last weeks WGC Dell Technologies Matchplay.
He will have taken lots of positives from his performance at Austin and if he comes here with that kind of form then he will certainly be challenging once again.
This TPC San Antonio course is basically Ancer’s back garden and where he learned his skills so no-one knows this track better than him. He hasn’t missed the cut at this event in his last four attempts so if he can make it into the weekend again then he could well be the one they all have to beat.
This course is all set up for Ancer’s game and with some improvement in the short game recently then it could all come together for Abraham Ancer to double up on his PGA crowns and bag another victory in familiar surroundings.
Si-Woo Kim v Bryson De Chambeau
For my final selection it’s the customary matchbet and this week going to advise Si-Woo Kim to get the better of Bryson De Chambeau over the 72 holes 10/11 Nap Betfair. I just don’t think Bryson is 100% yet after an injury lay off and all the distractions with this Saudi breakaway carry on.
Valero Texas Open Tips
- Maverick McNealy 35/1 EW Bet365
- Rory McIlroy 17/2 EW Unibet
- Abraham Ancer 22/1 EW Bet365
- Si-Woo Kim to beat Bryson De Chambeau, 10/11 Nap Betfair, 72 hole matchbet
The post Golf Betting Tips: Valero Texas Open Preview & Predictions appeared first on MrFixitsTips.