Duke and UNC will meet in the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever; Villanova faces Kansas
This week’s Valero Texas Open is the last PGA Tour event ahead of the Masters and the final chance to claim a spot to play at Augusta National for the green jacket.
TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course provides a stiff challenge. The par-72, 7,435-yard layout is difficult and can be more trying if the winds are gusting.
It’s not a stellar field given it’s being played a week ahead of the game’s crown jewel. But headliners such as Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and defending Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama figure to challenge for the $1,548,000 first-place check.
You can follow the action on Thursday (4-7 p,m., GolfChannel), Friday (4-7 p.m., GolfChannel), Saturday (1-3:30 p.m., GolfChannel; 3:30-6 p.m., NBC) and Sunday (1-2 p.m., GolfChannel; 2-6 p.m., NBC).
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How did FrontPageBets do last week? Our pick to win his group, Dustin Johnson, advanced to the semifinals of last week’s World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, bowing to champion Scottie Scheffler. So we’ve got that going for us, which is nice.
Here’s who we like this week in the shadow of the Alamo.
(All odds courtesy of DraftKings)
The favorite: Rory McIlroy (+750)
McIlroy, who skipped last week’s match play, is competing in Texas for the first time since 2014. Next week, he’ll be seeking his first Masters victory and the elusive career Grand Slam. He has a T-10 at the Genesis Invitational and a T-13 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational to show in 2022. He’s likely focused on fine-tuning his game for his Magnolia Lane visit.
Pick to win: Abraham Ancer (+2200)
Ancer advanced to the quarterfinals of the match play last week, showing solid and improving form. His T-5 there was by far his best effort of the season, his next-best being T-33 at the Players Championship. The native of Mexico will need a big week off the tee to tame the Oaks. We’re betting he gets it.
Top 5: Tony Finau (+750)
Finau knows this course well and was third here in 2017. He showed some promise at the match play, a T-35 finish not completely indicative of the way he played and took care of Xander Schauffele in their head-to-head showdown. Through with the Florida Swing, not really his wheelhouse, Finau should be ready to make a move.
Top 10: Chris Kirk (+275)
Kirk boasts a pair of top-10 finishes this campaign at the Arnold Palmer (T-5) and the Honda Classic (T-7). He was just outside the top 10 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. He’s played well here, T-6 in 2021, T-8 in 2018. Seems a safe choice to be in contention.
More notable Valero Texas Open odds to win
Jordan Spieth (+1400)
Hideki Matsuyama (+1400)
Corey Conners (+1800)
Bryson DeChambeau (+2800)
Gary Woodland (+3000)
Si Woo Kim (+2800)
Keegan Bradley (+3500)
Maverick McNealy (+3500)
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Gerry Ahern is senior content editor for FrontPageBets. A 35-year veteran sports editor and digital media executive, he has led coverage of the biggest events in sports, from Super Bowls, to Final Fours, to Olympics, to the Masters.
