It's almost April, which means the golf world is about to shift focus to one of its major tournaments: The Texas Valero Open.
Last year's showdown was canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic, so fans in San Antonio are just itching to watch their favorite names get back on the green. But before we get that far, we of course need to deliver our Texas Valero Open picks.
Betting odds for this tournament were just made. Here's a list of top golfers expected to tee off when the tournament gets underway. You can check grab odds from Bovada, BetOnline, BetUS, or another top-rated sportsbook:
| Players' Championship Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Spieth | +1300 | +1300 | +1300 |
| Dustin Johnson | +680 | +680 | +680 |
| Tony Finau | +1700 | +1700 | +1700 |
| Scottie Scheffler | +1700 | +1700 | +1700 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | +2200 | +2200 | +2200 |
| Corey Conners | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Abraham Ancer | +2600 | +2600 | +2600 |
| Ryan Palmer | +29000 | +29000 | +29000 |
| Charley HOffman | +29000 | +29000 | +29000 |
| Brendan Steele | +29000 | +29000 | +29000 |
The absence of odds will not prevent us from dropping our top betting options. We've seen enough and know enough about the best choices to make some educated decisions.
Texas Valero Open Betting Breakdown
Before we dive headfirst into our best Texas Valero Open bets, here's all the info you need to know about this year's event:
- When: Thursday, April 1 - Sunday, April 4
- Where: San Antonio, Texas
- Course: TPC San Antonio - AT&T Oaks Course
- Total Prize Purse: $7.7 million
Best Texas Valero Open Bets
Plenty of the above names offer great value. We'll pull the golfers we believe are most likely to finish atop the Texas Valero Open leaderboard.
Corey Conners (+2500)
Since there was no 2020 Texas Valero Open, Corey Conners remains the reigning champ. He won the 2019 Texas Valero Open by shooting six under par and edging out a narrow field that saw results go down to the very last hole.
Though that still ranks as Conners' only PGA tour victory, he doesn't have the making of a one-hit-wonder. The 29-year-old recently finished seventh at The Players Championship just a few weeks ago.
Conners' driving game can be a bit spotty. He doesn't get a ton of distance under the ball and is more prone than usual to finding himself in bunkers when attempting to shred type spaces. Still, this course favors his style, since it doesn't require you to drive the ball unmanageable distances.
Jordan Spieth (+1300)
Many bettors are currently inclined to steer clear of Jordan Spieth. The runner-up at the 2015 Texas Valero Open has fallen on a rough stretch in recent seasons. He enters this year's 47th in the FedEx Cup rankings.
We're more optimistic about his immediate performance. He managed to last all four rounds at The Players Championship, and in recent weeks, it has come to light that he was previously dealing with an undisclosed hand injury. He will improve as he gets healthy.
The turnaround may have already begun. Spieth fell all the way to No. 92 in the FedEx Cup Rankings before starting his current upswing. That he's already climbed this far so early into 2021 bodes well for his long-term play.
Patrick Reed
Patrick Reed nearly won the 2016 Texas Valero Open. Perhaps this is the year he finally gets one.
Consistency is the crux of Reed's game. He isn't the most powerful driver. Nor is he the guy you count on to complete the riskiest shots with a ton of precision. But he knows how to reach the Green in a reasonable number of strokes.
Reed's 4.84 birdies per 18 holes currently rank second on the tour. This course can be a little less forgiving than others, but he's shown he can grind his way to comfortably under par on it in the past.
Dustin Johnson (+680)
Dustin Johnson is something of an obvious pick. And we make no apologies. He's playing the best golf of his career right now.
No other player ranks higher in the FedEx Cup rankings. Thomas is also reaching the greens on his first try nearly 70 percent of the time and hovers around the top 60 in average driving distance.
Oh, and let's not forget: He's coming off an underwhelming performance at The Players Championship, so he's clearly due for a bounce-back outing. If you're looking for a safer option, this is your guy.
Texas Valero Open Winner Prediction
Our pick might surprise you: It's Corey Conners.
Sure, rolling with someone who has already won on this course is hardly bold. But the Texas Valero Open hasn't hosted a consecutive winner since Justin Leonard in 2000 and 2001. It will be a big deal if Conners is able to pick up his second straight victory.
We're not too concerned with going against history. For starters, this isn't a normal repeat bid. Last year's tournament was canceled.
More than anything, Conners is simply on the come-up. He has five top-10 finishes this season—tying him for the second-most on the tour. This is a pick worth looking at.
OSB Prediction: Corey Conners (+2500)
Check out this list of the best online sportsbooks so you can decide which one to use for all your golf betting:
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