BlogValero Texas Open Preview and Picks

The Buzz:

Many will wonder if this is nothing more than a good time to take a week off. Despite having a great sponsor, this event wasn’t a marquee stop on the PGA Tour until last year. In 2023, only 24 players in the top 100 of the world rankings played in the Valero Texas Open. That was the last year the Match Play Championship was played the week before Valero. With the demise of the Match Play, more players attended Valero, but we now see that Houston is taking a few more players.

In the past, many people have passed up the Valero Texas Open due to the winds, which blow in the 20 mph range. The last thing in the world players want to do is screw up their swings a week before the Masters. But by the number of players on the field, the worry is not as great. One thing is that the TPC San Antonio course is a tough test and is a perfect venue for players to prepare for the Masters. The last week in Houston is why we saw Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy playing the previous week as both figured it was the best way for them to get ready for the Masters..

The Masters field is pretty much set with 96 players. The only exception or way for players to get into the field is winning this week. Last year, one of the players looking at that was Akshay Bhatia, who won at the Barracuda Championship in July. There is no invite since that is a second-tier event the same week as the British Open. He beat Denny McCarthy, who was already in the Masters, in a playoff.

Of the 147 playing this week, 27 are playing next week in the Masters, so that leaves 127 looking for that last-minute invite. One player still searching for that Masters Invite is Ben Griffin, who started the year at the Sony Open and was 68th in the ranking. That would be the start of 12 straight weeks of playing golf. Thanks to a T-7th at the American Express and a T-4th in Mexico, he climbed to 57th in the rankings. With a T-4th at the Cognizant Classic, he found himself 48th in the rankings. But after finishing T-45th at the Palmer, he missed the cut at the Players and Valspar. So he went to Houston 53rd and needed a good finish to get that 50th spot and a place in the Masters. On the cusp of missing the cut, Griffin shot 29 on the front nine and 67 to make the cut on the number. He shot 68 on Saturday and had a flawless 65 in the final round. When he made a birdie on his final hole, he was close, and it was up to Michael Kim. With bogeys at 15 and 17, it was down to a 6-foot par putt for Michael to get that 50th spot in the rankings and a trip to the Masters. So for Griffin, he finished 51st and will need a victory this week to make his first Masters start next week.

• Another player in the same boat who needs a Masters victory is Rickie Fowler. He has played in 11 Masters and was runner-up in 2018. He played last year and was T-30th, but he still has no spot.
• Si Woo Kim is another regular at Augusta. He has played in eight straight Masters, his best finish being T-12th in 2021, but this year, he needs to win the Valero to play in his ninth straight Masters.
• Matt Kuchar has played in 15 Masters but hasn’t made it to Augusta since 2021, and if he doesn’t win in Texas, he will make it missing the Masters for four years in a row.
• 2018 British Open champion Francesco Molinari will also miss the Masters if he doesn’t win in Texas. He played in 12 Masters and missed last year’s after playing in seven straight going back to 2017. With his Open Championship exemption expired, he has to win in Texas to make a return trip to Augusta.

So, for many, this week is crucial.

Winning a major the week after winning on the PGA Tour

We talk about this all the time when the majors come around. Is it suitable for a player to participate the week before? That player is usually trying to prepare to play in a major. The last thing most of these players think about is winning; of course, they want to get their games ready and don’t want to spend the energy it takes to win a week too early. 2022 was a perfect example; Rory McIlroy played in the Valero Texas Open, missing the cut, and then finished 2nd at the Masters the following week. In 2023, McIlroy didn’t play in the Valero and missed the cut at the Masters, so it’s a mystery to me what to do. For this year, McIlroy played last week and took this week off.

In the history of the majors going back to 1950, only six times has a player won the week before winning a major. Here is the list:

• Rory McIlroy – Won the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, followed by the 2014 PGA Championship
• Tiger Woods – Won the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, followed by the 2007 PGA Championship
• Phil Mickelson – won the BellSouth Classic, followed by the 2006 Masters Tournament
• Sandy Lyle – Won Greater Greensboro Open, followed by the 1988 Masters Tournament
• Lee Trevino – Won the Canadian Open, followed by the 1971 British Open
• Art Wall – Won the Azalea Open, followed by the 1959 Masters Tournament

Who is the hottest player in the game, Rory McIlroy or Joaquin Niemann?

Since the start of November, both have won three times. Niemann won the Saudi International in December and twice on the LIV tour in Adelaide and Singapore. For Rory, he won the year-end DP World Tour Championship, AT&T Pebble Beach, and the Players Championship. As we can see, Rory won very important events with strong fields as Pebble was a signature event. For Niemann, the Saudi win didn’t have many top 50 players in the field, and we always question the actual star value of LIV Golf. Each week of LIV golf is like the Philadelphia Eagles playing the Kansas City Chiefs each Sunday. LIV Golf is playing in Doral this week, and if Niemann wins, he will put the thought that he is the best player in the world. For Niemann, the big question is his Master’s record; in five starts, his best finish was T-16th in 2023, so I have to say that many have an advantage over him

Things you need to know about the Valero Texas Open

The Valero Texas Open is a historic tournament; it’s the 6th oldest professional tournament in golf worldwide, the 3rd oldest on the PGA Tour, and the longest held in the same city. This is the 103rd anniversary of the first one played in 1922 at Brackenridge Park. Robert MacDonald won that one, and in 1923, Walter Hagen won. The list of winners is good. Hagen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, and Sam Snead won. Arnold Palmer won three in a row between 1960 and 1962. Dating back to 1922, the tournament has been through 16 names to date, but it can always trace its lineage back to San Antonio, Texas. As for host courses of the Valero Texas Open, the Brackenridge Park Golf Course has predominantly hosted the event, the Willow Springs Golf Course, Fort Sam Houston Golf Course, and Oak Hills Country Club between 1995 and 2009, The Resort at La Cantera. 14 years ago, they moved to the new TPC San Antonio, part of a two-course project.

Always known as a place where pros can go to score low on, the Valero Texas Open has been the site of numerous scoring feats. In the 1951 Texas Open held at Brackenridge Park, Al Brosch became the first PGA Tour player to post a score of 60. In 1955, just four years later, Mike Souchak, again playing at Brackenridge Park, posted a 72-hole score of 257, which would stand as the PGA Tour record until 2001. In the 2003 Valero Texas Open, Tommy Armour fired a 254 at LaCantera to set the record for the lowest 72-hole score in PGA Tour history. His score to par of 26-under also was a Tour record for Par 70 courses. His score eclipsed Donnie Hammond’s 22-under par, which he shot at the 1989 Valero Texas Open. But at TPC San Antonio, only a few records are broken as the course is very tough.

Course information:

• TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course)
• San Antonio, TX.
• 7,438 yards     Par 36-36–72

AT&T Oaks features a course rating of 76.5 and a slope rating from the back tees of 148. The tees, fairway, and rough are Bermuda Grass but different strains: Emerald Ultradwarf on the tees, TifSport on the fairways, Champion Ultradwarf on the greens, and Bandera on the rough. The course is part of a resort and is open to those who stay on the path and its members.

The average green size at AT&T Oaks is 6,400 square feet, a little over the average on the PGA Tour. It has 58 bunkers, and water comes into play on 3 holes.

There wasn’t anything wrong with LaCantera, the reason for the move was financial because the event now doesn’t have to pay a site fee which had been reported in the $300,000 neighborhood. The course being used is the AT&T Oaks, which will play at 7,438 yards and a par 72. It was designed by Greg Norman with Sergio Garcia as the player consulted. The course opened in 2009 and is one of the ten TPC courses that will be used on the PGA Tour this season.

Let’s take a look at vital stats that are important for those playing in TPC San Antonio.

This is based on the most important stats for TPC San Antonio, based on data from last year’s Valero Texas Open (won by Akshay Bhatia), and using data from all the players in the field with stats from 2025. We take their rank for each stat and then add the four categories.

The scoring average of the TPC San Antonio Oaks Course field last year was 72.51, and it was the 7th hardest course on the PGA Tour of the 50 courses charted in 2024. The course was the hardest since 2017, when it played to a 72.85 average. The reason for the high scoring average was wins of 20 mph on Thursday, up to 30 mph on Friday, and gusts of 20 mph on Saturday. During the third round, the scoring average was 74.34, making it the hardest third round of the year.
Here is a look at the scoring average at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course for the last few years:
*2023 – Average was 72.09, was the 16th hardest of the 58 courses that year
*2022 – Average was 71.76, was the T-17th hardest of the 50 courses that year
*2021 – Average was 72.48; it was the 14th hardest of the 51 courses that year
*2020 – The event was not played in 2020 due to COVID-19
*2019 – Average was 71.24, was 28th hardest of 49 courses that year. In the decade the Tour has been playing at TPC San Antonio, it’s the first time the field broke par. Previously, the course had played hard. In the history of the PGA Tour, it’s one of the highest-scoring averages for a non-major. The biggest reason is the winds; the area is notorious for having strong winds. Last year, it was windy for all four days. On Thursday, they had gusts up to 25 mph; on Friday, they had gusts up to 23 mph, while over the weekend, the winds were between 8 and 18 mph.
It was windy all four days, the same as in 2022. On Friday, gusts up to 27 mph were recorded.
Back in 2019, there was rain, the course was soft, and a lack of wind.
In 2018, the course played to a 72.37 average, almost a shot around tougher than in 2019, when it ranked 12th.
In 2017, the course scored 72.85 on average, the 10th hardest.
In 2016, the course played to a 72.21 average and was the 17th hardest course.
In 2015, with challenging conditions, the course played to a 74.52 average, the 2nd hardest course on Tour. So TPC San Antonio can be a brute between being long, with heavy rough in the fairways, and demanding shots to the green.
So, the weather is always important for this week, and looking at the long-range forecast.
This year’s weather won’t have the same type of winds, but after a calm Thursday, the rest of the week will see winds in the 10 to 15 mph range. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday will be hot and muggy with Thunderstorms. Things change for Sunday, as temperatures will go down to 69, with very little chance of rain.

TPC San Antonio has been and could be one of the most challenging courses the Tour will see this year. Hitting it hard and far is essential. Last year, it ranked 22nd out of 41 courses in driving distance (all 14 drives measured), with an average drive of 293.0 yards. The 2024 winner, Akshay Bhatia, had an average drive of 300.7 yards, and he ranked 12th.
In 2023, it ranked 21st out of 38 courses in driving distance (all 14 drives measured), with an average drive of 258.1 yards. The 2023 winner, Corey Conners, had an average drive of 304.1 yards, and he ranked 13th.
In 2022, it ranked 26th out of 36 courses in driving distance (all 14 drives measured). So, with an average drive of 296.9 years, players tend to use more drivers on this course and look to get it down the fairways and not lay up off the tee to avoid problems.
The 2022 winner, J.J. Spaun, will be one of the shortest hitters to win in this event. His average drive was 291.0 yards, and he ranked 56th (72 made the cut).
In 2021, Jordan Spieth was T-15th in this stat; his average drive was 297.7 yards.
In looking at the past winners of this event since it’s been played at the Canyons course in 2010, only three of the ten winners have been in the top ten in driving distance. Going further in looking at the list of winners, we see that they have many short hitters winning this event. Between 2017 and 2019, the three champions, Corey Conners, Andrew Landry, and Kevin Chappell, are in the bottom tier of driving. Last year’s winner, Akshay Bhatia, ranked T-57th for all drives in 2024.
The 1923 winner, Corey Conners, ranked 45th in all drives in 2023, so we can’t say that a long-hitter ruled the roast at this venue last year. The same is true in 2022; champion J.J. Spaun ranked 136th in all drives in 2022.
So you may think accuracy is essential, but on the other end of the spectrum, that’s not the case, either. Of the last nine winners going back to 2014, only three champions were in the top 25 in driving accuracy:
Last year’s winner was Corey Conners, who was 3rd.
2022 winner J.J. Spaun, who was T-9th.

2021 winner Jordan Spieth, who was T-49th.
2019 winner Corey Conners, who was T-7th in his victory.
Still, you can see those results in fairway accuracy. The course was 2nd last year with a 48.61 average
The course was 6th in 2023 with a 49.14 average,
8th in 2022 with a 53.44 average,
and 11th in 2021 with a 55.03 average.
It was 5th in 2019 with a 53.98 average
and 19th on Tour in 2018 with a 58.02 average, so placing drives in the fairway is crucial.

One key to playing well at TPC San Antonio is hitting greens.

Last year, it ranked 5th in Greens in Regulation, as 56.50% of the greens were hit.
In 2023 and in 2022, the course ranked 12th in Greens in Regulation,
while in 2021, the course was 9th in Greens in Regulation.
In 2019, the course was 13th in greens in Regulation
and 9th in greens hit in 2018, which is very high, probably because of all the wind. Yes, the greens have been very tough to hit.
In 2017, it was 3rd;
In 2016, it was the 15th hardest.
In 2015, it was the 2nd hardest greens to hit on Tour,
and then between 2012 and 2019, all the winners were in the top 17 in greens in Regulation, with 2019 winner Corey Conners, 2018 winner Andrew Landry, 2015 winner Jimmy Walker, and 2012 champion Ben Curtis leading that stat.
Things have changed, and we may see this trend broken. In 2022, J.J. Spaun ranked T-16th in greens hit with 48 of 72. The same happened in 2021. Jordan Spieth ruined this stat, ranking T-57th in Greens in Regulation, which was the worst performance of a winner at TPC San Antonio. But things returned to normal last year as Akshay Bhatia won and led the Greens in Regulation stat, hitting 54 of 72 greens.
The same was true in 2023, when Corey Conners again won and led the Greens in Regulation stat, hitting 56 of 72 greens.

So, we get down to our four key categories. Our first key stat is strokes gained Tee-to-Green because you have to do well in this stat to win. Last year, the field hit an average of 56.50% of the greens and ranked 5th. So this is important in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green, our top stats to look for. Last year’s winner, Akshay Bhatia, ranked 1st in Greens in Regulation, hitting 54 of 72 greens as he finished 1st for the week in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green, gaining 4.699 strokes per round.
Here is a look at the Greens in Regulation at the Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio and how it corresponds to the winners in the last few years in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green:
*2023 – TPC San Antonio ranked 12th in Greens in Regulation, hitting 61.05% of the greens.
Winner J.J. Spaun was T-16th in Greens in Regulation, hitting 48 of 72 greens, and was 5th in Strokes Gained Tee to Green, picking up 2.190 shots per round.
*2022 – TPC San Antonio ranked 12th in Greens in Regulation.
Winner J.J. Spaun was T-16th in Greens in Regulation, hitting 48 of 72 greens, and was 5th in Strokes Gained Tee to Green, picking up 2.190 shots per round.
*2021 – TPC San Antonio ranked 9th in Greens in Regulation.
Winner Jordan Spieth was T-57th in Greens in Regulation, hitting 42 of 72 greens, but was 3rd in Strokes Gained Tee to Green, picking up 3.227 shots per round.
*2020 – No event played due to Covid-19.
*2019 – TPC San Antonio ranked 13th in Greens in Regulation.
Winner Corey Conners was T1st in Greens in Regulation, hitting 59 of 72 greens, and was 2nd in Strokes Gained Tee to Green, picking up 3.593 shots per round.

Scrambling is our 2nd key stat mainly because of its history, where lots of greens are missed, like at TPC San Antonio; the course is adamant about getting it up and down, and historically, we can see that players can get it up and down on greens that are missed. Last year, it ranked 30th hardest, with players getting it up and down on greens, missing 61.23% of the time. Since the course is a shot-maker delight, you can see that if you miss a lot of greens, you better get it up and down to play well. Last year’s winner, Akshay Bhatia, was ranked 8th, getting it up and down in 22 of the 28 greens he missed.
Here is a look at the scrambling of the Valero Texas Open winners over the last few years:
*2023 – TPC San Antonio finished 30th in scrambling, getting it up and down 59.30% of the time
Winner Corey Conner, ranked 20th, got it up and down on 11 of the 16 greens he missed.
*2022 – TPC San Antonio finished 31st in scrambling, getting it up and down 61.11% of the time
Winner J.J. Spaun, was ranked 57th. He got it up and down in 14 of the 24 greens he missed.
*2021 – TPC San Antonio finished 23rd in scrambling, getting it up and down 58.79% of the time
Winner Jordan Spieth, was ranked 4th, getting it up and down in 24 of the 30 greens he missed.
*2020 – No event played due to Covid-19.
*2020 – TPC San Antonio finished 43rd in scrambling, getting it up and down 63.89% of the time
Winner Corey Conners, was ranked 70th, getting it up and down in 4 of the 13 greens he missed.
Most of the time, the winner must do a great job getting it up and down on the greens he missed.

Another essential skill for success is putting. So, for our third category, we picked making putts inside 10 feet.
Last year, TPC San Antonio’s greens were some of the most challenging greens to make putts on Tour in making putts inside ten feet in, as only 88.26% of those putts were made, making it the 22nd hardest on Tour. In comparison, the South course at Torrey Pine in the Farmers Insurance saw the most putts inside of ten feet, with 85.30%. For the winner, Akshay Bhatia ranked T-40th in putting inside ten feet, making 65 of 73 tries inside ten feet (89.04%).
Here is a look at the Putting Inside Ten Feet of the Valero Texas Open winners for the last few years:
*2023 – For those putting inside ten feet at TPC San Antonio, 87.30% of the putts were made, the 9th hardest of the 36 courses that tracked putts for the year. In comparison, the Seaside course at Sea Island Resort in the RSM Classic saw the most putts inside of ten feet, with 89.59%.
Winner Corey Conners ranked 40th in putting inside ten feet, making 66 of 75 tries inside ten feet (88.00%).
*2022 – For those putting inside ten feet at TPC San Antonio, 88.78% of the putts were made, the 30th hardest of the 36 courses that tracked putts for the year.
Winner J.J. Spaun made 63 of 67 putts inside ten feet (94.03%) and ranked T-7th.
*2021 – For those putting inside ten feet at TPC San Antonio, 87.11% of the putts were made, which was the 11th hardest of the 39 courses that tracked putts for the year.
Winner Jordan Spieth hit 66 of 71 greens (92.96%) and ranked T-5th.
*2020 – No event played due to Covid-19.
*2019 – 87.62% of the putts were made for those putting inside ten feet at TPC San Antonio, as it was the 19th hardest of the 35 courses that tracked putts for the year.
Winner Corey Conners made 65 of 75 putts inside ten feet (86.67%) and ranked T-50th.
So, putting is essential in playing well at TPC San Antonio.

Our last category is one in which players have to find a way of making birdies and eagles to score well, Par Breakers, since making eagles and birdies is significant. Last year, TPC San Antonio had 1,525 birdies, 30th in total birdies, and 25 eagles made, which ranked T-16th. The winner, Akshay Bhatia, was first in the field with 25 birdies and no eagles. He was first in Par Breakers with 34.72%.
Remember this: of the nine TPC courses, all except TPC Scottsdale, TPC River Highlands, and TPC Southwind had fewer birdies (Southwind had 1,067 birdies, TPC River Highlands had 1,248, and TPC Scottsdale had 1,495).

Here is a look at the Par Breakers at the Valero Texas Open winners the last few years:
*2023 – 1,473 birdies were made (34th hardest) and 27 eagles (T-23rd) as 19.61% of the holes played under par, making it the 18th hardest of the 58 courses that year
Winner Corey Conners was T-1st in the field, making 23 birdies, and there were no eagles. He was 2nd in Par Breakers.
*2022 – 1,513 birdies were made (36th hardest) and 26 eagles (T-19th) as 20.07% of the holes played under par, making it the 19th hardest of the 50 courses that year
Winner J.J. Spaun made 23 birdies (the Best) and one eagle, which made 33.33% of the holes he played under par. He ranked first in Par Breakers.
*2021 – 1,457 birdies were made (32nd hardest) and 22 eagles (T-10th) as 18.59% of the holes played under par, making it the 15th hardest of the 51 courses that year
Winner Jordan Spieth made 24 birdies (Best) and no eagles, as 33.33% of the holes were played under par, and he ranked 1st in Par Breakers.
*2020 – No event played due to Covid-19.
*2019 – 1,598 birdies were made (37th hardest) and 70 eagles (T-33rd) as 20.97% of the holes played under par, making it the 23rd hardest of the 49 courses that year
Winner Corey Conners made 29 birdies (Best) and one eagle as 41.67% of the holes played under par as he ranked 1st in Par Breakers.
So the winner will have to make a lot of birdies and eagles.

So, if you look at all these stats, who has played the best at TPC San Antonio?
Corey Conners has won twice and was T-25th last year, T-35th in 2022, T-14th in 2021, and T-26th in 2018.
Charley Hoffman has been the most consistent; in 18 Valero starts has made 17 cuts and was in the top ten seven times, including a win in 2016, runner-up in 2011, 2019, and 2021, and a T-3rd in 2013. Last year, he was T-69th. This year Hoffman has struggled with injuries, he was T-64th last week in Houston.
We also must remember Matt Kuchar, who made 13 cuts in 19 starts but missed the cut last year. Before that, he was T-3rd in 2023 and T-2nd in 2022. Kuchar has not played well in 2025; his best finish is T-21st at the Sony Open.
Remember that Jordan Spieth, who won the event in 2021, was second in 2015 and T-10th last year.

*Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green: This stat is a great barometer of a player’s game from tee to green. It takes a combination of driving distance, driving accuracy, greens hit, and proximity to the hole.

*Scrambling: So which course is challenging to get it up and down on holes players miss the greens. Since all of the areas around the greens are mowed short and are left with tough shots to get it close, scrambling is essential. You are not going to be perfect, so you have to make sure you can make par from some challenging places

*Putting inside 10 feet: This is very easy. Count every putt from ten feet in to see who makes the most.

*Par Breakers: A combination of eagles and birdies made during the week to see who has the most.

Players from this year’s field with stats from 2025, with 128 of the 156 players having stats:

Click any column title in the table header to sort columns.

Most DraftKings points earned

We have compiled a database covering 48 events, beginning at the start of the 2024 season and ending with the 2025 Houston Open. The database includes the number of points a player won during each event and its cost. From the database, we can determine the total DraftKing points earned, the players’ average points earned per event, and the average points based on the number of rounds played.

Of the players in the field, here are the top 60 playing in at least eight events:

DraftKings Picks

*Here are the guys that cost the most on DraftKings this week:

• Ludvig Aberg – $10,800
• Tommy Fleetwood – $10,700
• Patrick Cantlay – $10,200
• Corey Conners – $10,100
• Hideki Matsuyama – $9,900
• Jordan Spieth – $9,700
• Keegan Bradley – $9,500
• Akshay Bhatia – $9,300
• Daniel Berger – $9,200
• Denny McCarthy – $9,000

There are lots of good players in our top category.  Ludvig Aberg at $10,800 is a question.  He did win at Genesis but has struggled a bit in 2025, including missing the cut in his last start at The Players.  His DraftKings points are very low for someone at the top, just 79.1 per event.  So I am taking a pass on him.  The same goes for Tommy Fleetwood at $10,700. He was T-7th last year in his only Texas start, but he has not sniffed a victory since the Masters last year, and his 73.0 DraftKings points are low for his cost.  Patrick Cantlay at $10,200 is also a hard person to spend the money.  He has never played in the event, and I question if his game is good enough for the course.  His best finish for the year is a pair of 5th-place finishes at American Express and Genesis. I think it’s best to hold back on him for the Masters.  Corey Conners at $10,100 is worth the money. Two wins at this event and has played well in the last month, including a 3rd at the Palmer.  Hideki Matsuyama at $9,900 is a no for me; he hasn’t played well since winning at Kapalua in January.  His record in Texas is ok; last year’s T-7th is his best finish in four starts.  Jordan Spieth at $9,700 is a tough choice.  His record at TPC San Antonio is very good, including a win in 2021.  He was T-10th last year, but I am puzzled over his 2025 record.  He was T-4th at Phoenix and T-9th at Cognizant, but the rest is not great.  Still, his record in this event makes him worth the pick.  Keegan Bradley at $9,500 is a bit overpriced because, for the cost, you get a guy that averages 71 points per event.  So he is close to a wash, averaging 71.2 points per event.  Akshay Bhatia at $9,300 is a guy worth the price.  Not only the defending champion, in 2025, he averages 85 points per event, and he will be worth the price you pay.  In his last four starts, he was T-9th at Genesis, 9th at Mexico, missed the cut at the Palmer, and T-3rd at the Players.  Daniel Berger at $9,200 is worth a look at since missing the cut at the Farmers has averaged 87.4 points per event.  This is the good news; the bad news is that he has been cut twice in two starts, as TPC San Antonio is not his best friend.  Denny McCarthy at $9,000 is a perfect choice due to his good putting and consistency.  In 2025, he has averaged 84 points per event and hasn’t missed a cut since the British Open.  He is a good choice.

Here is our feature in which we help you decide which guys make the cut the most in a tournament.  Picking six players that play 72 holes is vital to playing well in Draftkings, and this list will help.  It’s a look at who has made the most cuts.  Of course, those who make a lot of cuts and are priced low are very helpful.  To get on this list, you have to make at least three Valero Texas Open starts:

• Corey Conners made 6 cuts in 6 starts for a 100.0%.  His DraftKings cost is 10,200.
• Brandt Snedeker made 6 cuts in 6 starts for a 100.0%.  His DraftKings cost is 6,500.
• Lanto Griffin made 5 cuts in 5 starts for a 100.0%.  His DraftKings cost is 6,500.
• Matt Kuchar made 11 cuts in 12 starts for a 91.6%.  His DraftKings cost is 7,300.
• Charley Hoffman made 17 cuts in 18 starts for a 94.34%.  His DraftKings cost is 7,400.
• Aaron Baddeley made 13 cuts in 14 starts for a 92.8%.  His DraftKings cost is 6,200.
• Jordan Spieth made 7 cuts in 8 starts for a 87.5%.  His DraftKings cost is 9,700.
• Si Woo Kim made 6 cuts in 7 starts for a 85.7%.  His DraftKings cost is 8,700.
• Beau Hossler made 6 cuts in 7 starts for a 85.7%.  His DraftKings cost is 7,200.
• Andrew Putnam made 6 cuts in 7 starts for a 85.7%.  His DraftKings cost is 7,200.
• Ben Martin made 6 cuts in 7 starts for a 85.7%.  His DraftKings cost is 6,700.
• Andrew Putnam made 6 cuts in 7 starts for a 85.7%.  His DraftKings cost is 7,200.
• Gary Woodland made 5 cuts in 6 starts for a 83.3%.  His DraftKings cost is 7,800.
• Martin Laird made 10 cuts in 12 starts for a 83.3%.  His DraftKings cost is 6,600.
• Chris Kirk made 7 cuts in 9 starts for a 77.7%.  His DraftKings cost is 7,400.

(Those that I like are in bold)

*Players in that $7,500 to $8,900 price range, which ones are worth the money?:

I like Si Woo Kim at $8,700; he has played well at this event and has been consistent in 2025, besides missing the cut last week in Houston.  He is against a rope trying to make it for a ninth straight year at the Masters.  J.T. Poston at $8,500, adds more consistency as he makes cuts, and for 2025, he has scored a lot of DraftKings points.  Bud Cauley at $8,300 brings us at a good price a player who has found his game with a T-6th at the Players and T-4th at Valspar.  He could be the best buy of the week since he hits it straight and is a good putter, have to take him this week.  Sam Stevens at $8,000 is a super buy. he has played well the last few weeks and has been good at TPC San Antonio, finishing T-14th last year and runner-up in 2023. Jake Knapp at $7,900 is worth a pick. his game has been good of late, and he is a good putter.  He is ready to win again.  The same goes for Gary Woodland at $7,800; his game has improved, and his T-2nd last week in Houston is his best finish since his surgery.  Ryan Gerard at $7,600 has been a great pick in 2025 since he makes a lot of DraftKings points and has played well.  Lee Hodges at $7,500 is another bargain; he has been consistent and played well in 2025.

*Are there any Bargains out there?

Lots of bargains: Justin Rose at $7,300 is playing TPC San Antonio for the first time, but he has the game to play well on it.  Been up and down, seems to get a top ten, then misses his next cut.  Think he will surprise this week.  Isaiah Salinda at $7,300 is another player that has been solid in 2025 and scores a lot of Draftkings points.  Eric Cole at $7,200 is a great price to take him as his game seems to be improving.  Jesper Svensson at $7,200 is the same story, low cost with good returns as he makes a lot of cuts.  Sami Valimaki at $7,100, has been consistent and playing well, and he has been playing well in his last five starts.  Martin Laird at $6,600 is great due to his okay 2025, but he always makes the cut in this event.  The same is true for Aaron Baddeley at $6,200; he has made 13 of 14 cuts, so he plays well on this course, probably due to his good putting.

Here are some of the secrets of what it takes to play well at the Valero Texas Open:

Key stat for the winner:

• For the regulars of past Valero Texas Opens, 15 years ago was the start of a new era here. For players like Zach Johnson, who won twice, and Justin Leonard, who won three times at LaCantera, it was an unpleasant experience as Leonard has yet to finish better than T30th in eight tries, while Johnson missed the cut in 2010, 2017, and 2021. In looking at the performance stats from 2010 through 2024, hitting greens is the key for many in the top ten, along with good putting and hitting fairways. So, a combination of that tells us that a player needs to hit lots of greens and putts well. In looking at the 14 winners at TPC San Antonio, all of them ranked in the top-20 in both greens hit and # of putts (all except for Brendan Steele in 2011, who ranked T40th in greens hit in 2017 Kevin Chappell ranked T-36th in putts in 2019 Corey Conners ranked T-30th in putts, in 2021 Jordan Spieth was T-57th in greens hit and in 2023 Corey Conners was 1st in Greens hit but T-53rd in # of putts).  Last year, Akshay Bhatia ranked 1st in Greens in Regulation and T-16th in # of putts.

Here are some more key stats to look at for this week:

• Unimportant stat: With the course being new in 2010, it made sense with wins from inexperienced winners. It’s been a mixed bag, with inexperienced players like 2022 winner J.J. Spaun, Brendan Steele in 2011, Martin Laird from 2-13, Andrew Landry in 2018, Kevin Chappell in 2017, Charley Hoffman in 2016, and Jimmy Walker in 2015 and 2014, and winner Steven Bowditch. But we also have players with winning records like Jordan Spieth winning in 2021, Corey Conners winning in 2019 & 2023, Adam Scott winning in 2010, and Ben Curtis in 2012, so the players should know the course by now but look for a non-marquee guy to win.
• TPC San Antonio is renowned for its challenging layout. Since its debut in 2010, it has consistently ranked among the top 20 most demanding courses on the PGA Tour. Even in 2019, when it dropped to 28th due to perfect weather conditions, it remained a formidable course. This challenging nature of the course adds to the intensity and excitement of the Valero Texas Open.
• Look for the course to play tough, with thick, rough, and tight fairways that will play havoc on the players. Hitting it long doesn’t cut it at TPC San Antonio. Of those who have finished in the top 3, only ten have been in the top ten in driving distance. So this is a course where power won’t dictate a win.
• 17 previous Texas Opens have been decided in playoffs. But as a bit of an oddity, it took 14 tries before TPC San Antonio saw its first playoff, with Akshay Bhatia beating Denny McCarthy in a playoff.