Valero Texas Open Preview: Picks, Key Stats & Players to Watch

TPC San Antonio (Oaks)

Par: 72

Yardage: 7,438

Greens: Poa trivalis overseed

 

Key Stats 

 

• Strokes Gained: Approach
• Strokes Gained: Putting
• Driving Accuracy (+ distance)

 

The week before the Masters can seem a bit underwhelming on the surface but we have a pretty decent field and that could lead to another exciting Sunday finish. It’s a long course, but accuracy off the tee and good around the green play has been the top recipe for success over the past few tournaments here. 

With it being the week prior to arguably the biggest event of the year, I'm going to keep it light and focus on a few longshots I like to compete this weekend:

 

Ryo Hisatsune

I’ve long been a fan of Ryo and he’s quietly putting together his best start to a PGA season to date. He got close once already this season with a second place finish at Torrey Pines and has really been in strong form with eight cuts made in a row. He’s a fantastic ball striker and comps extremely well for this course — he also has strong course history with a top 5 placement here a year ago. 

 

Sudarshan Yellamaraju 

I expect Yellamaraju to be a popular pick this week, but I’m joining the crowd and backing him. He’s coming off a T6 finish last week in Houston and has some of the best recent form in the field this week with four T20’s overall this season. He rates high in my model and comps well due to his driving prowess.