The Valero Texas Open has been staged at the Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio since 2010 and has been played the week before the Masters in each season since 2019, except in 2020 when the event was cancelled.
Masters invitees have generally opted to prepare away from the glare of the spotlight and just eight players took part in both events last season. However, the revamped PGA schedule has encouraged 30 of them to tee it up this time around, including Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy is preparing for his latest tilt at that elusive Green Jacket while 126 members of the 156-strong Texas field will be eyeing a win and a last-gasp Augusta invite.
- Ludvig Aberg to win and each-way
- Corey Conners to win and each-way
- Austin Eckroat to win and each-way
Super Swede Can Stand Tall
While most of the big names are teeing it up in search of something on Masters eve, Ludvig Aberg heads to Texas, where he attended college at Texas Tech, at a career-high ninth in the world rankings having finished eighth at the Players Championship last time out.
The Swede was still a college player when he missed the cut in this tournament two years ago but now he returns to the Oaks Course as a member of the world's elite and on the verge of what is, remarkably, his first appearance in a Major championship.
Aberg has taken time to find top gear since switching to new caddie Joe Skovron but his last five PGA Tour starts have returned form figures of 9-2-19-25-8 and he thoroughly deserves to be towards the head of the Texas Open betting markets.
LUDVIG ABERG TO WIN & EACH-WAY
Defending Champion Eyeing Texas Treble
Corey Conners became the first two-time champion at TPC San Antonio when he triumphed in last season's Texas Open and the Canadian can produce a stout title defence at a venue which he clearly adores.
Conners has been striking the ball superbly this season, ranking 10th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained tee-to-green, with his ultra-consistent long-game helping him to finish 18th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and 13th at the Players.
A surprise champion as a Monday qualifier in 2019, this time it will be a shock if Conners is not in the mix come Sunday afternoon.
COREY CONNERS TO WIN & EACH-WAY
Accurate Eckroat Should Enjoy Test
At more generous odds, consider betting on accurate Oklahoman Austin Eckroat as he goes in search of a second PGA Tour title in as many months.
Eckroat won for the first time at the Cognizant Classic at the beginning of March, producing a nerveless performance at fearsome PGA National, and he has some strong form in Texas to his name having finished runner-up in last season's Byron Nelson.
AUSTIN ECKROAT TO WIN & EACH-WAY
