This week the PGA Tour heads East from South Carolina to San Antonio, Texas for the Valero Texas Open. The tournament dates back to 1922 and has always been played in the San Antonio area. Numerous courses have hosted the event during this time.
This year the tournament is being played on the AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio where it has been for the last two years. It is a Par 72, 7522 yard course that was designed by Greg Norman with the consultation of Sergio Garcia and was opened in February 2010. The tees, fairways and rough are Bermuda grass while the greens are Ultradwarf Bermuda grass.
The course was rated the most difficult Par 72 on tour last season with the thick rough and tight fairways playing havoc on the field. Driving accuracy and Greens in Regulation are two stats that stand out this week.
Last year GIR stats here were the 4th most difficult on tour while they were ranked 7th in 2010. Precision play from tee to green will be very important this week. The Purse this year is US$6.2 million with the Winner taking home US$1,116,000. Last years Champion Beendan Steele is here to Defend his title. He was interviewed earlier this week and said “It’s a brutally hard course”.
With missed cuts at his last 3 events it will be a challenge for Brendan to defend this week. At 80/1 he will no doubt have his supporters. Another past winner teeing it up is three time Champion Justin Leonard who at 100/1 will be looking to add to his victories of 2000, 2001 and 2007. Leonard currently holds the record for most wins with Arnold Palmer who was successful in 1960, 61 and 62.
Other noteable players to tee it up this week include Matt Kuchar who is the 10/1 favourite, KJ Choi 22/1, Ryan Palmer 28/1, Anthony Kim 66/1 and Brian Gay 66/1. There are also a host of international players like Nick O’Hern, Arjun Atwal, Fredrik Jacobson and Daniel Chopra. Looking closely at the field I have come up with two players who will be up there challenging over the weekend.
JOHNSON WAGNER 25/1
The 32 year old has recorded 3 career victories to date. His season so far has seen him make 9 cuts from 11 starts. He started the year with a T9 in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, then backed up with a Win in the Sony Open in Hawaii. He has also recorded a T2 in the Humana Challenge, T13 WGC Cadillac Championship and a T4 Arnold Palmer Invitational. Wagner missed the cut in the Masters however he has now had a two week break and is ready to show his best here where he was T15 last year. In last years event he was in the Top 25 for fairways hit, greens hit and putting stats. This season he is ranked 12th in strokes gained putting, 1st in Birdies, 1st in Eagles, 6th in Par 4 Performance, 2nd in Par 5 Performance, 21st in Greens in Regulation, 23rd in Scoring average and 5th in Fed Ex standings. Wagner has the game to record his 4th career victory here this week and I am sure the World No.64 will be giving it his best shot.
JB HOLMES 25/1
Holmes has been traveling along quietly this year and has made 6 cuts from 8 starts. This includes a T8 Northern Trust Open and a T8 Shell Houston Open. He has had a 3 week break and is now ready to put his best foot forward. JB has had good results here in the past with a T11 last year and a T13 in 2010. In last years event he was ranked 1st in driving distance and 10th in Greens in Regulation. This season he is 9th in Distance, 23rd in Strokes gained Putting and 4th in GIR inside 100 yards. After us short break I am sure he will be champing at the bit to get to the 1st tee on Thursday. Good Luck and Good Punting
