With just one week to go before the first major of the year, the PGA Tour makes its final stop before Augusta as the players head to Texas for the Valero Texas Open. Many in the field will be looking to fine-tune their games and build momentum heading into The Masters, making this a fascinating week from both a performance and betting perspective.
We take a closer look at the event below.
The Course
The Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio sits around 14 miles (22.5km) north of downtown San Antonio and provides a stern and often underrated test on the PGA Tour schedule.
Designed by Greg Norman with input from Sergio Garcia, the course is a classic Texas Hill Country layout that places a premium on control, patience, and ball-striking rather than outright power.
The par 72 measures 7,435 yards (6,799 metres) and is typically exposed to the elements, with wind often the biggest defence. While water only comes into play on two holes, the course more than compensates with other hazards.
Fairways are framed by native areas, scrub and oak trees, meaning wayward tee shots can be heavily punished. Although they are not overly narrow, positioning off the tee is crucial to open up the correct angles into the greens.
The greens are large, undulating and surrounded by shaved run-off areas, placing significant emphasis on approach play and short game. Missing greens in the wrong areas can leave extremely tricky up-and-downs on tight Bermuda lies.
Deep, strategically placed bunkers guard both landing areas and greens, forcing players to carefully weigh up risk and reward throughout the round.
TPC San Antonio typically rewards:
- strong tee-to-green players
- players comfortable in windy conditions
- solid scramblers
- those who remain patient on a demanding layout
Scoring varies significantly depending on conditions, with winning totals ranging from around -8 in tougher years to -20 in calmer conditions, as seen in 2024.
Overall, it is an excellent Masters warm-up test, requiring many of the same attributes needed at Augusta.
Betting (2026 Valero Texas Open) – Click here to bet
Tommy Fleetwood 15.00
Ludvig Aberg 17.00
Russell Henley 17.00
Robert McIntyre 19.00
Jordan Speith 19.00
Si Woo Kim 21.00
Prices correct at time of writing but subject to change
Previous winners
2025 Brian Harman (United States) -9 3 strokes
2024 Akshay Bhatia (United States) -20 Playoff
2023 Corey Conners (2) (Canada) −15 1 stroke
2022 J. J. Spaun (United States) −13 2 strokes
2021 Jordan Spieth (United States) −18 2 strokes
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Golf Playoff
Bets must be placed before the start of round 1.
Pre-Match Bets only.
Single / Straight bets only.
Free Bets do not qualify for this offer.
Refund must be claimed within 24 hours of the tournament finishing.
Free Bet vouchers received must be used within 7 days.
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Simply email promotions@wsb.co.za with Subject ‘Golf Playoff’ to claim your refund within 24 hours of the tournament finishing.
Selections:
Ludvig Åberg at 17.00
Åberg comes into this week in strong form, having finished 3rd at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and 5th at The Players Championship. His ball-striking has been consistently elite, and despite a disappointing final round at Sawgrass, he remains one of the most reliable tee-to-green players in the field.
With The Masters around the corner, this is an ideal opportunity for him to sharpen his game and contend again.
Suggested bet: Ludvig Åberg each way at 17.00.
Jordan Spieth at 19.00
Spieth returns to his home state of Texas where he has historically thrived. He has finished top 15 in three of his last four starts and continues to show signs of solid form.
His record at this event is strong, including a win in 2021, along with additional finishes of 10th and 12th in recent years. On a course that rewards creativity and scrambling, Spieth is always a danger.
Suggested bet: Jordan Spieth each way at 19.00.
Sepp Straka at 26.00
Straka has quietly put together a very consistent season. He has finished inside the top 20 in four of his last five starts, including a runner-up finish at Pebble Beach and an 8th-place finish at The Players Championship.
His steady tee-to-green game and current form make him a strong candidate to deliver another solid result.
Suggested bets: Sepp Straka top 20 finish at 2.40 and each way at 26.00
Brian Harman at 61.00
Harman stands out in this price range given both his course pedigree and skill set suited to TPC San Antonio. He won this event in 2025 and has historically performed well on layouts that demand precision over power.
The Oaks Course rewards accurate driving, strong iron play and elite scrambling, all of which are core strengths in Harman’s game. In windy conditions, which are often a factor here, his ability to control ball flight and remain patient becomes even more valuable.
While his recent results haven’t been spectacular, this is very much a course-and-conditions play, and returning to a venue where he has already won could spark another strong showing.
At 61.00, he offers excellent each-way value in a field where many of the favourites have one eye on Augusta next week.
Suggested bet: Brian Harman each way at 61.00
Click here for betting on all of the Valero Texas Open markets
Prices correct at time of writing but subject to change
