Hideki Matsuyama Playing Well Heading to the Valero Texas Open
Hideki Matsuyama finished tied for 27th at the PLAYERS Championship, and this was following a tied for 41st finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational the week prior. Matsuyama will now turn his focus to preparing for this week's Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas. Matsuyama has four top-15 finishes and no missed cuts in seven starts this season. Matsuyama missed the cut at last year's Valero Texas Open but finished tied for seventh in 2024. Over the past 12 months, Matsuyama ranks in the 91st percentile in greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth pointing out because over 36% of approach shots came from this distance at last year's Valero Texas Open.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Si Woo Kim Heads to Valero Texas Open For Final Tune-Up Before Masters
Si Woo Kim finished tied for 50th at the PLAYERS Championship three weeks ago, following a tied for 13th finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Kim will now start preparing for this week's Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas. Kim has three top-five finishes and no missed cuts in nine starts this season. Kim missed the cut at last year's Valero Texas Open. Over the past 12 months, Si Woo Kim ranks in the 79th percentile in greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is important because over 36% of approach shots came from this distance at last year's Valero Texas Open.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Collin Morikawa Withdraws From Valero Texas Open
The last time we saw Collin Morikawa was leaving TPC Sawgrass in a golf cart after tweaking something in his back on the second hole of the tournament. It appears he is still feeling the effects of whatever is going on, thus forcing him out at TPC San Antonio. This comes the week before the year's first major, where Morikawa has an impressive record and will undoubtedly draw a ton of DFS interest if healthy. Hopefully, this is a precaution to ensure he is ready to go at Augusta, but there are plenty of examples for us to look at how pesky back injuries can be.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
Stephan Jaegar Still Looking For Consistency at Valero Texas Open
Everything looked great for Stephan Jaeger during Thursday's opening round last week in Houston. He was near the lead before going +3 on holes six and seven (his 15th and 16th holes of the day). He recovered nicely to post a 66, but it certainly took the wind out of his sails. The German ultimately finished T28. He'll head to San Antonio this week, where he has missed the cut in all three previous appearances. This golf course doesn't provide the same safety to big hitters as Memorial Park does, and all of his length still has him 94th in strokes gained off the tee (-0.058) and 106th in strokes gained on approach (-0.164). The 36-year-old has been solid on and around the greens, but this TPC course asks a little more of players than last week. He may get across the cutline finally, but the chance of being a useful DFS asset is unlikely.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
Nicolai Hojgaard is Red-Hot Coming to TPC San Antonio
It was a sublime week for Nicolai Hojgaard in Houston, who finished runner-up to continue what has been an impressive spring. He led the field in strokes gained on approach (1.67) and ranked fourth in strokes gained off the tee (0.92), but couldn't get anything to find the hole on Sunday. He'll head to this week's Valero Texas Open for his third career appearance, where his best finish is a T28 in 2023. Unfortunately, he'll have the same problems to face at TPC San Antonio as he did at Memorial Park. Wind will be a factor, as well as the need to chip and putt it well. Still, he seems to be in a good place with his game, and there isn't any reason to jump off the train now.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Tony Finau a Risky Proposition at Valero Texas Open
It isn't that Tony Finau is playing terrible golf; it's just a very uninspiring version of it. No part of his game has been consistent enough to be excited about, with his strokes gained around the green being the highest-ranked SG metric he has (23rd: 0.312). His time at TPC San Antonio is also not worth getting excited about, outside of a T3 finish in 2017. The 36-year-old's 135th ranking in strokes gained off the tee is, by and large, his biggest pitfall this season. He is hitting less than 50% of his fairways, and unless he finds something to keep him in the short grass more often, this course isn't the kindest for playing out of the rough. Avoid Finau if you can.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
Ludvig Aberg Looks to Shake Off Collapse at Valero Texas Open
It hasn't been too many weeks since we all witnessed Ludvig Aberg give up a three-shot lead on the back nine at The Players, ultimately falling to a T5 finish. Still, the show must go on, and if there is anyone seemingly built with the mind to stay calm and persevere, it's the Swede. He'll be making his fourth appearance at this week's Valero Texas Open, where he has a dodgy record. A T14 in 2024 has been the only cut he's made. That seems odd, given the impressive ball striking he has, but the proof is in the putting and short game. He hasn't performed well here in those regards, and it is undoubtedly the struggle so far this season. However, TPC San Antonio is a ball-striker's course through and through, and the 26-year-old ranks 12th this season in strokes gained: tee to green, primarily through his approach and off-the-tee play.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
Patrick Rodgers Needs to Make More Birdies in San Antonio
Patrick Rodgers missed the cut in Houston simply because the birdies were not there. The American golfer went 72-72 during the first two rounds. It was the first time Rodgers was in the negative when it came to strokes gained to putting since Scottsdale (WM Phoenix Open). Was last week a blip? That is possible considering Rodgers' approach shots were so erratic and so were his missed putts. The 2.76 strokes lost overall was his worst event since the Betfred British Masters last August. Given the numbers, Rodgers is in an event where outrageously low scores are not commonplace. He did have a Top 5 in San Antonio as recently as 2023 so maybe that betting option of a Top 20 or Top 10 is again a potential choice.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Sepp Straka Seeks Opportunity in San Antonio This Weekend
Sepp Straka has enjoyed a very solid 2026 season so far. The Austrian golfer has four Top 25 results in six events and comes off a T-8 at THE PLAYERS Championship. Straka is capable of the odd implosion like round. There was Round 3 at The Genesis Invitational (80) and the 76 at TPC Sawgrass. Straka's numbers do not jump off the page off the tee but his balance does. It is why he ranks 22nd strokes gained overall at 1.082. Straka's fortune this week boils more down to putting. He averages 29.4 putts per round on Sundays which is that one red flag. Starts are key and something that Straka has worked on which makes him a solid early betting option to lead after Thursday. Top 10 and Top 20 bets are also viable choices for Straka again.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Nick Taylor Could Again Struggle at the Valero Texas Open
Nick Taylor missed his first cut of 2026 at the Valspar Championship. The Canadian golfer missed quite a few birdie opportunities due to errant drives. Taylor was 24% off average distance and 22% off the average accuracy with his driver. With TPC San Antonio rolling in at 7,435 yards, the course features three Par 5's with lengths of 590 yards or greater. A similar result came in from the Arnold Palmer but Taylor was able to offset that with better putting. He ranks 93rd in strokes gained as even numbered years seem to be down ones in terms of putting. With his final rounds averaging 29.64 putts per round, Taylor is a fade at least for the weekend in DFS especially. Chances of seeing the weekend are almost a coin flip which sets up different betting options.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Keith Mitchell Sets Up Solidly for TPC San Antonio
Keith Michell is enjoying his most consistent stretch of golf in a long while. The American golfer has made all nine cuts in 2026. Furthermore, he comes off a T-14 last week in Houston. TPC San Antonio rewards longer hitters and Mitchell averages 312.1 yards off the tee (27th). His overall strokes gained ranks ninth in driving (0.653). The one real concern is that he wastes putts in the middle rounds. Mitchell averages 30.11 putts per second round. It seems he has one round where shots go errant more and putts do too. This is the weekend for Mitchell to put four rounds together. He has three straight Top 20 results in San Antonio and that makes him an attractive betting option again.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Rickie Fowler a Boom-or-Bust Option at Valero Texas Open
Rickie Fowler missed his first cut of the year at the Texas Children's Houston Open, losing over 4.1 strokes on approach in the process. He looks to get back on track at the Valero Texas Open, where he has shown a mix of volatility and upside, with three finishes of T17 or better alongside two missed cuts in six appearances. Fowler had been solid all-around this season, ranking 29th in total strokes gained (+0.857 per round), 11th in putting (+0.710), and 17th in total driving. His approach play has fallen to 72nd on tour, largely due to losing strokes in four straight events. While he has been accurate off the tee (17th), his long iron play has been questionable, ranking just 116th in proximity from 200+, a distance that made up over 26% of approach shots here last year. After back-to-back disappointing results, Fowler carries clear boom-or-bust potential at $8,800 on DraftKings.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
Matt McCarty Seeking to Play into the Weekend in San Antonio
Matt McCarty has not had it easy over the past two PGA events. The American golfer missed the cut at THE PLAYERS Championship then again at the Valspar Championship. One of the biggest reasons is crooked numbers. Five straight rounds of 72 or worse do not help the scoring average which has risen to 70.4 (86th). A concern this week is the driving distance of 297.6 yards (131st). Accuracy is nice but San Antonio is 7,435 yards and is headlined by three holes of 590 yards or longer. Those Par-5's can make a difference. McCarty has been putting well and averages a solid 28.22 putts per event (56th). Avoiding mistakes and putting well could make McCarty a possible DFS option heading into the weekend.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Brian Harman Looking to Continue Form From The Players Championship
Brian Harman nearly finished inside the top 10 at The Players Championship. The American golfer looked like he might even win the event at times. A final-round 73 kept him from contending truly, but it was undoubtedly his best effort of the season. He gained 2.81 strokes overall and was a plus in all four major metrics. The defending champion at the Valero Texas Open has two top-25 results in 2026, but the first three events were hardly memorable. Harman can be a threat to contend any week, and the San Antonio course suits him well. He held off the field in 2025 but played excellently over the weekend, posting a T25 finish. That makes Harman at least a solid consideration for top-20 bets and more.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Steven Fisk Attempting to String Better Rounds Together at San Antonio
Steven Fisk won the 2025 Sanderson Farms Championship behind a balanced game and clutch putting. The American golfer unfortunately got off to a bad start in 2026 missing three consecutive cuts. Since then, Fisk has played better but he is driving the ball almost six yards fewer on average and his accuracy is now under 60%. Even greens in regulation has dropped to 96th at 65.78%. Fisk was sixth last year overall at nearly 71.67%. On the bright side, putting has improved which keeps him from missing more cuts. His scoring average has dropped by 0.81. That little less off the tee has made a significant impact and the Oaks course is a daunting 7.435 yards with two 600+ yard holes. Fisk might be another fade this week.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
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