It's almost upon us, the week at Augusta. Before that though, we head over to an event where I have an atrocious record! After a really poor week last week and with the pot coming for the Masters we go triple handed with a small investment this week as the tour heads to San Antonio, Texas, for the Valero Texas Open, the 3rd oldest event on tour.
Some wide open spaces, large greens and the odd breeze meets a decent field this week, and as Mcilroy comes here hoping to change his Augusta trend, the field is spaced out nicely with odds. A par 72, 7438 yard course, TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course) sees players head in with a lot of birdie chances and a lot of bogeys to boot. Scores in the 10-15 under par range are traditionally winning scores here, and Corey Connors is going for a 3rd win at this event, an event where the likes of Spaun, Kuchar, Reavie etc have good records, so ball striking is the key.
Last week I was hoping to put up CHARLEY HOFFMAN in Houston, but leading up to Augusta, a place he performs so well, he is going here instead as his prep run, and at a delicious price! A winner in 2016, he is a perennial performer here. He is back in form, his putter isn't misbehaving and he is such a course and distance nap here. I figured he was having another week off, as I looked at the 30-50/1 shots, but I had to scroll all the way down to 125/1 with Hills this week 8 places. I'm absolutely dumbfounded as to how he has been priced, but get in quick and early we are 2pts e/w!!!!
So last season was the season I predicted JJ SPAUN would breakthrough into the world's elite. A player with everything in his armoury, other than elite level distance, he ended 2022 in great fettle, but proceeded to make me look daft as a plethora of top 20 finishes and no better, left him hopelessly mid-field in WGT rankings. Another winner here 2 years ago, JJ like, Charley, finished 22nd last year but has good course form year on year. He is the same price as CH and at 125/1 8 places with Hills, we are again 2pts e/w.
The 3rd pick this week is a no brainer for me and for us and at 35/1 BRIAN HARMAN is a steal. A top 10 player now, Brian is there or there abouts everytime he tees it up. He will relish the challenge this place offers on approach and with the flat stick. A Georgia resident, Brian hasn't been here since 2019 choosing to stay home and practise, so it's a case he either feels his game is bang ready to win (after his 2nd at the Players and good showing at Bayhill and the Sentry already) or he is coming here to try something new. I'm going for the former, he has never had so much confidence and at his odds, we are 5pts e/w with Boylesports 8 places and are taking the 33/1 for the extra places (8).
So I did say 3 but we have to have a bonus pick this week, given that JIMMY WALKER is somehow 1000/1 with most firms 8 places. Last year after a renaissance in his form and health, he came here to his home course and a scene of a victory in 2015 to compete and he was fast out the gates and led the pack after 36 holes. A tired weekend saw him fall away, but given the odds, it's worth 1pt e/w of anybody's money at his odds so we go for 8 places with Betfair, you just never know.
20pts only this week as we save our big pot for next week. Can another outsider win again this week? Maybe it can be from our stable.
TEWT