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PGA First Look: Valero Texas Open

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2016-04-21 12:41:07

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The PGA First Look is complete with sortable odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, course history, and tee times.

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Course Preview

In what is becoming a trend at Harbour Town, Brendan Grace completed his come from behind win over Luke Donald. He came out firing on Sunday and managed to hold his lead on the tough back nine. After a week in South Carolina, the PGA Tour heads back to Texas for the Valero Texas Open. Since 2010, this event has been held at the Oaks Course at the TPC San Antonio. The course is a Par 72 that measures 7,522 yards. It is a very long track, but most of that length comes from the par fives and par threes. There are actually a number of short par fours on this course. The par fives will not be reachable in two by many, as three of the four measure at least 590 yards.

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Given the length of the course, there will be a lot of approach shots in the 175-225 yard range. Being accurate with these long irons will be critical this week, especially for the shorter hitters. Driving accuracy isn’t all that important here, although you do want to stay out of the “native areas.” You have probably seen this video in every other golf article this week, but I had to include it in mine as well. A few years ago, Kevin Na scored a 16 on a par four at this event.

In terms of the type of golfer that we are looking for, think opposite of last week. There were only a few holes at Harbour Town where players were required to hit driver off the tee. Here at the TPC San Antonio, the driver may be the most important club in the bag. To tackle this lengthy course, you are going to need distance off the tee. To give you an idea of how little driving accuracy matters here, Jimmy Walker won last season while hitting only 53% of the fairways. Plus, if the weather goes as planned, it will give the bombers an even bigger advantage because the shorter hitters aren’t going to get as much roll on their drives.

There has been a lot of buzz around the industry about course history and it’s relevance in DFS. Some argue that it has no predictive value, while others argue that it does. My camp is somewhere in between. I don’t love the idea of relying on results from years in the past (because form is so streaky), but certain golfers tend to play well on different types of grass, different course lengths, and some just feel more confident at certain events. All of this is captured by course history. At the end of the day, it is one of many tools that we can use in DFS. It should not be the sole decision maker in your weekly process, but I’m certainly not going to go out of my way to avoid targeting golfers with good course history.

Fantasy Notes

Cut Rule: Top 70 and ties will move on after the first two rounds have concluded.

Recent Winners of this Event: Jimmy Walker (2015), Steven Bowditch (2014), Martin Laird (2013), Ben Curtis (2012), Brendan Steele (2011)

Weather: If you remember back to last season, weather played a critical role in this event. There was nearly a four stroke difference between the morning and afternoon waves of golfers due to wind. Weather could impact scoring again this week, although not nearly as bad as last year. Winds are projected to be around 6-12 MPH throughout the tournament and scattered thunderstorms could help soften the course.

Tee Times & Pairings: TBD

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2011-2015)

Golfer Salary S-Rank Odds O-Rank + / – OWGR Cuts 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
Jimmy Walker $11,200 1 14 1 0 26 4/6 1 16 31 143 79
Branden Grace $10,900 2 18 2 0 11 2/2 30 79 500 500 500
Matt Kuchar $10,700 4 19 4 0 27 4/4 15 4 22 13 500
Brooks Koepka $10,400 6 22 6 0 18 1/1 500 36 500 500 500
Phil Mickelson $9,900 9 24 9 0 19 1/1 30 500 500 500 500
J.B. Holmes $10,100 8 23 7 1 21 3/4 500 64 500 108 11
Zach Johnson $10,800 3 19 3 0 17 2/3 20 6 500 500 500
Patrick Reed $10,600 5 20 5 0 13 1/2 500 500 113 35 500
Brandt Snedeker $10,300 7 24 8 -1 16 1/1 500 500 500 500 4
Bryson DeChambeau $9,800 10 27 11 -1 205 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Charley Hoffman $9,600 11 26 10 1 57 6/6 11 11 3 13 2
Billy Horschel $9,400 13 30 12 1 47 4/5 3 113 3 75 74
Ryan Palmer $8,500 19 50 18 1 79 5/6 6 56 15 32 104
Jason Kokrak $9,300 14 38 13 1 90 3/4 11 31 15 82 500
Kevin Chappell $9,100 16 39 15 1 69 3/4 66 127 15 500 2
Brendan Steele $8,800 18 55 19 -1 85 4/5 8 105 46 4 1
Luke Donald $9,500 12 39 14 -2 68 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
William McGirt $8,200 21 56 21 0 104 4/5 40 31 37 91 36
Chris Kirk $9,000 17 49 17 0 54 2/2 8 500 500 500 48
Russell Henley $9,200 15 40 16 -1 77 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chez Reavie $7,700 26 63 22 4 87 1/4 84 500 82 500 79
Daniel Summerhays $8,300 20 55 20 0 117 4/5 4 2 7 29 133
Si Woo Kim $7,600 27 75 26 1 141 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Keegan Bradley $7,900 24 70 25 -1 105 1/1 500 500 500 500 9
Luke List $6,900 40 103 36 4 289 1/1 500 500 46 500 500
Aaron Baddeley $7,400 30 78 27 3 241 4/4 20 67 15 500 500
Kevin Streelman $8,000 23 66 24 -1 111 2/2 500 500 500 13 15
Freddie Jacobson $8,100 22 64 23 -1 100 6/6 50 16 15 18 5
Francesco Molinari $7,400 30 80 28 2 83 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Patrick Rodgers $7,300 32 89 31 1 130 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kyle Reifers $7,500 28 87 30 -2 154 2/2 11 500 500 50 500
Andrew Loupe $6,500 53 138 52 1 182 1/2 84 4 500 500 500
Jhonattan Vegas $7,100 36 104 38 -2 278 2/3 68 113 500 500 44
John Huh $7,300 32 98 34 -2 188 3/4 35 81 72 2 500
Colt Knost $7,200 34 92 33 1 179 1/3 500 500 106 102 78
Chad Campbell $6,700 46 130 47 -1 191 4/5 40 500 82 50 59
Bryce Molder $7,500 28 83 29 -1 160 3/3 20 500 22 500 36
John Senden $6,700 46 115 43 3 99 2/3 76 42 500 500 23
Ernie Els $6,900 40 107 40 0 202 1/2 500 81 500 500 500
Matt Jones $6,600 49 133 49 0 70 3/4 26 500 500 32 128
K.J. Choi $7,800 25 92 32 -7 101 2/4 15 105 6 91 500
Brian Harman $6,900 40 114 42 -2 116 3/4 110 16 22 18 500
Jerry Kelly $7,000 38 103 37 1 161 2/4 76 6 95 18 500
Kyle Stanley $6,500 53 143 54 -1 269 1/3 500 95 78 500 119
Cameron Tringale $7,000 38 112 41 -3 95 5/6 40 46 82 8 5
Johnson Wagner $6,800 43 120 44 -1 192 3/6 126 26 74 119 15
Retief Goosen $6,600 49 124 45 4 184 2/3 58 127 53 500 500
Hunter Mahan $7,100 36 104 39 -3 109 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Thongchai Jaidee $6,600 49 137 50 -1 43 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Troy Merritt $7,200 34 100 35 -1 84 2/3 71 46 500 500 500
Seung-yul Noh $6,400 58 153 60 -2 231 4/4 50 16 46 13 500
Michael Thompson $6,500 53 145 56 -3 360 2/3 44 16 500 500 124
George McNeill $6,700 46 126 46 0 164 1/1 20 500 500 500 500
Roberto Castro $6,200 67 168 65 2 283 0/2 500 500 141 108 500
Hudson Swafford $6,200 67 200 75 -8 236 1/2 35 134 500 500 500
Cameron Percy $6,400 58 148 57 1 417 3/3 15 500 37 500 500
Scott Pinckney $6,600 49 137 51 -2 235 1/1 8 500 500 500 500
Camilo Villegas $6,300 62 166 63 -1 216 1/2 99 77 500 500 500
Padraig Harrington $6,500 53 144 55 -2 134 1/2 500 95 10 500 500
Chris Stroud $6,800 43 142 53 -10 170 1/5 115 500 82 24 92
David Hearn $6,300 62 157 61 1 152 1/3 121 500 500 11 92
Spencer Levin $6,500 53 152 59 -6 263 2/4 126 500 500 35 92
Will MacKenzie $6,800 43 132 48 -5 351 3/3 74 2 500 41 500
Chesson Hadley $6,400 58 151 58 0 266 2/2 4 56 500 500 500
Shawn Stefani $6,100 74 196 73 1 239 1/2 26 500 141 500 500
Greg Owen $6,100 74 230 87 -13 169 1/1 500 500 500 500 500
Nick Taylor $5,900 91 200 75 16 288 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ricky Barnes $6,300 62 161 62 0 262 2/4 84 500 129 50 36
Derek Fathauer $6,400 58 180 68 -10 226 1/1 64 500 500 500 500
Bronson Burgoon $6,100 74 195 72 2 272 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Mark Hubbard $6,200 67 193 69 -2 387 0/1 99 500 500 500 500
Geoff Ogilvy $6,200 67 194 71 -4 197 2/3 132 11 500 500 23
Brett Stegmaier $5,900 91 232 88 3 247 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jason Gore $6,000 83 218 81 2 177 1/2 500 500 500 82 500
Luke Guthrie $6,200 67 193 69 -2 353 2/2 50 64 500 500 500
Brendon de Jonge $6,200 67 218 81 -14 204 4/5 123 36 22 77 23
Tyler Aldridge $6,300 62 168 66 -4 280 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Carlos Ortiz $6,000 83 241 90 -7 325 1/1 15 500 500 500 500
Jeff Overton $6,000 83 223 83 0 352 2/3 50 127 7 500 500
Sung Kang $5,900 91 213 79 12 178 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tyrone Van Aswegen $6,100 74 216 80 -6 297 1/1 500 77 500 500 500
Whee Kim $6,100 74 179 67 7 307 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Justin Leonard $6,300 62 166 63 -1 437 5/6 76 31 37 35 30
Rory Sabbatini $6,100 74 232 88 -14 220 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brendon Todd $5,900 91 227 85 6 146 3/3 30 6 61 500 500
Andres Romero $6,100 74 205 77 -3 316 3/3 66 46 61 500 500
Zac Blair $6,200 67 198 74 -7 148 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
James Hahn $5,800 99 254 96 3 127 1/3 76 16 95 500 500
John Merrick $5,900 91 250 93 -2 515 4/4 15 79 53 500 44
Ben Crane $6,100 74 211 78 -4 384 0/1 500 95 500 500 500
Harold Varner III $5,800 99 307 110 -11 271 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Dawie Van Der Walt $6,000 83 268 100 -17 250 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Robert Garrigus $5,700 108 277 101 7 518 1/2 58 500 500 500 500
Thomas Aiken $6,100 74 229 86 -12 208 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brice Garnett $6,000 83 241 90 -7 425 2/2 30 31 500 500 500
Tom Hoge $5,800 99 289 105 -6 291 0/1 76 500 500 500 500
Hiroshi Iwata $5,800 99 245 92 7 123 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Alex Prugh $5,700 108 396 122 -14 503 1/3 119 72 500 500 104
Steve Marino $5,900 91 225 84 7 242 0/1 500 500 129 500 500
Jon Curran $5,800 99 252 94 5 233 1/1 44 500 500 500 500
Matt Every $6,000 83 252 94 -11 176 4/4 35 500 79 2 30
Carl Pettersson $5,700 108 286 103 5 246 2/3 76 16 500 500 500
Henrik Norlander $6,000 83 264 99 -16 363 1/1 500 500 53 500 500
Peter Malnati $5,800 99 304 108 -9 171 0/1 500 119 500 500 500
Scott Langley $6,000 83 261 98 -15 411 3/4 58 134 71 50 500
Tim Wilkinson $5,600 117 279 102 15 808 2/3 99 62 500 500 500
Scott Stallings $5,700 108 307 110 -2 306 2/3 99 500 53 500 11
Michael Putnam $5,400 132 407 127 5 511 2/4 75 42 500 135 104
Michael Kim $5,700 108 259 97 11 364 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kelly Kraft $5,700 108 309 112 -4 383 0/1 500 500 500 91 500
Stuart Appleby $5,900 91 288 104 -13 408 2/3 500 72 46 108 500
Rod Pampling $5,600 117 300 107 10 264 0/1 500 500 82 500 500
Andrew Landry $5,900 91 296 106 -15 535 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Wes Roach $5,800 99 325 114 -15 433 1/1 500 16 500 500 500
Justin Hicks $5,600 117 304 108 9 703 2/4 110 15 106 500 69
J.J. Henry $5,700 108 385 121 -13 249 2/6 84 105 95 41 69
Martin Piller $5,700 108 355 118 -10 244 1/1 500 500 500 500 23
Mark Wilson $5,600 117 318 113 4 429 0/3 119 81 500 500 500
Rhein Gibson $5,600 117 343 116 1 323 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brian Davis $5,600 117 343 116 1 501 3/3 50 46 29 500 500
D.J. Trahan $5,700 108 335 115 -7 829 1/1 500 500 15 500 500
Billy Hurley III $5,400 132 418 128 4 490 2/3 35 113 500 32 500
Rob Oppenheim $5,500 124 400 124 0 413 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brian Stuard $5,500 124 404 125 -1 498 1/2 64 500 500 500 500
Tim Herron $5,800 99 357 119 -20 537 2/4 500 500 82 24 113
Derek Ernst $5,500 124 454 130 -6 629 0/2 135 500 144 500 500
Chad Collins $5,400 132 464 131 1 494 1/2 84 26 500 500 500
Hunter Stewart $5,600 117 368 120 -3 1101 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
D.A. Points $5,800 99 404 125 -26 687 1/2 115 500 53 500 500
Frank Lickliter II $5,500 124 396 122 2 3/3 500 500 500 13 69
Miguel Angel Carballo $5,300 138 471 133 5 571 2/2 500 46 500 24 500
Ryan Ruffels $5,400 132 421 129 3 778 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Andres Gonzales $5,300 138 539 145 -7 480 0/3 99 500 113 500 79
John Rollins $5,400 132 468 132 0 1111 0/4 500 81 500 108 79
Cameron Beckman $5,300 138 471 133 5 1192 3/6 44 36 134 63 79
Tom Gillis $5,400 132 475 135 -3 413 2/3 500 500 95 35 500
Darron Stiles $5,500 124 486 139 -15 538 0/1 500 500 134 500 500
Ben Curtis $5,200 144 475 135 9 3/4 99 46 31 1 500
D.H. Lee $5,200 144 512 144 0 362 0/2 500 81 106 500 500
Abraham Ancer $5,500 124 511 143 -19 469 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brian Gay $5,200 144 482 138 6 4/4 500 56 61 4 23
Richard H. Lee $5,300 138 477 137 1 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Dicky Pride $5,300 138 582 147 -9 393 0/3 500 500 113 108 500
Michael Bradley $5,500 124 489 140 -16 1071 1/1 500 500 500 500 500
Robert Allenby $5,200 144 786 149 -5 748 0/3 76 81 95 500 500
Lucas Lee $5,200 144 507 142 2 444 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Billy Mayfair $5,500 124 504 141 -17 3/4 500 500 113 56 48
Marc Turnesa $5,300 138 579 146 -8 0/2 500 500 500 122 119
Omar Uresti $5,200 144 750 148 -4 1/3 500 500 500 108 113

Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside of the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.

Legend

Term Description
S-Rank Each golfer’s salary rank compared to the field, with one being the most expensive.
O-Rank Each golfer’s odds rank compared to the field, with one the biggest favorite.
+ / – The difference between a golfer’s salary and odds rank. The bigger the number, the better.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this event in the last ten seasons.
2011 – 2015 Columns Course history at this event over the last five seasons.

About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on X – @RG_Notorious