PGA First Look: Valero Texas Open

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The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.

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Event Preview

It felt good to nail a winner last week. Not only was Wesley Bryan featured in my FanDuel and DraftKings picks, but he was also my pick to win on Twitter. If you aren’t following me, I give my hot takes for each tournament. They don’t always pan out, but last week was a good one. It was nice to see Bryan pick up his first PGA Tour victory, but he did it in a strange fashion. All of the leaders heading into Sunday tailed off. Jason Dufner, Kevin Kisner, and Graham DeLaet all struggled and opened the door for someone like Bryan to come in and take the tournament.

This week the PGA Tour heads to San Antonio for the Valero Texas Open. In terms of raw yardage, this course couldn’t be any different from last week. TPC San Antonio measures over 7,400 yards, so distance will play a factor this week. This event is know for a lot of things, but one of the most memorable was Kevin Na’s 16 on a hole. Yes, it took him 16 shots. This is one of the more difficult courses on tour, as golfers will have to deal with tree-lined fairways, nearly 60 bunkers, and water hazards that come into play on three holes. These are some of the toughest fairways and greens to hit on tour, so you need to be able to scramble when you aren’t sticking your approach shots.

TPC San Antonio is a Par 72, but this isn’t a track that is dominated by par five scorers. Two of the par fives measure over 600 yards and only one of the four is reachable by most golfers in the field. Speaking of the field, this one stinks. We only have two of the top 20 golfers in the world here in Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar. Field strength aside, it should be another fun week of DFS, because let’s face it, every week of DFS is fun. If you are looking at course history, make sure you only go back to 2010, as the event was played on a different course prior to that year. There is typically a lot of wind in Texas, so make sure to look at the weather reports on Wednesday night to see if there will be an advantage for one of the tee time waves.

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

Recent Winners of this Event:Charley Hoffman (2016), Jimmy Walker (2015), Steven Bowditch (2014), Martin Laird (2013), Ben Curtis (2012)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Tee to Green
2) Birdie or Better %
3) Strokes Gained Off the Tee or Driving Distance
4) Ball Striking
5) Bogey Avoidance

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2012-2016)

Golfer DK Salary FD Salary FDRFT Salary OWGR Odds DK Odds FD Odds FDRFT Odds Cuts 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
Matt Kuchar $11,500 $10,200 $20,400 17 17 0% 0% 0% 5/5 42 15 4 22 13
Brooks Koepka $10,900 $9,200 $19,600 24 23 -50% 25% 25% 1/2 81 500 36 500 500
Charley Hoffman $10,700 $8,300 $19,400 49 22 33% 78% 67% 5/5 1 11 11 3 13
Jimmy Walker $10,500 $9,700 $19,700 25 24 -25% -150% -67% 3/5 140 1 16 31 143
Ryan Moore $10,200 $8,100 $19,900 28 23 20% 60% -100% 1/1 500 500 500 500 8
Branden Grace $10,000 $9,100 $19,500 21 25 0% -20% -20% 3/3 9 30 79 500 500
Brendan Steele $9,900 $8,500 $19,300 57 26 0% 13% 0% 4/5 13 8 105 46 4
Patrick Reed $9,700 $8,600 $19,000 15 31 -38% -57% -10% 2/3 2 500 500 113 35
Kevin Chappell $9,400 $6,600 $19,200 41 31 -11% 64% -25% 3/4 4 66 127 15 500
Zach Johnson $9,300 $9,400 $18,000 56 39 -60% -433% 6% 3/3 29 20 6 500 500
Adam Hadwin $9,100 $8,900 $19,200 46 28 27% -33% 0% 0/1 500 85 500 500 500
Billy Horschel $8,900 $7,300 $18,900 75 30 25% 44% 18% 4/5 4 3 113 3 75
Luke Donald $8,700 $7,800 $18,400 69 38 -15% -25% -15% 1/1 13 500 500 500 500
Ryan Palmer $8,600 $7,700 $17,900 91 37 0% -8% 22% 5/5 4 6 56 15 32
Byeong-Hun An $8,500 $7,000 $17,700 59 55 -40% 5% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tony Finau $8,400 $8,100 $18,900 74 33 25% -20% -9% 1/1 500 68 500 500 500
Kevin Na $8,300 $7,500 $18,300 55 44 0% -21% -21% 2/2 500 20 11 500 500
Ollie Schniederjans $8,200 $7,300 $17,800 102 37 28% 19% 32% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jhonattan Vegas $8,100 $7,200 $17,600 60 60 -16% -22% -5% 1/3 120 68 113 500 500
Chris Kirk $8,000 $6,100 $16,900 93 60 -15% 34% 23% 2/2 13 8 500 500 500
Ian Poulter $7,900 $6,700 $16,800 190 63 -19% 0% 19% 1/1 500 500 500 37 500
J.J. Spaun $7,800 $7,000 $17,300 103 52 9% 9% 20% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Harold Varner $7,800 $5,900 $17,000 124 68 -36% 23% -7% 1/1 9 500 500 500 500
Martin Laird $7,700 $7,100 $17,100 110 63 -8% -24% 4% 2/3 500 50 95 1 500
Graeme McDowell $7,700 $7,500 $17,500 83 61 0% -71% -9% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Luke List $7,600 $6,600 $18,100 115 46 27% 32% -19% 2/2 29 500 500 46 500
Keegan Bradley $7,600 $7,200 $18,200 101 45 31% 0% -20% 1/1 37 500 500 500 500
Nick Watney $7,500 $6,700 $16,400 302 88 -29% -44% -6% 0/1 500 111 500 500 500
Soren Kjeldsen $7,500 $6,700 $17,500 62 65 -4% -16% -32% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Sung Kang $7,400 $5,900 $17,200 96 64 10% 31% -4% 1/2 42 500 500 500 102
Stewart Cink $7,400 $6,500 $16,100 206 93 -33% -29% -8% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Anirban Lahiri $7,300 $6,100 $17,400 81 65 13% 20% -17% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Cameron Smith $7,300 $6,100 $15,900 122 102 -31% -20% -8% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jason Kokrak $7,200 $5,400 $16,300 117 85 0% 40% 3% 3/5 81 11 31 15 82
Jamie Lovemark $7,200 $6,500 $16,600 98 84 3% -6% -3% 1/2 500 500 36 500 122
Bryson DeChambeau $7,200 $6,200 $16,500 106 89 -9% -12% -12% 0/1 109 500 500 500 500
Kevin Streelman $7,100 $5,900 $15,800 133 91 -3% 3% 10% 2/2 37 500 500 500 13
Danny Lee $7,100 $6,900 $15,800 105 87 5% -46% 17% 1/2 500 WD 113 500 63
Zac Blair $7,100 $6,200 $15,400 223 124 -27% -42% 0% 1/1 25 500 500 500 500
Daniel Summerhays $7,000 $6,600 $17,000 85 69 23% -11% -11% 5/5 13 4 2 7 29
Brandon Hagy $7,000 $4,800 $15,300 299 144 -40% 40% -14% 0/1 500 85 500 500 500
Sam Saunders $7,000 $5,300 $15,500 285 106 -13% 27% 2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Andrew Johnston $7,000 $5,800 $15,200 112 143 -35% -23% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Beau Hossler $7,000 $5,300 $14,900 1048 155 -53% 2% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Scott Piercy $6,900 $7,200 $15,900 53 91 13% -117% 0% 2/2 500 40 500 500 18
Bud Cauley $6,900 $5,700 $15,900 146 83 29% 32% 18% 2/3 500 500 105 31 18
JT Poston $6,900 $5,800 $16,200 201 97 9% 7% -14% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chad Campbell $6,900 $5,300 $15,400 182 122 -2% 26% 2% 2/4 93 40 500 82 50
John Peterson $6,900 $5,200 $14,800 534 161 -42% 4% -3% 3/3 500 11 67 74 500
Scott Stallings $6,900 $5,400 $15,100 268 144 -22% 4% -4% 2/3 13 100 500 53 500
Michael Thompson $6,900 $5,000 $15,000 198 154 -33% 23% -7% 2/3 133 44 16 500 500
Brian Gay $6,900 $5,000 $14,200 339 168 -51% 13% 21% 3/4 133 500 56 61 4
Tyrone Van Aswegen $6,900 $5,400 $14,600 253 188 -71% -35% -10% 1/1 WD 500 77 500 500
Ben Crane $6,900 $5,000 $13,800 430 221 -100% -15% 11% 1/2 29 500 95 500 500
Seamus Power $6,800 $5,900 $14,700 312 178 -31% -85% -9% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Seung-Yul Noh $6,800 $5,600 $14,600 256 145 -5% -18% 17% 4/5 93 50 16 46 13
Ryan Blaum $6,800 $5,700 $14,500 328 201 -53% -79% -9% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Billy Hurley $6,800 $5,200 $14,200 130 163 -22% 0% 22% 2/4 109 35 113 500 32
Cameron Percy $6,800 $4,900 $14,500 321 192 -45% 4% -4% 2/3 128 15 500 37 500
Johnson Wagner $6,800 $4,700 $14,100 224 224 -65% 13% 1% 3/5 72 127 26 74 119
Will MacKenzie $6,800 $4,900 $14,500 439 200 -49% 1% -6% 3/4 93 74 2 500 41
Retief Goosen $6,800 $4,900 $14,600 207 201 -53% -1% -20% 2/3 500 58 127 53 500
Richy Werenski $6,800 $4,800 $13,600 254 297 -115% -26% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ryan Armour $6,800 $4,500 $13,400 420 305 -120% -1% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
John Huh $6,700 $5,500 $15,100 199 134 25% 11% 8% 4/5 72 35 81 72 2
Michael Kim $6,700 $5,600 $15,300 209 135 22% -4% -4% 1/1 500 500 500 500 500
Aaron Baddeley $6,700 $5,300 $16,000 136 103 34% 31% -13% 4/4 29 20 67 15 500
Alex Cejka $6,700 $4,900 $14,200 186 214 -35% -6% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Dominic Bozzelli $6,700 $5,900 $14,500 142 200 -26% -110% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Geoff Ogilvy $6,700 $4,900 $14,400 194 205 -32% -4% -5% 1/3 93 133 11 500 500
Morgan Hoffmann $6,700 $5,300 $14,600 187 189 -22% -27% -13% 0/1 500 500 500 113 500
Tyler Aldridge $6,700 $4,500 $14,000 573 255 -52% 18% -3% 0/0 WD 500 500 500 500
Spencer Levin $6,700 $13,700 290 279 -69% 0% -3% 2/3 29 127 500 500 35
Jordan Niebrugge $6,700 $4,500 $12,800 1124 308 -88% -2% 13% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
D.A. Points $6,600 $5,500 $15,200 227 136 31% 5% -2% 2/3 60 116 500 53 500
Robert Garrigus $6,600 $5,100 $14,800 211 159 17% 14% 0% 1/2 109 58 500 500 500
Jim Herman $6,600 $4,600 $14,800 79 162 12% 41% -6% 1/3 500 85 76 144 500
Brian Stuard $6,600 $5,200 $14,700 132 168 9% -1% -3% 2/2 55 64 500 500 500
Kyle Reifers $6,600 $5,200 $14,300 192 228 -24% -39% -12% 3/3 51 11 500 500 50
Julian Etulain $6,600 $4,600 $14,300 416 229 -25% 16% -13% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ryan Brehm $6,600 $4,700 $13,600 282 292 -55% -10% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Si Woo Kim $6,600 $5,000 $14,000 72 270 -43% -37% -11% 0/1 93 500 500 500 500
Peter Malnati $6,600 $4,900 $13,800 389 284 -49% -35% -11% 1/2 13 500 119 500 500
Steve Marino $6,600 $4,500 $13,300 447 347 -72% -8% -4% 0/2 109 500 500 129 500
Nick Taylor $6,500 $5,100 $15,700 295 105 48% 39% 0% 1/1 21 500 500 500 500
David Hearn $6,500 $5,400 $14,600 185 127 44% 16% 31% 2/3 13 122 500 500 11
Tim Wilkinson $6,500 $4,800 $14,800 315 172 16% 24% -15% 2/3 29 100 62 500 500
Cheng-Tsung Pan $6,500 $4,900 $15,000 138 134 41% 40% 11% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Bryce Molder $6,500 $5,600 $14,900 231 161 26% -29% -7% 3/3 42 20 WD 22 500
Xander Schauffele $6,500 $4,500 $14,200 337 237 -12% 21% -10% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tom Hoge $6,500 $4,900 $14,000 422 224 -7% -10% 5% 1/2 9 76 500 500 500
Fredrik Jacobson $6,500 $5,400 $13,000 249 276 -28% -91% 17% 5/5 80 50 16 15 18
J.J. Henry $6,500 $4,800 $13,200 404 245 -13% -2% 25% 1/5 81 85 105 95 41
Kelly Kraft $6,500 $5,100 $13,600 178 303 -41% -67% -8% 1/2 72 500 500 500 91
Robert Streb $6,400 $6,100 $14,200 141 186 20% -117% 12% 1/2 500 500 72 134 500
Mackenzie Hughes $6,400 $5,600 $14,600 118 184 21% -53% -7% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
John Senden $6,400 $4,700 $13,500 215 288 -19% -8% 3% 1/3 93 76 42 500 500
Greg Owen $6,400 $4,500 $13,400 296 326 -35% -7% -7% 1/1 65 500 500 500 500
Troy Merritt $6,400 $4,800 $13,600 235 291 -21% -22% -4% 2/3 500 71 46 500 500
Miguel Angel Carballo $6,400 $4,500 $12,900 506 422 -46% -16% -3% 2/2 WD 500 46 500 24
Angel Cabrera $6,400 $4,900 $13,700 626 282 -17% -34% -4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Justin Leonard $6,400 $4,700 $13,000 806 400 -42% -29% -2% 4/5 55 76 31 37 35
Max Homa $6,400 $4,500 $12,900 537 437 -48% -18% -4% 1/1 500 56 500 500 500
Carl Pettersson $6,400 $4,500 $12,800 901 487 -54% -22% -4% 1/3 133 76 16 500 500
Matt Jones $6,300 $5,100 $15,100 189 145 46% 21% -8% 3/3 60 26 500 500 32
Trey Mullinax $6,300 $4,800 $14,700 353 179 30% 22% -11% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Blayne Barber $6,300 $5,100 $14,700 220 170 33% 3% -6% 0/1 500 124 500 500 500
Cameron Tringale $6,300 $5,800 $15,000 255 153 44% -34% -5% 4/5 60 40 46 82 8
Curtis Luck $6,300 $4,700 $14,900 396 161 39% 39% -8% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Whee Kim $6,300 $5,600 $14,500 263 216 15% -82% -16% 1/1 29 500 500 500 500
Roberto Castro $6,300 $4,700 $13,800 89 254 7% 7% 3% 1/3 42 500 500 141 108
Cody Gribble $6,300 $4,900 $13,800 212 194 23% 2% 20% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Andres Gonzales $6,300 $4,500 $14,100 278 255 6% 18% -8% 0/3 81 100 500 113 500
Ricky Barnes $6,300 $4,800 $14,000 276 271 -3% -15% -13% 2/4 4 85 WD 129 50
Jonathan Randolph $6,300 $4,500 $13,600 436 299 -13% 1% -7% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ken Duke $6,300 $4,500 $12,700 362 489 -40% -23% -1% 1/2 500 127 500 31 500
Rafael Campos $6,200 $15,600 363 141 55% 0% -18% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Martin Flores $6,200 $4,600 $14,100 230 180 37% 34% 20% 3/4 500 100 16 10 24
Camilo Villegas $6,200 $5,000 $13,700 335 258 12% -32% 4% 1/3 81 100 77 500 500
Ryo Ishikawa $6,200 $4,800 $13,800 123 261 10% -12% -4% 0/1 500 500 105 500 500
Steve Wheatcroft $6,200 $4,600 $13,700 437 295 0% -4% -9% 0/2 500 85 500 500 82
Brad Fritsch $6,200 $4,500 $13,500 431 311 -5% -3% -5% 1/2 500 500 130 37 500
Andrew Loupe $6,200 $4,800 $14,100 264 261 10% -12% -14% 1/3 120 85 4 500 500
Smylie Kaufman $6,200 $4,500 $13,400 170 318 -8% -5% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Nicholas Lindheim $6,200 $13,100 395 387 -13% 0% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brett Drewitt $6,200 $4,500 $12,700 660 529 -26% -23% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Bobby Wyatt $6,200 $4,500 $13,500 568 316 -6% -3% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Rick Lamb $6,200 $4,500 $12,500 423 668 -29% -26% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chris Stroud $6,100 $5,200 $14,600 326 188 40% -16% -11% 2/4 72 116 500 82 24
Rory Sabbatini $6,100 $4,900 $14,300 455 212 33% -5% -5% 0/1 93 500 500 500 500
Shawn Stefani $6,100 $4,800 $13,900 384 247 25% -3% 3% 2/3 29 26 500 141 500
K.J. Choi $6,100 $4,800 $13,800 203 255 23% -5% 2% 3/5 51 15 105 6 91
Jason Bohn $6,100 $5,100 332 255 23% -38% 0% 0/2 500 500 119 134 500
Chad Collins $6,100 $4,600 $14,200 331 258 20% 8% -20% 2/3 3 85 26 500 500
Brian Campbell $6,100 $4,500 $13,600 386 289 12% 5% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brett Stegmaier $6,100 $4,500 $12,900 330 426 -9% -17% -4% 0/1 93 500 500 500 500
Bob Estes $6,100 $4,600 $13,100 400 -5% -21% -4% 2/2 500 500 500 7 4
Hunter Mahan $6,100 $5,600 $13,300 645 324 2% -159% -2% 0/1 93 500 500 500 500
Ben Curtis $6,100 $4,500 $12,600 616 -16% -24% -1% 3/5 109 100 46 31 1
Casey Russell $6,100 $4,500 $12,400 842 -18% -27% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Mark Anderson $6,000 $4,600 $13,400 387 316 12% -11% -3% 1/2 500 500 119 500 79
Kevin Tway $6,000 $4,500 $13,300 432 361 8% -8% -5% 0/1 500 500 119 500 500
Steven Alker $6,000 $4,500 $12,800 575 461 -1% -19% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tag Ridings $6,000 $4,500 $12,900 622 421 2% -15% -2% 0/1 500 500 500 124 500
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano $6,000 $4,600 $13,200 769 392 6% -19% -4% 0/2 500 85 500 113 500
Zack Sucher $6,000 $4,500 $12,900 510 400 4% -13% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Greg Chalmers $6,000 $4,700 $13,000 279 395 5% -28% -2% 3/4 128 500 56 37 35
Robby Shelton $6,000 $4,500 $13,300 361 8% -8% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Joel Dahmen $6,000 $4,500 $12,800 526 474 -2% -20% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Steven Bowditch $6,000 $4,500 $12,700 602 484 -3% -21% 0% 2/4 500 85 1 69 108
Matt Every $6,000 $4,500 $12,800 1105 458 -1% -18% -1% 3/4 147 35 500 79 2
Sebastian Munoz $6,000 $4,500 $12,600 629 -6% -25% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500

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
Site Odds The percentage differential between a golfer’s salary rank and odds rank. The higher the %, the better.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons.
2012 – 2016 Columns Course history at this event in 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 Twitter – @RG_Notorious