Our results at last week’s Corales Championship were okay, but let’s move on quickly to this week’s Valero Texas Open. As the curtain raiser for this year’s Masters, it’s an interesting field with some big guys looking for a bit of extra form leading into next week, but most of the hot players opting for a week of rest and practice. Our defending champion is Jordan Spieth, who broke a long form slump here last year. Corey Conners is another past winner with a good chance again this week.

The stats suggest that an all-round game is required to win here, with driving slightly less important than the always crucial approach play. The greens are tough to hit, so laser irons and/or a tidy short game are prerequisites for success. Wind can play a role here, however the forecast does look pretty mild.

Draftstars has posted an $8000 prize pool, including $876 to first place. There is also a $2 Mini and a Single Entry tournament. The aim in DFS golf is always first and foremost to get as many players as possible through the cut, with the winner usually needing all 6 golfers to still be playing on the weekend. After that it is of course very helpful to pick the winner for the week, as well as some other high finishers.
 

 

Love It- Gary Woodland $18,790

Despite a top-heavy field, I’m going for a more balanced approach this week because the top guys that are here are mostly here due to form or injury issues. I’m starting with Woodland because his game continues to trend int he right direction, with 4 consecutive weeks gaining on approach, and positive splits int he short game to match. The area of his game that isn’t anywhere near his top level is the driving, with his accuracy way down on his peak years. Even if that doesn’t change this week, he might be able to get away with it as the least important part of conquering this course. He was 6th here last year at the beginning of his resurgence, hopefully he can complete the comeback with an even better result this time.

 

Love It- Jonathan Vegas $17,380

I’m going back to the well on Vegas after he got the job done last week. While his strength is driving the ball, he’s a rock-solid ball-striker and can just about hold his own with the short game. A certified cut maker, I’m hoping to ride last week’s good result into another week of contending on Sunday. The history here is of slight concern, with nothing better than 30th in 9 tries…but I still like hi against a field full of similar question marks.

 

Love It- Patton Kizzire $17,160

After finishing 9th here last year in his tournament debut, Kizzire has put together another solid season without any weakness in his game. His driving and chipping are around field average, while his approach play has gone from a weakness to a strength. Always a strong putter, he looks like someone who could convert a strong run of form into another top result. Now a few years removed fro his 2 PGA TOUR wins, Kizzire is about as close as he’s ever been to adding to his tally, and he won’t get many better opportunities than this.

 

Love It- Rasmus Hojgaard $14,890

Last week’s top 10 secured the Danish sensation a spot in this field, and thankfully for me his twin Nicolai is not playing. That makes it an easy choice in my love affair with the 21 year olds who already have 5 wins between them on the European Tour. The bias in this pick is obvious, but I believe so heavily in the talent and last week showed that the injury issues of the last few months are now behind him. The stats on his game are somewhat limited, but we know that he has exceptional ability in every area, and when he puts it all together it’s enough to challenge the top of the leaderboard. I feel like eventually this kind of price will look silly for either twin, so I’ll keep investing until I’m right (or broke).

 

Love It- Adam Hadwin $18,240

A player that I’m less excited about endorsing, it’s difficult to ignore the quality season that Hadwin is putting together, highlighted by a pair of top 10s in his last two events. The best part of his play has been some exceptional approach numbers, and his short game is always very good. He relies far more on accuracy than distance off the tee, but that shouldn’t be a significant disadvantage around this track. Performing progressively better in his 3 starts here, with a T23 last year, Hadwin looks like good value as one of the form players in this field. (If you want an alternative with very poor form, Tony Finau is still a top ball striker and has been stone cold with his putter this year, I could chase a 3rd place finish here in 2017).

 

Hate It- Bryson DeChambeau $19,810

Bryson at this price, in this field, would have been an auto-play over the last couple of years. But, having not finished a stroke play event for 2 months and coming off injury issues, I doubt he’s anywhere near his sharpest despite a tune-up at the Match-Play last week. His eyes will be firmly on next week’s event, so I’m happy to focus not he guys around him who will be giving it their all to win this week.

 

Suggested Draftstars Line-up

 

Valspar Results

Theegala - T22, dropped away a bit on the weekend to end up not quite justifying his price tag. 85 points.

N Hojgaard - MC, inevitably wrote up the wrong twin! A narrow missed cut while Rasmus surged into 6th over the weekend. 26.5 points.

Rodgers - MC, one that I never seem to get right, missing the cut by 4 strokes. 25.5 points.

Clark - T22, a solid enough week for the price tag, was faring a bit better before the final round. 84.5 points.

Vegas - T4, was just two shots off the pace in the end, what a rock solid golfer. 108 points.

Hubbard- MC, it was pleasure to watch him miss the cut by a stroke, really don’t like his game at all. 27.5 points.

 

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