SWEDE SPOT
Rory is favourite but Aberg after second PGA win
JUST over a week to go to the first major of the season, the US Masters at Augusta.
And this week’s curtain raiser, the Valero Texas Open, the third oldest tournament on the PGA Tour, returns to TPC San Antonio.
The par 72 layout features tight fairways and Bermuda grass greens with water a factor on several holes, while a strong Texas breeze adds to the degree of difficulty.
It’s a considerably stronger field than in recent seasons for this tournament, with 11 of the top 30 ranked players in the world in attendance, led by World No.2 Rory McIlroy, who’s the 10/1 favourite to land his second title of the year.
McIlroy finished runner-up here when he first took part back in 2013, however, he missed the cut on his only other appearance last year and will be using this tournament to sharpen up his game ahead of the most important week of his golfing year.
Better value lies elsewhere. Corey Connors is the defending champion and will bid to become the first player to win the Texas Open in consecutive seasons since Zach Johnson in 2008/09.
Connors won this title for a second time last season on a 15 under par total, one shot ahead of Sam Stevens with Sam Ryder, Matt Kuchar and Patrick Rodgers filling the places.
Connors had previously won the Texas Open in 2019 on a 20 under par total, two shots clear of Charley Hoffman.
The Canadian has played consistently well with two consecutive top 20’s at his most recent outings and he hasn’t missed a single cut since the US Open last June.
Generous
He looks a value each way bet at the generous odds of 25/1 for a tournament he has won for two of the past four seasons.
In 2022, JJ Spaun claimed his maiden tour victory at this tournament, finishing on 13 under par, two shots ahead of Matt Kuchar and Matt Jones with Adam Hadwin and Troy Merritt filling the places.
Kuchar has had a very disappointing year so far, missing the cut in six of his eight tournaments played, so his odds have drifted out to 125/1 as a result.
Form is temporary but Kuchar has the class to outplay his long odds on a course he clearly enjoys and he can make the pay-out places at least.
2021 provided a very popular winner in Texas native, Jordan Spieth, who finished on an 18 under par total, for a two shot victory over former winner Hoffman.
11 of the last 24 winners of the Valero Texas Open have been Texans.
One player who is not a native Texan but who has quite an attachment with the state is Ludvig Aberg who was a member of the Red Raiders golf team at Texas Tech.
2019 saw Ludvig win the Sun Bowl Marathon All-America Golf Classic in El Paso, Texas in his freshman year.
2022 then saw him win Individual honours at the Big 12 Conference played that year in Trinity, Texas.
Great memories that might just inspire a big week from the 24-year-old Swede, who will play in his first ever major next week at Augusta.
Aberg is playing great golf at present. He was 9th at Torrey Pines, 2nd at Pebble Beach and 8th on his debut at the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on his most recent start, so it would be no great surprise to see him land a second PGA tour title this week.
Favourite
Hoffman turned the clock back earlier this season with a runner-up finish at one of his favourite courses at TPC Scottsdale.
The veteran heads to a course that he’s had even more success at, TPC San Antonio. Since 2006, Charley has TWELVE top-15 finishes at the course and won in 2016.
His recent record is superb also. Hoffman had back-toback runner up finishes in 2019 and 2020.