((( TEXAS...OPEN.. )))

A VERY ‘VALERO’ VELCOME to the TEXAS OPEN (VTO) from the host venue for the last six years. http://www.tpc.com/sanantonio

The third-longest running non major event on TOUR that first began back in 1922..... behind only the BMW Championship (1899) & Canadian Open (1904)..... where since ‘22 there have only been 9 non US winners.

So dig out those Lucchese boots once again, as we remember the Alamo and Waco, and leave all those Honky Tonks to 1000/1 shots Robert Allenby et al, as we spend this next week in his Lone Star State (of mind). The winner this week by the way does not get another ‘nice Jacket’, but receives a VTO logo pair of those Lucchese cowboy boots.

This OPEN is played on the AT&T Oaks Course featuring narrow fairways with some bunkers 12 feet deep and native bush yielding unplayable lies. The par 5's are tough to birdie, the shortest being 565yds with these greens having some very distinct slopes and multi-tiered pin positions and even a bunker in the middle of one of the green ffs - what planet was Greg Norman living on back in 2009 - the ‘Shark’ did the same in his design of Doonbeg GC, but without the help of Sergio Garcia’s design input that he had here.
Trump is still ripping up his Doonbeg course as we speak. He had plenty of help the last two winters with severe storms washing away a few holes.

The 4th most difficult non-major course on TOUR in 2012 and the hardest par 72 on TOUR in 2011. Also the highest one-putt percentage course on TOUR in 2014 - it certainly is not usually a birdie fest. Hole #2 may be the toughest with the 14th likely the easiest on the course this week. The 7,435yds Oaks Course should find its place, rightfully so, among the toughest on TOUR again this year but the first two days should have an asterisk attached because of the weather conditions.

The weather especially in Texas is always worth considering. The present forecast is HORRENDOUS with Flash Flood Watch alerts in effect through Tuesday morning. Forget practice rounds !
http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/san-antonio-tx/78205/daily-weather-forecast/351198
IF you didn’t understand what 'luck of the draw' meant before this week in 2015, well, we were treated to a harsh lesson on the Thursday and Friday. Winds blowing 25 mph and gusting in the 40mph range made play almost impossible Thursday morning. The field averaged 78.61 in the morning wave and 74.86 in the afternoon. The morning wave on Friday went out in 73.10 and the afternoon was 71.58 so while it wasn’t a picnic either day, Late Thursday-Early Friday was around three shots on average easier than Early Thursday-Late Friday.

After three years of being played BEFORE the Masters, the Valero shifts back into its late April berth and hence receives a lesser quality entry to the field this week. The OWGR Top 10 are otherwise engaged this week with 6/1 Bubba Chinese fav the only player to make a public appearance.
OWGR Branden Grace #11 & Patrick Reed #13 (first trip since 2013 when he MC) head up the rankings that features 9 of the T30 (11 of the T50) OWGR players. Fellow Texan and San Antonio resident #26 Jimmy Walker 16/1 will seek to become the third man this century to win back-to-back VTO titles, joining 250/1 Justin Leonard (2000-01) and 22/1 Zach Johnson #17 (2008-09) in the field this week.
Recent winner Brandt Snedeker #16 is the third highest ranked in the field this week. Matt Kuchar, Phil Mickelson (still looking for his first top-25 here) and Ernie Els were late additions to the field.  Charley Hoffman has nine T15 finishes in his previous 10 visits, including a 2nd in 2011. Berger #45 and Horschel #47 are the only other two inside the Top 50 here this week. All aboard for the Grace 16/1 (6places), Bubba 6/1 double !   
Adam ‘Texas Slam’ Scott is not in the field this year and likewise Kevin Na gives it a skip after he famously recorded a ‘16’ at the par-4 ninth hole after struggling to free himself from rocks and underbrush – guess 5yo memories must still be fresh in his state of mind.

Recent VTO winners:
2015 - Jimmy Walker (-11) from Spieth -7 from Horschel -4. 
2014 - Steven Bowditch (-8)
2013 - Martin Laird (-14)
2012 - Ben Curtis (-9)
2011 - Brendan Steele (-8)
2010 - Adam Scott (-14)
© Devil





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Catch Me ifyoucan

Report •  Quote  •  Block User  Catch Me ifyoucan  • April 19, 2016 1:25 AM BST 


Note that Bryson DeChambeau is now up to #205 (from #349 last week) in the OWGR.









seaside dreamer

Report •  Quote  •  Block User  seaside dreamer  • April 19, 2016 6:38 PM BST 


Ok,Playing with some of last weeks winnings with Zach Johnson 24/1 creeping into form and played well here last two years.
  Billy Horshcal 35/1 AND Chris Kirk 50/1 for the same reasons as above...be lucky.









Catch Me ifyoucan

Report •  Quote  •  Block User  Catch Me ifyoucan  • April 19, 2016 9:43 PM BST 


Added MATT KUCHER ew & FRL. Last year he was on the wrong side of the draw BUT still finished with a 69 on Sunday that saw him move up 18 spots to T15. He's been T22 or better in the last four years at the VTO.









Catch Me ifyoucan

Report •  Quote  •  Block User  Catch Me ifyoucan  • April 19, 2016 10:09 PM BST 


KUCH tees off the 1st at 1.10pm (with Chris Kirk & Geoff Ogilvy) following the Grace/Snedeker/Reed 3ball.

FYI - Brendan Steele 60/1 (T8 last year) & Daniel Summerhays 50/1 (T4 last year) - the Valero Texas Open (VTO) is the TOUR stop where both have cashed for the most cash in their careers. Also afternoon tee times - 1.00pm & 1.30pm - both from the 10th.

Looks like the weather is going to wreak havoc this week with heavy thunderstorms in San Antonio Thursday and over the weekend in Shenzhen. Bet with caution. Devil









stonecold-

Report •  Quote  •  Block User  stonecold-  • April 19, 2016 10:24 PM BST 


yeah been lots of rain did say  its not gonna be so windy this year. so i think it should favour the longer hitters this week.saw on news earlier how bad the weather been in texas flooding  has been really bad in some places.gonna leave european tour this week with all the thunderstorms expected.









therhino

Report •  Quote  •  Block User  therhino  • April 19, 2016 10:36 PM BST 


I think the same stonecold as it's a long course, so it's JB Holmes for me. Gone ok here before and fresh from his best ever finish in a major, been playing fairly well this year.









Can't Catch Me

Report •  Quote  •  Block User  Can't Catch Me  • April 20, 2016 1:03 PM BST 


Three for me this week.

Main bet JB Holmes for the reasons stated above. Happy to forgive last weeks poor showing for Snedeker as a Masters hangover and good putting is key here. He's also long. And hard to ignore Daniel Summerhays course form. In and out season but has played well, and clearly loves it here. Good luck









Catch Me ifyoucan

Report •  Quote  •  Block User  Catch Me ifyoucan  • April 20, 2016 1:51 PM BST 


Fwiw Mr Bamford says...
Recent Player Skill Rankings: These rankings are based on a 10 tournament window that stretches back to the AT&T Pebble Beach / Tshwane Open and includes both PGA Tour and European Tour events. Players must have played in a minimum of 3 main Tour events to be included and rankings are based on performance relative to the rest of the field:

•Driving Accuracy: 1) Justin Leonard; 2) Colt Knost; 3) Chad Campbell / Darron Stiles; 5) Justin Hicks; 6) Chez Reavie; 7) Brandt Snedeker; 8) Thomas Aiken / Roberto Castro; 10) Jerry Kelly; 12) Mark Hubbard; 13) Brice Garnett / John Huh / Matt Kuchar; 16) Mark Wilson; 17) Zac Blair / David Hearn / Will MacKenzie; 20) Kevin Streelman.

•Greens in Regulation: 1) Branden Grace; 2) Brendan Steele; 3) Luke Donald / Billy Horschel; 5) Lucas Glover / Jhonattan Vegas; 7) Chez Reavie; 8) Brooks Koepka / William McGirt; 10) Keegan Bradley; 11) Will MacKenzie; 12) Wes Roach / John Senden; 14) J.B. Holmes; 15) Phil Mickelson; 16) Thomas Aiken / Jason Kokrak / Matt Kuchar / Ryan Palmer; 20) Justin Hicks / Mark Hubbard.

•Putting Average (Putts per GIR): 1) Bryson DeChambeau; 2) Ricky Barnes; 3) Phil Mickelson / Brandt Snedeker; 5) Daniel Summerhays / Michael Thompson; 7) J.B. Holmes / Carlos Ortiz / Dawie van der Walt; 10) Aaron Baddeley / Kyle Reifers; 12) Zach Johnson; 13) Derek Fathauer; 14) Ernie Els / Matt Kuchar; 16) Billy Horschel; 17) George McNeill; 18) Troy Merritt; 19) Jimmy Walker; 20) Charley Hoffman / Justin Leonard.









Ski-Wiz

Report •  Quote  •  Block User  Ski-Wiz  • April 20, 2016 2:27 PM BST 


Kevin Na... oh yes i remember that one. Worse than a golf beginner.









Catch Me ifyoucan

Report •  Quote  •  Block User  Catch Me ifyoucan  • April 20, 2016 7:06 PM BST 


FUSTRATING WEEK AHEAD - Due to inclement weather, the VTO pro-am was suspended at 7:51AM.









Catch Me ifyoucan

Report •  Quote  •  Block User  Catch Me ifyoucan  • April 20, 2016 7:06 PM BST 


FRUSTRATING even









stonecold-

Report •  Quote  •  Block User  stonecold-  • April 20, 2016 8:32 PM BST 


also on jb holmes this week 25/1 and andrew loupe 150/1 ew 1/4 7 big hitter and good putter and 4th here couple years ago









stonecold-

Report •  Quote  •  Block User  stonecold-  • April 20, 2016 8:35 PM BST 


also done both frl loupe ew.stick with those two and add 1 or 2 inr unning