2013 Valero Texas Open Betting Odds + Event Info, Times, Coverage
With just a week to go before the first major championship of the year, the PGA Tour will make a second-straight stop in Texas. This time, it will be for the 2013 Valero Texas Open at the JW Marriott's TPC San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas.
Beginning on Thursday, April 4th and wrapping up on Sunday, April 7th, the 2013 Valero Texas Open can be seen on Golf Channel and NBC. For weekday rounds, check out the Golf Channel starting at 3pm ET. For the weekend rounds, Golf Channel will have coverage in the early afternoon (1pm-3pm ET), before coverage shifts over to NBC at 3pm ET for the conclusion of play on Saturday and Sunday.
The Valero Texas Open
For those who prefer to keep in rhythm and on the golf course when preparing for a Major Championship, the Texas Open provides that opportunity. Played the week prior to the Masters, the Texas Open has been known for having some good fields over the last several years. But then again, there are players who simply do not play the week before a Major Championship. Among those players is Tiger Woods, so it's unfortunate for the Texas Open that due to their placement on the PGA Tour calendar, they will never get to see Woods out at their event.
TPC San Antonio has been the host of the Texas Open since 2010. Interestingly enough, as an enticement to try and get players out to the tournament the week before the Masters, TPC San Antonio groundskeepers and tournament officials try to make the green the same speed as they will find the following week at Augusta. It is supposed to provide similar conditions on the greens in the heat of a tournament. The same number of 500 FedEx cup points are given to the winner. For those who are not in the Masters, it's the last chance for a couple of weeks to tee it up on the PGA.
What Happened In 2012?
The 2012 Valero Texas Open saw Ben Curtis, the former British Open champion back in 2003, play his way to victory and into the Masters the week following. Curtis captured the Valero Texas Open by two shots, finishing with a nine-under par total score for the four days. He bested John Huh and Matt Every. It was thanks to a pair of 67s on Thursday and Friday that Curtis was able to play his way to victory, after shooting a 73 and 72 on the weekend.
The 2013 Valero Texas Open
Players gear up for the first Major Championship of the season next week, and those in the field this week for the 2013 Valero Texas Open playing next week in Augusta will be trying to remain sharp and keep those competitive juices flowing.
Leading the way in the field at JW Marriott's TPC San Antonio will be the No.2 ranked player in the world Rory McIlroy. McIlroy was not originally scheduled to be in the field this week at the tournament, but decided to add it last minute. He met the deadline last Friday, and will stay in Texas for another week before heading to Augusta.
McIlroy will joined at the Valero Texas Open by players like Charl Schwartzel, Matt Kuchar, Ian Poulter, Jim Furyk, and Padraig Harrington.
Valero Texas Open Vegas Odds
It shouldn't come as a surprise that McIlroy leads the way on the PGA odds to win the Valero Texas Open this week. He has been set at 9/1. McIlroy is not the runaway favorite that he might have been last year in a field like this, where he is one of two top-10 ranked players in the world in the field. Because of his recent struggles, McIlroy has been dialed back in terms of oddsmakers.
Coming in behind McIlroy is Schwartzel, who captured the 2011 Masters. Like McIlroy, Schwartzel has been hot and cold in 2013 after capping off 2012 with great success. At 10/1, oddsmakers think that Schwartzel has a good chance of getting in to the winners circle in San Antonio.
Kuchar captured the Accenture Match Play Championship this year, and has been playing well. He is the third overall favorite this week, going off at 12/1.
The odds jump quite a bit behind Kuchar, with Henrik Stenson installed at 20/1 followed by Fredrik Jacobson and Ian Poulter at 25/1. You can certainly see the disparity on the odds between the top-three favorites.
You can also see the lack of big names in the field, unfortunately because of the time period in which this event follows on the schedule.
Our Picks
The Winner
We are going to stray away from the top favorite in McIlroy this week and go down the line a little bit. Ian Poulter has put together some nice performances of late, and we think that it might be his time to break through and get a win. It would also be nice going into the Masters, as Poulter has yet to get that first Major championship. At a 25 to 1 payout, we think Poulter is a good risk/reward wager to make.
Darkhorse Value Bet
Ben Curtis is the defending champion at the Valero Texas Open. We always like players who have good track records at certain courses. And at 80 to 1, it's hard to overlook Curtis as a great value this week. Curtis tabbed a T21 finish at Bay Hill, but missed the cut last week. We still think he could have success in San Antonio however.
Notable Pairings
Event organizers will have to wait for the field to be finalized before releasing any tee times or group pairings for the Valero Texas Open. Check back on this page for that info as soon as it becomes available.