2022 Valero Texas Open odds, field, best bets, and PGA Tour picks

It’s going to be really tough to focus this week. The best seven days of the year are a mere six days away, and we just have to wait? It’s BS.

In the meantime, the PGA Tour is in San Antonio, Texas, for the Valero Texas Open, the home of Jordan Spieth’s return to the winner’s circle last season, a victory that broke a winless drought dating back to his major championship triumph at the 2017 Open.

Joining the Lone Star state local in this week’s field is Rory McIlroy, who’s switching up his Masters preparation this year. He took off the Match Play and will make his first start at TPC San Antonio since 2013 (he finished runner-up).

Golf course

TPC San Antonio | Par 72 | 7,438 yards

Key statistics

Strokes Gained: Approach: The fairways are on the wider side, and the rough at TPC San Antonio is the least penalizing on Tour, according to DataGolf.com. That leaves SG: APP as a key component in score variation.

Strokes Gained: Around the Green: There are a plethora of tricky run-off areas around this track. Getting up and down on a regular basis will be at a premium.

Data Golf Information

Course Fit (compares golf courses based on the degree to which different golfer attributes — such as driving distance — to predict who performs well at each course – DataGolf): 1. TPC Summerlin, 2. Monterey Penisula CC, 3. Nine Bridges

Trending: 1. Rory McIlroy (last three starts: T-10, T-13, T-33), 2. Hideki Matsuyama (T-8, T-39, T-20), 3. Corey Conners (T-11, T-26, 3)

Percent chance to win (based on course history, fit, trending, etc.): 1. Rory McIlroy (6.5 percent), 2. Hideki Matsuyama (4.4 percent), 3. Corey Conners (3.5 percent)

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Betting odds

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list.

Betting card for the 2022 Valero Texas Open

I got killed at the Match Play. Lost every bet. Matthew Fitzpatrick lost in a playoff to Scottie Scheffler to advance. Alex Noren lost a winner take all match against Corey Conners. Max Homa couldn’t take down Dustin Johnson.

Time to move on.

Up 12.69 units on position plays, and up 26.5 units on outright plays in 2022.

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Adam Hadwin hits his tee shot on the seventh hole during round one of the Fortinet Championship at Silverado Resort and Spa on September 16, 2021, in Napa, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

After a Friday trunk slam at the Genesis Invitational, Hadwin has rattled off back-to-back top 10 finishes (T-9 Players, T-7 Valspar). He doesn’t have extensive history at the Valero, but he did grab a top 25 last season (T-23).

This season on Tour the Canadian ranks inside the top 40 in SG: APP, ATG, Putting, Tee to Green, and Total.

Maverick McNealy of the United States looks on at the third hole during the first day of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 23, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

McNealy missed out on the Round of 16 in Austin, Texas, last week, but he played well. The California native collected 2.5 points in the first three days, but lost in a playoff to Kevin Na and failed to advance.

The Stanford grad can roll his rock and will be able to bomb it all over TPC San Antonio. Let’s hope that putter gets hot.

Rickie Fowler hits his drive on the first hole during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament. (Photo: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports)

I know. I KNOW. Why do this to myself?

Why not?

Fowler needs a win to get into the Masters next week. He’s made four straight cuts. And, he’s finished inside the top 20 at this event two straight years.

Come on, kid, let’s do this.

(Not sure I’ll actually be able to pull the trigger when it’s time to construct the final card).

*Full, final card will be posted to my Twitter Wednesday, March 30th.