The Valero Texas Open begins Thursday in San Antonio as the next PGA Tour event following the Masters. It doesn’t boast the field of last week but a pair of Australians lead the outright betting to start the golf tournament.
Scott won the Texas Open last year as the first non-U.S. champion since 1992 and the Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio suits his style of play. He leads the betting after a strong finish to place runner-up at the Masters last week. That is two top 10 finishes in his last two events, the other being a tie for sixth in the WGC-Cadillac Championship. Ogilvy is second in the betting after finishing tied for fourth at Augusta. This is his first appearance in the Texas Open but the former U.S. Open Champion has two top 10 finishes in 2011.
Martin Laird comes in third in the betting with a consistent 2011 season. He came in tied for 20th at his first Masters and has seven top 25 finishes this year, including four in the top 10. His last four events have resulted in 10th at the Cadillac Championship, fifth in the Transitions Championship, a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and 20th at Augusta. He has great value to at least place at the Texas Open.
After missing the cut in four of his first five events of 2011, Bo Van Pelt finished eighth at the Masters. His power off the tee should prove beneficial in Texas, where he finished tied for 28th last year. Local guy Ryan Palmer could provide a good return to your betting as well. The Texas native finished ninth here last year and finished 10th at the Masters last week. Elsewhere, Anthony Kim should do better in a weaker field than he did last week when he missed the cut at Augusta. Prior to the Masters, he finished tied for 13th at the Houston Open.
Valero Texas Open Outright Odds (provided by William Hill)
Adam Scott: 10/1
Geoff Ogilvy: 12/1
Martin Laird: 16/1
Bo Van Pelt: 22/1
J.B. Holmes: 25/1
Charley Hoffman: 28/1
Anthony Kim: 28/1
Ryan Palmer: 28/1
Marc Leishman: 28/1
Charles Howell III: 33/1
Fredrik Jacobson: 33/1
Jimmy Walker: 33/1
Ricky Barnes: 40/1
Angel Cabrera: 40/1
Chad Campbell: 40/1
Brian Gay: 50/1
J.J. Henry: 40/1
Chris Kirk: 40/1
Kevin Na: 40/1
John Senden: 40/1
Scott Verplank: 40/1
Brendon De Jonge: 50/1