Valero Texas Open 2026: DFS and Betting Preview

April 1, 2026

In a week that is often overlooked before the first Major of the season, the PGA Tour heads to TPC San Antonio for the Valero Texas Open — the final tune-up before Augusta.

This event consistently produces volatile leaderboards due to a weaker field, difficult scoring conditions, and heavy wind exposure.

With a Masters invite on the line for many players in the field (come on, Yellamaraju!) expect aggressive play and a wide range of outcomes — ideal for DFS tournaments and longshot betting cards.

(Also quick FTO note - Collin is away for the week. As such, expect a slightly different preview while I do my best to keep his approach and form here. No worries, we will be at full-strength heading into Augusta.)

Tournament Overview

• Course: TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course)

• Location: San Antonio, Texas

• Par: 72

• Yardage: ~7,435 yards

• Greens: Bermuda

• Field Strength: Moderate / Below Average (pre-Masters)

  
  

Course Breakdown: TPC San Antonio

TPC San Antonio is one of the more difficult non-major setups on Tour, especially when wind becomes a factor.

The Oaks Course emphasizes:

• Precision into greens

• Strong long-iron play

• Scrambling ability

• Limiting mistakes

This is not a birdie-fest. Winning scores typically fall in the -10 to -15 range, and bogey avoidance becomes one of the most important stats in the field.

Key Stats

• Strokes Gained: Approach

• Good Drives Gained

• Strokes Gained: Around the Green

• Bogey Avoidance

• Par 5 Scoring

This is a tee-to-green and short game test, where putting is slightly less predictive than usual.

Our Favorite Golfers This Week (DraftKings pricing and odds)

Just one week before the Masters, every golfer not already qualified is trying to get a win to play at Augusta. As such, we will provide a longer Dark Horse candidate list than normal.

DFS Strategy Notes

This is a week where balanced builds look to be optimal. Mid-tier golfers carry significant win equity. Stars-and-scrubs builds are viable but fragile.

Because of the volatility:

• Ownership condenses quickly

• Leaving salary on the table is viable

• 6/6 lineups are less common than usual

Weather waves could also play a major role, so be ready to adjust if wind splits emerge.

Top Picks T15 or better

Tommy Fleetwood ($10,500 DFS; +1425 to win)

One of the best pure ball-strikers in this field, and extremely comfortable in windy conditions. Fleetwood’s profile fits TPC San Antonio perfectly — elite approach, solid off the tee, and consistent.

Jordan Spieth ($9,500 DFS; +1850 to win)

Course history + Texas narrative + elite scrambling. Spieth’s volatility is always present, but this is a course where creativity and short game matter more than pure ball-striking consistency. This is a true boom/bust spot for Spieth.

Sepp Straka ($9,200 DFS; +2600 to win)

One of the strongest iron players in this field and extremely consistent tee-to-green. Straka thrives in tougher scoring environments and profiles as one of the safest plays in this range.

Fade - Outside of top 15

Si Woo Kim ($9,600 DFS; +2150 to win)

Si Woo always pops in models due to elite tee-to-green metrics, and the market reflects that, but, much like Matsuyama, he is an extremely volatile putter who can lose multiple strokes quickly on these greens. Even in a “putting doesn’t matter as much” setup, you still need neutral putting — and Si Woo often gives you negative spikes.

Hideki Matsuyama ($9,300 DFS; +2250 to win)

Matsuyama is priced and projected similarly to the top tier, but his inconsistent putting can completely derail rounds. His ownership will likely be inflated due to name value + course fit.

Rickie Fowler ($8,800 DFS; +2600 to win)

Rickie Fowler is likely to draw attention based on name value and past success, but his recent inconsistency—particularly with approach play—makes him a risky investment at elevated ownership. On a course that demands precision and limits mistakes, his volatility off the tee and streaky putting profile create far more paths to a missed cut than a true ceiling outcome.

Dark Horse - outright winner to top 15

Maverick McNealy ($9,000 DFS; +2500 to win)

Trending upward with improved ball-striking. If his approach play continues to gain, his strong putting gives him a legitimate ceiling.

Denny McCarthy ($8,200 DFS; +4400 to win)

Elite putter with improving approach play. Not a perfect course fit on paper, but can spike in weaker fields.

Sundarshan Yellamaraju ($8,100 DFS; +5800 to win)

March might be over, but a Cinderalla story never gets old. Elite ball-striking and zero fear in big moments makes this self-taught pro a dangerous sleeper in this field...and what a story it would be if Yellamaraju can punch his ticket to August with a win!

Brian Harman ($7,900 DFS; +6500 to win)

Defending champion narrative + short game fit will attract attention. Still, Harman provides safe value as a perfect course fit.

Brandy Snedeker ($6,400 DFS; +25000 to win)

Veteran presence with an elite short game. Can contend if conditions get difficult and scoring stays low.

Final Thoughts

The Valero Texas Open is one of the most volatile DFS events of the season. Prioritize ball-striking and scrambling. Expect wind to impact scoring. Lean into mid-tier depth and GPP variance.

This is a great week to embrace uncertainty — both in DFS builds and betting exposure — before the more predictable structure of Augusta.

Our One-and-Done Picks

Collin – Ryo Hisatsune

Frank – Sepp Straka

That’s it for this week. Check back next week for our Masters 2026 preview and follow us on our new X account @FTO_picks and @FTO_Fun. Always feel free to reach out in the comments or over on X. We are always happy to talk golf with you!

*This preview does not represent our final betting picks for this event. For our full set of picks, check out our Game Picks section!

**Odds accurate at time of posting.