PGA Valero Texas Open 2021 Picks

The last tune-up before The Masters is none other than the Texas Open. Golfers will have 7.7 million reasons (e.g. prize money at stake) to perform at their best during the tourney. Bettors looking for a payday of their own should read our preview of the event and who we have money on to win!

Need Texas Open Betting picks? Well then, you've come to the right place because we have that, plus a tournament preview, in store for you!

The big event goes down in San Antonio at the famed Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio. The golf tournament was first played in the city in 1922 — making this the 99th anniversary. The Texas Open is actually the oldest PGA competition held in the same city.

Online sportsbooks have just release betting odds for the 2021 Texas Open and here's who the betting front-runners are currently:

Golfer
Dustin Johnson	+700	+650
Jordan Spieth	+1200	+1200
Scottie Scheffler	+1600	+1600
Tony Finau	+1600	+1600
Hideki Matsuyama	+2000	+2000
Corey Conners	+2200	+2300

Is History Any Indication?

The Oaks Course became the tourney's home beginning in 2010 (the same year the resort opened its doors). Since then, no player has repeated as champion once. None. So recent event history might not matter all that much-come tee time.

For what it's worth, golf pro-Sergio Garcia had a hand in the course's design. He was the player consultant for a lead designer, Greg Norman. The two created a mostly traditional course that features narrow, tree-lined fairways. Quality ball-strikers typically excel at Oaks Course, with a particular emphasis on the precision tee to green.

Starting in 2019, the Texas Open was moved to the week before the Masters. That timing ups the stakes more than any prize award since this serves as the last chance for several players to qualify for Augusta National by winning. Even for golfers already in the Masters, the Texas Open is a critical last tune-up before the first major of the year.

Due to the pandemic, the Texas Open was not held in 2020. The last PGA event here came in 2019, a tournament won by Corey Conners (the only PGA win of his career, no less) with a two-stroke lead.

Making Our Pick To Win

The 144-player field at Texas Open includes a few big names. That head-turning players include number-one-ranked Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, all-timer Phil Mickelson, and Rickie Fowler.

Casual bettors will naturally flock to Mickelson based on name value alone, but don't be fooled. "Lefty" is an all-timer, but he's rusty, especially at Oaks Course. Mickelson last played at the Texas Open in 2016. Even more, Mickelson hasn't won a PGA Tour event since the Pebble Beach Pro-Am over two years ago.

Fowler is likely to be another betting favorite (by public standards, not bookies) at the Texas Open, but with him, we at least understand why. He's in all-out desperation mode. If Fowler doesn't outright win this event, he'll fail to qualify for the Masters — a tourney he's played in every year since 2010.

Admittedly, Fowler is ice cold. One of the most recognizable names in the sport has nosedived to No. 81 in the world rankings. Like Mickelson, Fowler hasn't won a PGA tournament since 2019.

Furthermore, Fowler's been in the Texas Open field just once in his career. Also in 2019, Fowler finished the event tied for the 19th, a respectable finish at least.

Call us crazy, but we think Fowler earns a last-second invite to the Masters with a win in San Antonio. It hasn't been an uncommon occurrence to do so before the big major, heck, it last happened in 2018 with Ian Poulter. So the precedent is there and Fowler has the talent to do it again. It's a flyer bet, but hey, taking risks is why we gamble!

Betting advice: Rickie Fowler (+15000)

How Can I Watch The Texas Open?

The event begins on Thursday, April 1. As usual, it'll run through the following Sunday on April 4.

Limited attendance will be allowed. Texas has one of the looser pandemic restrictions in the country and is allowing a maximum of 5,000 fans inside the course — about 30 percent capacity.

Live broadcasts will be aired by two separate networks. First, there's the Golf Channel and then there's NBC, but both actually share the same parent owner (Comcast). Early tourney action will be broadcast on the Golf Channel before the finale scoots over to NBC.

You should be all caught up on the Texas Open. All that remains now is to lock in your bet, which you can easily do at one of the listed sportsbooks.

Even better, each of these bookmakers is currently offering a special sign-up bonus to new players. To earn the rewards — which can fetch thousands of dollars in free play — all you need to do is register an account, deposit money into it, and you'll earn a portion of that deposit back in free money.

The table below has details on what promotions are currently available at these betting sites. Pair any deal with our Texas Open betting advice, and well, don't be surprised if you cash out big time!