PGA DFS Preview for The Valero Texas Open
In this article, we will provide a comprehensive PGA DFS preview for the Valero Texas Open, highlighting some of the key players to watch and the strategies to consider while making your DFS picks. So, whether you’re a seasoned DFS player or a golf enthusiast, read on to learn more about what to expect from this thrilling tournament.
The Valero Texas Open is set to feature a field size of 144 golfers, with the top 65 and ties moving on after the first two rounds.
The TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course) is the venue for the tournament, with a Par 72 that measures 7,438 yards. The course has varying levels of difficulty over the past five years, ranging from 10th to 28th, depending on the wind. The fairways are fairly generous, measuring 30+ yards wide, but they narrow at around 300 yards. The course has plenty of hazards in play off the tee, but the rough is very playable.
Water comes into play on only three holes, but golfers must be careful not to stray too far off the fairways. Kevin Chappell, Corey Conners, and J.J. Spaun play into the ball-striker narrative, while short-gamers like Jordan Spieth, Matt Kuchar, and Andrew Landry have also performed well in the past. The average-sized bermudagrass greens, which measure 6,400 square feet, will be a crucial factor to consider during the tournament.
When it comes to selecting players for the PGA DFS lineup, total driving, iron play, around the green play, bermuda putting, and par 5 scoring will be some of the key metrics to focus on. Additionally, Texas/wind experience can give certain players an advantage in this event. With a mix of hazards, varying wind conditions, and a course that requires strategic play, the Valero Texas Open promises to be an exciting and challenging tournament.
Hole by Hole Breakdown - The Front 9
The TPC San Antonio Oaks Course, which has been the host of the Valero Texas Open since 2010, was designed by Greg Norman in consultation with Sergio Garcia. The course is known for its challenging front nine, which has played significantly more difficult than the back nine since 2010. During this span, the field played the front nine with a score of +3,704, compared to just +730 on the back nine.
Additionally, this course has witnessed more triple bogeys or worse (289) than all other courses, except for TPC Sawgrass (338) and PGA National (323). This is a remarkable statistic, given that TPC San Antonio has only three water hazards. As such, players will need to be strategic and precise in their shots to avoid costly mistakes that could significantly impact their scores.
Hole by Hole Breakdown - The Back 9
Although the 2023 Valero Texas Open may not have the star power of some of the other PGA Tour events, it does have a solid field of former winners, including Charley Hoffman, Kevin Chappell, Corey Conners, and last season’s winner J.J. Spaun.
However, it’s worth keeping an eye on the news surrounding Tyrrell Hatton and Hideki Matsuyama, both of whom dealt with physical issues at the Match Play. Matsuyama even withdrew from his final match of the group stage while still technically alive to advance.
There are also a couple of younger players to watch out for in Dylan Wu and Akshay Bhatia. They both played well last week and should feel confident about their chances in this field. With so many former winners in the mix, the tournament promises to be an exciting and unpredictable event, and anything can happen over the course of four rounds of golf.
Thank you for checking out the article, I hope I was able to provide you with some value as you begin to build your DFS lineups for today’s contests.
Be sure to hit me up in Discord if you have questions. If you would prefer to reach out to me on Twitter @CeeGeeDFS that works too 
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