TPC San Antonio, AT&T Oaks Course, 7, 435 yards, Par 72

Defending champion: Jimmy Walker, -11 winning score

TV times:

Golf Channel: Thursday-Friday 2 PM-5 PM CT/3-6 PM ET

CBS: Saturday-Sunday 2-5 PM CT/3-6 PM ET

Key hole: No. 18. 591 yards, Par 5

Terrific finishing hole that usually leads to stellar drama. Three shot hole for most every player in the field as it is an uphill hole. Players need to shape their tee shots left to right in order to remain in the fairway that slopes right to left. The second shot should be played up the right side and avoid the creek that bisects the fairway and what is described as the “spectacular” bunkers on the right side by the TPC San Antonio staff. The third shot will be a short iron played uphill to a green that has three tiers and is protected by a creek in front and three bunkers around the green. Players will have visions of birdieing this final hole to win the Valero Texas Open.

Prediction

I’m going to go outside of the box a little here and go with the 36 year old native Texan, from Amarillo. He was in a playoff in 2015 at the Shell Houston with J.B. Holmes and Jordan Spieth, in which Holmes won by beating him on the second playoff hole, but it was a war and this guy showed a lot of mental toughness and clutchness. He’s won three times on tour in his career. He won the Shell Houston in 2008,  the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Cancun, Mejico in 2011, and the Sony Open in Honolulu in 2012.  He finished tied 39th last week at the RBC Heritage, but I like his roots in Texas and his knowing how to play these courses. The weather forecast looks excellent with plenty of sun. The winds Sunday are predicted to be  8-15 MPH, so that’ll be a factor in club selection. Should be a very compelling tournament with an excellent field including Phil, Brandt Snedeker, Patrick Reed, Zach Johnson, Jimmy Walker, Brooks Koepka, quite a few excellent players. Going with the 6’3″, 230 pound hoss from Amarillo by way of Virginia Tech. 

Johnson Wagner

Darkhorse:

Bryson DeChambeau

22 year old from Modesto, California by way of SMU. Just turned pro and really making some noise. Finished tied 21st at the Masters two weeks ago as an amateur, turned pro a week ago before the RBC Heritage, and finished tied fourth at Harbour Town in Hilton Head shooting a final round 68. He’s on his home turf, too, somewhat, so I like his chances as well.