Valero Texas Open betting tips and predictions: 35/1 outsider picked to feature

PGA Tour players have their last opportunity to punch their ticket for next week’s Masters at the Texas Open, with one winners’ spot up for grabs for the Augusta National showpiece.

Former Open champion Brian Harman heads to The Oaks course at TPC San Antonio having claimed a three-shot victory over Ryan Gerard 12 months ago, with world number four Tommy Fleetwood the highest-ranked player in the field.

Collin Morikawa is hoping to prove his fitness ahead of the first Major of the year after pulling out of the Players Championship with a back injury on his last outing.

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Texas Valero Open betting tips

• Jordan Spieth to win and each-way @ 18/1
• Ryo Hisatsune to win and each-way @ 35/1
• Keith Mitchell to win and each-way @ 33/1

Spieth looks back in the groove

Jordan Spieth is back in action in his home state this week after posting some solid performances with a 12th spot at the Genesis Invitational and 11th-placed finishes at both the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Valspar Championship.

The three-time Major winner, who needs a PGA Championship win to join the group of stars to have won the Grand Slam, has had injury issues but looks to be right back at the top of his game.

And his improved form is ideally timed not only for the Masters, but also a visit to one of his favourite tracks.

Spieth claimed a two-shot victory at TPC San Antonio five years ago, was runner-up in 2015 and has two other top-10 finishes at the venue.

The feeling is that there is a big result just around the corner and a bold pre-Augusta bid is anticipated.

Hisatsune showing great promise

Japanese hopeful Ryo Hisatsune is enjoying some excellent form and there is a strong chance he can feature highly on the leaderboard this week.

The 23-year-old posted a fifth-placed finish at The Oaks on his second visit last year and he has already had some impressive results in 2016, finishing second at the Farmers Insurance Open, 10th in Phoenix and eighth at Pebble Beach, while his 13th at the Players Championship was also impressive.

This could be the week he claims his first PGA Tour success to win him a ticket to the Masters, and the fact he is ranked eighth in strokes-gained tee-to-green is another positive for this assignment.

Mitchell is a solid course fit

Keith Mitchell has just one PGA Tour title to his name, the 2019 Honda Classic, but he enjoys his visits to TPC San Antonio and can be a factor again.

Form figures of 26-17-14-12 are encouraging for a bold bid and the American, who is 18th in the strokes-gained tee-to-green, can make another big impression.

Mitchell heads to The Oaks having finished 14th at last week’s Houston Open, where he finished strongly with a round of 65 and he would love to build upon that to secure a third Augusta appearance.

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