With the Masters just a week away, the 2024 Valero Texas Open at the Oaks Course, TPC San Antonio, drew a mix of talented PGA TOUR players eager to secure qualification or refine their game ahead of the first major of the year.

 

 

 

Featuring a lineup of star players, the Lone Star State is gearing up for an exciting event that serves as the perfect lead-up to Masters Week. TPC San Antonio's layout favors precision on the second shot, making it a haven for golfers with strong iron play and those excelling in their overall tee-to-green performance.

Below, we will delve into PGA DFS picks, but before that, let's examine the course and the 2024 Texas Open field.

The Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio: Course Breakdown

TPC San Antonio boasts two stellar 18-hole golf courses: the Canyons Course by Pete Dye and the Oaks Course, co-designed by Greg Norman with input from Sergio Garcia. Since 2010, the Oaks Course has been the proud host of the Valero Texas Open. 

Stretching over 7,400 yards, it sports Bermuda grass fairways and rough, with ryegrass overseed, and Poa Trivialis on the greens. Known for its well-kept grounds and natural beauty, the course, nestled within the J.W. Marriott resort offers both challenging play and top-notch amenities. Featuring undulating greens and cleverly placed bunkers, standout holes like the 11th and 16th present exciting challenges, while the split fairway on the 18th adds intrigue. 

Despite not being a top-tier PGA Tour venue, the Oaks Course provides a formidable test, especially when the wind picks up. With recent bunker renovations enhancing fairness and difficulty, the Valero Texas Open promises excitement for players and fans alike.

 

 

 

Valero Texas Open 2024 Field

The Texas Swing saw changes with match play gone, but the 2024 Valero Texas Open is stacked with big names. As the Masters nears, top players are using this as their final prep.

Stars like Rory McIlroy, Brian Harman, Ludvig Åberg, and Max Homa are in the mix, making it a fierce competition. Despite the Masters buzz, past champ Jordan Spieth's win here proves it's more than just a warm-up.

Newcomers like Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, and Matt Fitzpatrick bring fresh energy, but it's unclear if they're here to practice or win it all.

Defending champ Corey Conners leads a group of past winners including JJ Spaun, Charley Hoffman, and Jimmy Walker. For some, like McIlroy and Brooks Koepka, this is a chance to polish their game before the major.

 

 

 

PGA Stats To Know: 2024 Texas Open

Top SG: Off-The-Tee Targets

  • Cameron Champ - 1st on Tour
  • Rory McIlroy - 2nd on Tour
  • Alejandro Tosti - 5th on Tour
  • Kevin Yu - 7th on Tour
  • Keith Mitchell - 8th on Tour

Top SG: Ball Striking Targets

  • Keith Mitchell - 1st on Tour
  • Kevin Yu - 2nd on Tour
  • Corey Conners - 3rd on Tour
  • Victor Perez - 6th on Tour
  • Aaron Rai - 8th on Tour

Top SG: Approach Targets

  • Ryan Moore - 4th on Tour
  • Corey Conners - 6th on Tour
  • Joel Dahmen - 7th on Tour
  • Keith Mitchell - 10th on Tour
  • Christiaan Bezuidenhout - 11th on Tour

Top SG: Around-The-Green Targets

  • Hideki Matsuyama - 1st on Tour
  • S.H. Kim - 5th on Tour
  • Aaron Baddeley - 6th on Tour
  • Maverick McNealy - 8th on Tour
  • Lucas Glover - 10th on Tour

Best Course History

  • Corey Conners - 2 Wins & Top 15 (5 of 5 Cuts)
  • Jordan Spieth - 1st, 2nd, & 10th (5 of 6 Cuts)
  • Lucas Glover - 4th & 2 Top 20s (4 of 5 Cuts)
  • Rickie Fowler - 10th & 2 Top 20s (3 of 4 Cuts)
  • Adam Scott - 1st & Top 25 (2 of 3 Cuts)

My Best Bets (14-26 Overall, -3.70 Units)

  • Corey Conners: Top 20 (+130)
  • Alex Noren: Top 20 (+150)
  • Aaron Rai: Top 30 (+130)
  • Andrew Novak: Top 40 (+125)

One & Done Play

  • Alex Noren

 

 

 

PGA DFS Picks: Texas Open

Top-Price Core Plays

Hideki Matsuyama ($10,600)

Kicking off 2024 strong, Hideki Matsuyama is on fire! He scored a big win at the Genesis and kept the momentum going with solid finishes at the API and THE PLAYERS, landing him in T12 and T6 spots, respectively. Despite some neck and back issues, he's back in top form, as seen in his impressive performance at TPC Sawgrass, where he gained a whopping 14.2 strokes from tee to green, with an impressive 10.1 of those coming from his ball striking. 

Matsuyama's approach game is seriously impressive, especially on those tough par-4s and 5s. As he gears up for his fourth appearance in San Antonio, his track record includes a T30, a withdrawal, and a T15. Rory's form might not justify his hefty $12,300 price tag this week, so pivoting to Hideki seems like a smart move to anchor your lineups.

Ludvig Aberg ($10,500)

Ludvig Aberg's big moment is on the horizon; it's just a matter of when. After a so-so start in Hawaii, he really turned it up in California and Florida. And check this out: at the Players Championship, he snagged eighth place! That's thanks to some solid strokes off the tee and on approach. Now, he's hitting up Texas for the first time as a pro golfer. 

While some big names are already thinking about the Masters, Aberg's just focused on the here and now. Sure, he hasn't played in a major yet, but who cares? He's all about dodging those bogeys and nailing those drives. If he can keep it in the fairway this week, he's got a serious edge. Plus, TPC San Antonio is going to play right into his strengths with his ball-striking and knack for scoring on par-5s. Aberg's primed for a breakthrough, no doubt about it!

Corey Conners ($9,400)

It's tough to overlook the guy who's bagged two wins here in the last five years. Conners also nailed 14th place in 2021. Given his solid performances at TPC San Antonio, it's surprising Corey Conners is priced so low. Despite a sluggish start in 2024, he's been picking up steam lately with three top-25 finishes in his last four starts, including a 13th at THE PLAYERS. 

In his recent five starts, the Canadian has consistently gained over 3.5 strokes in ball-striking, making him one of the top iron players in the field. No need to overthink this, even though his putting game hasn't been top-notch, placing him in the bottom quarter of the field.

 

 

 

Mid-Price Core Plays

Alex Noren ($8,700)

At 42, Alex Noren is still killing it on the golf course. He's like the top player who hasn't made it to the Masters yet, but he's not giving up. He just needs to win a tournament to get in. Last week at the Houston Open, he nailed a T11 finish, making it his second top-11 in the last three starts. You know how everyone talks about his amazing putting? Well, lately, it's been his ball striking that's been turning heads. 

He gained 3.2 strokes at Memorial Park and a whopping 5.8 at the Valspar a few weeks back. And get this, over his last 24 rounds, Noren's the champ in avoiding bogeys and killing it on par-5s between 550-600 yards. Now he's back at a course where he landed 15th place in his only go, and he even gained over three strokes with his approach shots then. Watch out, folks! Noren's ready to make some waves again.

Aaron Rai ($7,800)

This week, Rai's back in his groove with those amazing ball-striking skills, making him a perfect pick. Last week, I was into Aaron Rai but goofed up not mentioning him, and guess what? He nabbed 7th place at Memorial Park. Not making that mistake again; I'm backing him, especially at a bargain. Rai was on fire last week, gaining 5.4 strokes with his ball striking and another 3.7 on the greens. 

When it comes to hitting the fairway, nobody in this bunch beats Rai. Plus, he's solid in approach, tee-to-green, and avoiding bogeys. He's aiming to keep it going at TPC San Antonio, where he's landed T29 and T28 finishes in the past few years. You could easily argue that Rai's price is way too low for his skills this week, which seems to be the vibe for this lineup.

Maverick McNealy ($7,400)

It's great to see Maverick McNealy back in action and looking fully recovered from his shoulder injury that kept him out for the whole of 2023. He's starting to get back into his groove and has been putting up some impressive results lately. He's made eight out of nine cuts this year and even snagged top-10 finishes at THE PLAYERS and Waste Management tournaments. 

McNealy's putting skills are top-notch, but he could work on his approach game a bit more. Still, he's been killing it overall, ranking third in Total Strokes Gained in the last 24 rounds, just behind Hideki Matsuyama and Billy Horschel. Back in 2022, in his only appearance at this venue, he finished T35 and showed his talent from tee to green. At a price tag of $7,400, he's definitely someone to consider for your lineup if you're looking to rake in some profits.

 

 

 

Value-Price Core Plays

Davis Riley ($6,800)

Last year's debacle with Davis Riley's withdrawal after round one contrasts sharply with his entry into the 2024 event. Priced at a more reasonable $6,800 compared to last year's $9,500, his potential remains promising despite a lackluster 2024 record. Following a strong 14th place finish in Houston, Riley's iron play has rebounded, ranking fifth in strokes gained on approach. 

With a previous victory at TPC San Antonio in 2021, his familiarity with the course could prove advantageous, though past success doesn't guarantee future triumphs. While Riley's performance this week may vary, a missed cut wouldn't be surprising. However, if his putting improves and confidence in his long game persists, he could become a valuable asset for GPP lineups, especially given his DFS price remains below $7,000.

Andrew Novak ($6,500)

Andrew Novak is having a killer season so far. Despite a bit of a slump in Houston last weekend, he's made the cut in five out of his last six starts, gaining over three strokes with his ball-striking. Plus, he's been on fire with three straight top-10 finishes at the Waste Management, Mexico Open, and Cognizant. 

Now he's heading back to a course where he snagged ninth place. And let's not forget, he's ranked 16th on Tour in SG: Approach. Good luck finding another player in the $6,000 range who's hitting it as solid as this guy from North Carolina.

Nate Lashley ($6,200)

It was a really slow start for Nate who started the season making just one cut in his first seven starts but it all turned around for him when he finished T3 at the Farmers Insurance Open. We’ve now seen consistency, finishing T13 at THE PLAYERS Championship and T21 at the Texas Children’s Houston Open. 

Lashley currently ranks fifth on the TOUR for hitting fairways and has shown the ability to handle even the toughest courses. Despite some struggles at the challenging TPC San Antonio, he does have a Top 20 finish in 2022 where he scored under par all four days. 

 

 

 

Thanks for checking out my Valero Texas Open DFS picks for PGA daily fantasy this week! While you're at it, take a look at some of the other content here on Fantasy Alarm.

Player Pool

$ Tier {{pos.alias}}

Stacks

{{stack.team.name}} {{player.name}}
DraftKings {{player.fantasy.price.value[8]}}-
Fanduel {{player.fantasy.price.value[6]}}-