Valero Texas Open

Your weekly guide to fantasy golf on the PGA TOUR

⛳ This week on the PGA TOUR

• Tournament: Valero Texas Open
• Date: April 2 – April 5, 2026
• Venue: TPC San Antonio – Oaks Course, San Antonio, Texas
• Purse: $9,800,000 (winner $1.71 million)
• Cut Rule: Top 65 and ties after 36 holes
• Course Details: This week’s test is a wind‑exposed, par‑72 layout stretching roughly 7,438 yards, designed by Greg Norman with an emphasis on shot‑making over raw power. The course plays through open Hill Country terrain, where swirling winds are a constant variable and distance control into firm, elevated greens is critical. Fairways are not overly narrow, but misses are punished by native areas and awkward lies, making driving accuracy and approach play far more predictive than putting spikes. Three of the four par 5s push past 590 yards, turning them into scoring separators rather than automatic birdie holes, while the par 4s demand disciplined tee shots to set up mid‑iron approaches.
• Weather: Scattered clouds and warm temperatures in the mid‑ to upper‑80s are expected to open the week, with steady winds in the 10–15 mph range playing their usual role as the primary defense across the property. Rain chances increase late in the tournament, particularly Saturday, before cooler, drier conditions arrive for the final round, potentially creating a very different scoring environment over the weekend.
• FedEx Points: 500 points to the winner.

The Valero Texas Open is one of the PGA TOUR’s true pillars, dating back to 1922 and standing as the longest‑running TOUR event held in the same city, all while serving a unique modern role as the final competitive stop before The Masters. That timing always creates a compelling mix of urgency and restraint, and 2026 is no exception, with a strong but selective field featuring elite players balancing tune‑up reps with trophy aspirations. Headlining the field are Tommy Fleetwood, Ludvig Åberg, Collin Morikawa, Hideki Matsuyama, and Jordan Spieth, alongside defending champion Brian Harman, giving this event a noticeably higher ceiling than a typical non‑signature stop. With one last Masters invitation still on the line and FedExCup points becoming increasingly valuable, history and opportunity collide this week in San Antonio.

Past Champions:

• 2025 — Brian Harman: (−9)
• 2024 — Akshay Bhatia: (−20) playoff win
• 2023 — Corey Conners: (−15)
• 2022 — J.J. Spaun: (−13)
• 2021 — Jordan Spieth: (−18)

🏌️ Players to Watch (and a Few to Fade)

As the final competitive stop before The Masters, this week consistently produces a fascinating blend of ambition and caution, and that dynamic is reflected in the quality of the 2026 field. While not a signature event, the tournament still draws a top‑heavy group of elite ball‑strikers and proven winners—players like Tommy Fleetwood, Ludvig Åberg, Collin Morikawa, Hideki Matsuyama, Jordan Spieth, and defending champion Brian Harman—who view this as either a legitimate win opportunity or a high‑level stress test heading into Augusta. At the same time, the depth drops off quickly, creating separation between true contenders and the rest of the field, which historically has allowed precision players with course comfort to outperform betting odds and fantasy expectations. Add in the final Masters berth, full FedExCup points, and a layout that punishes impatience, and this week routinely punches above its weight in both drama and fantasy relevance.

Here are some notable names to consider—and a few to be wary of:

• Tommy Fleetwood – One of the highest‑ranked players in the field, Fleetwood’s elite iron play and wind control fit this course exceptionally well. He’s posted multiple solid finishes here in recent years and profiles as a steady top‑10 threat rather than a boom‑or‑bust option.
• Ludvig Åberg – Åberg brings length, composure, and top‑tier ball‑striking to a course that rewards all three. His ability to flight irons in the wind gives him a high ceiling, especially if conditions firm up over the weekend.
• Corey Conners – Few players have been as reliable at this venue, with multiple top finishes and a win in 2023. Conners’ repeatable tee‑to‑green excellence makes him one of the safest fantasy plays in the field whenever this tournament appears on the schedule.
• Jordan Spieth – The Texas native has long thrived here, including a victory and several strong runs. While his results can be volatile week‑to‑week, Spieth’s local knowledge and creativity around the greens keep him firmly in play.
• Brian Harman – The defending champion returns to a setup that clearly suits his eye. Harman’s accuracy and patience shine when scoring gets tough, and he’s comfortable grinding out pars when others start leaking strokes.

Potential Fades:

• Collin Morikawa – On paper, this is an ideal course fit given his elite iron play and comfort in tough conditions, but Morikawa carries more risk than usual this week. His recent withdrawal from THE PLAYERS Championship due to a back issue, combined with Augusta immediately ahead, raises questions about both health and intent. The upside is obvious, but fantasy managers should account for a potentially conservative approach or limited ceiling.
• Russell Henley – Henley’s accuracy and consistency keep him relevant every time he tees it up here, but his lack of length can be exposed when conditions soften and the long par 5s become scoring separators. He profiles as a high‑floor, modest‑ceiling option, making him less appealing in formats that reward aggressive upside.
• Max Homa – Homa enters the week as a form‑based question mark rather than a course‑fit fade. He’s still searching for rhythm with his swing and results, and recent finishes haven’t reflected his usual baseline of consistency or contention. With confidence clearly a work in progress—and Augusta ahead—this is a spot where expectation should be tempered despite his name value.

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🧐 Did You Know?

• The Valero Texas Open is the longest‑running PGA TOUR event held in the same city, having been played exclusively in the San Antonio area since its inception, a distinction no other TOUR stop can claim.
  
• The Valero Texas Open champion doesn’t just get a trophy — they also receive custom Lucchese cowboy boots. The boots have become one of the most unique winner’s prizes on the PGA TOUR and are a nod to Texas tradition, frequently spotted in champion photos well after the tournament ends.
  
• The course has produced one of the most infamous single‑hole scores in TOUR history. In 2011, Kevin Na famously made a 16 on a par 4, a moment that still ranks among the highest single‑hole scores ever recorded in PGA TOUR play.

🤔 Fantasy Strategy

This is a classic variance week from a fantasy perspective. With a top‑heavy field, changing wind conditions, and motivation split between winning and tuning up for Augusta, the Valero Texas Open often rewards strong ball‑striking at suppressed ownership rather than star‑chasing. The optimal approach is to prioritize players who can survive tough par‑4 scoring, manage distance control in the wind, and stay patient when birdies aren’t automatic.

Sleepers to Consider:

• Denny McCarthy – One of the TOUR’s elite putters, McCarthy gains real fantasy equity on courses where greens are difficult to hit and par saves matter. He’s posted strong finishes here before and tends to shine when conditions tilt toward survival rather than scoring.
• Keith Mitchell – Mitchell’s driving gives him a clear advantage on a layout that rewards tee‑shot positioning. If conditions stay firm and the course plays closer to par, he has sneaky top‑10 upside thanks to par‑5 scoring without excessive volatility.
• Alex Noren – Noren checks several sleeper boxes: comfort in the wind, disciplined ball flight, and a willingness to grind. He’s rarely flashy, but that works in his favor here, especially if scoring tightens and experience becomes an asset late Sunday.
• J.T. Poston – Poston offers a nice blend of controlled ball‑striking and touch on tricky greens. He doesn’t need overpowering distance to be effective here, and when conditions demand precision and creativity, his profile fits better than his ownership typically suggests.

⭐️ Pro Tip: This week, prioritize elite tee‑to‑green players with proven wind control over big names, as volatile conditions and pre‑Masters motivation often reward patience and ball‑striking more than raw scoring power.

Looking to run a fantasy contest this week?

Add this week’s tournament to your existing Majors Challenge league or start a new one and invite your friends to join the action.

❎ One-and-Done Corner

The Valero Texas Open has a total prize purse of $9,800,000. The winner receives $1,710,000.

That first-place prize is the same as last week’s Houston Open, and ranks middle-of-the-pack on the standard One and Done schedule (Tier 3 by prize money). The field this week is a little tougher up top, though, with more of the top-ranked golfers opting to play in this event.

• View this week just like last week as an opportunity to deploy a mid‑tier, high‑floor player who’s capable of a top‑10 finish but not someone you’d save for a major or signature event.

Historically, success here has favored golfers who hit a high percentage of greens, control trajectory in the wind, and stay patient when par is a good score, rather than aggressive scorers who rely on hot putting weeks. With Augusta looming, many elite names carry both usage value later and uncertain intent now, making this an ideal spot to deploy a reliable tee‑to‑green profile with course comfort or strong Texas‑style form. In other words, target golfers with a high Strokes Gained: Approach. Elite iron play has been the strongest predictor of success at this event, especially in wind, where controlling distance and trajectory into firm greens matters far more than putting or raw distance.

• 6 Stats That Actually Matter in Golf One and Done Pools
• 2026 PGA Tournaments Ranked by Prize Money
• One-and-Done Strategy Guide from PoolGenius

Looking for more articles, help with your picks or One-And-Done strategy?
Check with the experts at Pool Genius.

💰 Select Betting Odds

Top Favorites
Ludvig Aberg +1200
Tommy Fleetwood +1400
Corey Conners +1800
Patrick Cantlay +2000
Hideki Matsuyama +2000

Mid Tier Contenders
Gary Woodland +5500
J.T. Poston +5500
Rico Hoey +6000
Maverick McNealy +6000
Harry Hall +6500

Long Shots
Matt Wallace +10000
Tom Hoge +10000
Max Homa +12000
Doug Ghim +12000
Matthias Schmid +12000

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