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Valero Texas Open tips: Si Woo Kim has game to conquer TPC San Antonio

After picking Sam Burns at 40/1 to win last week’s World Match Play and an each-way place for Ewen Ferguson in South Africa, Tipstrr golf expert Martin Colwell takes a look at the Valero Texas Open.

The USPGA Tour stays in Texas this week as the build up to next week's Masters concludes with the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio.

At 7,438 yards in length, this par-72 course is made up of tight fairways and penal rough that carve their way to multi-tiered undulating greens.

There are just three water hazards but plenty of bunkers, and with the wind expected to blow this week and the course to play firm, the players have a tricky test ahead of them, making strokes gained approach appear to be the most important metric.

With many players preferring a week's rest ahead of the Masters, a weakened field sees Tyrrell Hatton installed as the 12/1 favourite. The Englishman had shown good form before last week, but then he lost all three matches and complained about a hand injury, so no value here, I think.

AUGUSTA 2023: Check out the latest Masters odds here

Rickie Fowler needs to win this week to get into the Masters, and is playing well now that he is under the tutelage of Butch Harmon. However, the putter is not cooperating enough to suggest he will win, and the 18/1 available is fair enough but nothing special.

At 20/1 is Si Woo Kim, who has placed in this tournament previously and tends to save his best for Bermuda grass. I like him more at these odds than the two above him in the market.

Suggested bet: Si Woo Kim

This tournament does throw up winners at odds of 100/1-plus and I think that this year's renewal is wide open, including the following who have caught my eye at current odds:
Matt Wallace appears to have overcome some inner demons, and won last week at Punta Cana to break his US PGA duck. If he can maintain that form then he could well be competitive at the 40/1 price available.
Andrew Putnam (50/1) is an accurate driver who played reasonaly at the World Match Play and he has placed form on this course. He is currently fifth for scrambling and seventh for strokes gained putting this season, which is a valuable skill set for this course.

Ben Martin is showing up well in his rookie season on tour, and has enjoyed top twenty finishes in better fields than this on tour, so he might be able to outplay his 75/1 tag.

Kevin Streelman (80/1) is a tour journeyman who has landed six top twenties in this tournament in recent years, illustrating that his game is suited to the accuracy required on this course.

Last but not least, Ashkay Bhatia has had six starts on tour so far and is sixth for scoring average and first for proximity for approach play and around the green. He has featured in other weakened fields, and his mammoth price looks like value here.

Each-way outsider: Ashkay Bhatia

Maybe one of the the above can match last week's win for 40/1 shot Sam Burns' 40/1, who combined with Ewen Ferguson's 35/1 each-way place to land a massive 222.5 points of profit overall.

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