Valero Texas Open

Wow!!What a weekend of golf that was.The Masters did not disappoint .Charl Schwartzel burning up the course on the final days play to become Masters champion 2011.Poor old Rory has a round the world trip to play in the Malaysian Open this week to ponder on where it all went wrong.But he will be back and hopefully stronger for the experience.
And so onto this week and back to the bread and butter of the of the P.G.A TOUR with the Valero Texas Open.Played at the Oaks Course in San Antonio,which has only hosted it once here before back in May 2010,so not alot of course form to go by!
It's a par 72 and is over 7500 yards with 4 par 5's.G.I.R again is going to be a critical stat this week as the course was 7th most challenging in the green hit stat last year.And really a full tee to green game is needed here as it was also ranked 6th hardest in fairways hit.The Texas winds will play a big factor this week too so expect scores to be fairly high.
The top two in the market are Geoff Ogilvy and last years champion Adam Scott.I'm going to skip both as firstly their price is to short but also due to their finish at The Masters(4th&2nd)think they might be mentally drained...hope so anyway!!So lets see who we got on the tee!!

Ryan Palmer(28/1 Paddypower)
Born in Amarillo,Texas this is like a home game for Ryan.A great 10th last week at The Masters shows his game is in great shape.Ranked 35th in total driving and 56th in G.I.R is pretty respectable.Can play in the wind as his win at the Sony Open in Hawaii suggests and a T9th here last year when his game was'ent in such good nick shows that The Oaks Course suits.In with a great chance this week.

J.J.Henry(50/1 Brucebetting)
Former Ryder Cup star J.J is a player I have been keeping my eye on in recent weeks.Finishing inside the top 20 on his last three starts including in nearby Houston last time out suggest J.J is finding a bit of form.Looking back on his finishes in The Texas Open reads four top six finishes in ten starts but worryingly missed the cut here last year.But looking at this seasons stats perks me up a bit and makes me post up J.J as one of my picks-21st in total driving and 13th in G.I.R-just whats needed here.

Jimmy Walker(33/1 Paddypower)
Hard to ignore Jimmy here as has six top 25 finishes in 9 events already this year,his best being 4th at The Sony Open(windy) 4th at The Northern Trust and 9th at The AT&T Pebble Beach(windy)A big crowd favourite as he's a San Antonio native-he's 6th in scoring average but his T3rd here last year is standing out like a sore thumb.Has to be on the tee box for me this week.

Martin Laird(16/1 Paddypower)
Have to pick scotsman Martin Laird.If ever there was a current form horse in golf here he is.T10th WGC,T5th at Transitions Championship,T3rd Waste Management,1st at Bay Hill and T20th at The Masters(played alongside Tiger on final Day)No course form to go on but 7th in driving distance,12th in total driving and 7th in all around ranking will do me.Could easily win his second tournament this season here in what looks a depleted field.

Marc Leisman(28/1 Brucebetting)
Marc has been on alot of leaderboards this season most recently a T3rd at The Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.Playing some great golf and has only missed one cut so far this year.T30th here last year when he was'ent playing half aswell as he's playing this year and has to be picked due to the weakness of this weeks field.

                                                          BEST OF LUCK!!