X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Horse For The Course: PGA DFS Course History - 2025 Valero Texas Open

Todd McGill's DraftKings, FanDuel PGA DFS picks for the 2025 Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio. Picks for daily fantasy golf based on course history

Min Woo Lee finally captured his first career victory this past week in Houston, as the young Austrailian held off charging players in Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland to win by one stroke at -20 under par. Heading into the final round, it was always Lee's tournament to win or lose, although having guys posting 63 and 62 behind you is certainly a hotter tail than he would have wanted down the stretch. However, the looming takeaway is still the same as it has been the last few weeks: many of the top players are rounding into form ahead of next week's Masters tournament.

Before the trip to Augusta, the PGA Tour makes one final stop in the Lonestar State this week for the Valero Texas Open. Ludvig Aberg and Hideki Matsuyama are headlining a decent field in San Antonio as players look to finish the last bit of prep before the year's first major. This championship dates back to 1922, making it one of the longest-running events on the schedule (third oldest event on the PGA Tour). TPC San Antonio is undoubtedly one of the more favored layouts among PGA Tour players, so finding a smorgasbord of course history isn't hard.

Horse For The Course is an article highlighting players in this week's field with elite course history and is part of our free PGA DFS content here at RotoBaller. For some of the favorite DFS plays of the week, check out the Core Four article written by my buddy, Joe Nicely, here at RotoBaller every Wednesday. It's part of our amazing PGA Premium package that includes an all-new PGA Research Station, Lineup Builder & Optimizer, and some of the best articles in the PGA DFS industry! You can sign up now using the Promo Code TDG for an extra discount at checkout!

Featured Promo: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 30% off using code NEW! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!

 

2025 Valero Texas Open

As mentioned, this event is one of the oldest tournaments in existence. But interestingly, it is also the longest tournament to be held in the same city. That level of dedication isn't seen very often in the ever-evolving schedule of the PGA Tour, and while it has shifted in time of the year it's been played through the years, it has weathered all the storms. Now, it has carved out a significant spot in the year-to-year planning given its positioning the week before The Masters.

The grounds crew does an excellent job getting this layout as similar to Augusta as possible, with fast, undulating greens to help players get the feel for what they'll see next week. Looking at the list of guys that have had correlated success both here and at ANGC, this event is worth paying attention to.

Perhaps the most underrated part of this event, is the amount of community impact done each year, especially since Valero became the title sponsor in 2002. It has become the annual leader in charitable fundraising among all PGA Tour events, which hit $256 million in charitable giving after a record-breaking $24 million in 2024. This impact isn't as discussed as the entertainment and drama surrounding what happens inside the ropes, but it's certainly the most important.

 

You can find out who the smart money is on by checking out Spencer Aguiar's PGA DFS: Vegas Report every week. And be sure to read our other top-notch weekly PGA DFS articles and Player News/Matchup Outlook Posts to help you win big!

 

TPC San Antonio (Oakes Course)

Par 72 - 7,438 | Greens: Bermudagrass | Designed By: Greg Norman

Opening in 2010, the Oakes Course at TPC San Antonio is the eighth course to host this event throughout its 100+ years and has statistically become one of the more difficult tests on the PGA Tour. However, Akshay Bhatia's score of -20 under par last year proves that posting low 72-hole totals is possible. It was the second time that score had been reached at this venue, as Corey Conners did it in 2019 as well.

Finding hazards and penalty areas aren't what necessarily spells disaster here, even with Kevin Na's infamous 16 on the ninth hole in 2011. It's simply a difficult test to score on and requires top-notch ball striking to make birdies. The fun part about that equation is that every type of player has a chance to shine here. Even at over 7,400 yards, the distance strategy off the tee is basically null and void, and strokes gained putting doesn't carry the same weight either.

While the Oakes Course doesn't necessarily force guys to take a specific strategy, the largest differentiation between success and failure will come from strokes gained on approach and around the green. This course also plays differently than many of the venues on the PGA Tour, certainly any within the last two months, in the way hole difficulty is laid out. Last season, only three holes on the front nine averaged under par compared to five on the back nine, with four coming in the last five holes. That peculiar layout structure has created some dramatic moments through the years.

 

Recent Valero Texas Open Winners

  • 2024: Akshay Bhatia (-20)
  • 2023: Corey Conners (-15)
  • 2022: J.J. Spaun (-13)
  • 2021: Jordan Spieth (-18)

 

The Horse

Jordan Spieth

  • Notable Finishes: 1st ('21), T10 ('24)

It feels good to be able to put Jordan Spieth's name at the top of this article given all the struggles the last three or four seasons. However, he has shown an ability to perform well at TPC San Antonio during that time with a win in 2021, and other top finishes before and after that.

His success has been heavily focused on his approach play, as he is second in the field in strokes gained on approach (+1.474) around the Oakes Course. The surprising stat is the -0.031 strokes gained putting average, but he's only lost strokes in this area in one start since 2019, so look for that to improve.

 

The Ponies

Sam Stevens

  • Notable Finishes: 2nd('23), T14 ('24)

Taking the top spot this week in strokes gained total average at this course (+2.523), Sam Stevens will make his third career start at the Valero Open this week and will be looking to post another high finish ahead of his first trip to Augusta. His first two showings at TPC San Antonio have been great, with strokes gained putting (+1.132) and on approach (+0.985) doing most of the work.

Coming off a T18 in Houston last week, Stevens needs to continue building momentum as we enter the middle stretch of the season. He currently sits in 36th place on the FedEx Cup points, but it gets harder to tread water without accumulating solid finishes along the way.

 

Denny McCarthy

  • Notable Finishes: T1 ('24), T18 ('22)

Given how things ended on Sunday at last year's event, it's easy to forget that Denny McCarthy was the only one to chase down Akshay Bhatia at -20 under par to force a playoff. It obviously didn't go in his favor, as the now 32-year-old found the water on his second shot and never put up a fighting chance. That doesn't excuse the history he's amassed here in addition to the near miss, though.

In three starts over the last five seasons, McCarthy has established solid averages in strokes gained putting (+1.153), around the green (+0.508), and on approach (+0.780). Even more exciting is that he's finding great form coming into the week with a top-five and two top-20s in three of his last four starts. Feelings toward him this week should be high.

 

Did you know RotoBaller has a Premium DFS PGA subscription?

Like what you read today? You can show your support for Todd by using promo code TDG when purchasing a PGA Premium Pass. You get 10% off and full access to all of our Premium PGA articles, DFS tools, and Lineup Optimizer!

 

Gary Woodland

  • Notable Finishes: T6 ('21), T8 ('22)

Making his first start at TPC San Antonio since 2022, Gary Woodland is an intriguing name this week for two reasons. First is the history he established here before the two-year hiatus in dealing with brain surgery. Second is the amazing tournament he just had this past week in Houston, where he posted a final round, 62 to catapult himself into a T2 finish.

Over his last eight rounds on the Oakes Course, the former Jayhawk has impressive strokes gained on approach numbers (+0.992) and is averaging nearly +0.500 between strokes gained off the tee and around the green. If his strong play continues, look for Woodland to produce another fine week.

 

  Win More With RotoBaller

Win more with expert tools and advice from proven winners! RotoBaller's PGA Premium Packages feature several savvy analysts and proven winners for DFS and betting.

Our very own Joe Nicely took down a big DraftKings DFS tournament for the Travelers Championship. And as an encore, RotoBaller subscriber @tenndolly2 won $100K on FanDuel with the help of Joe and the rest of our Premium PGA team:

Between all the incredible Premium PGA DFS and Betting content and tools we put out each week, and our Premium Slack Community where we chat with our subscribers before lineups lock, RotoBaller PGA subscribers are armed with the tools, analysis, and advice to win more.

Golf DFS News and Player Outlooks


More PGA Analysis and DFS Lineup Picks

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Houston Texans19 mins ago

Texans Considering Trading Up
Kyle Gibson24 mins ago

Goes Five Innings In Latest Minor-League Start
Cleveland Browns29 mins ago

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Appears At Offseason Program
Thomas Detry30 mins ago

Making Third Appearance At New Orleans Team Event
George Kirby31 mins ago

To Face Hitters This Week
Christian McCaffrey37 mins ago

Has No Restrictions
Terry Rozier42 mins ago

Ruled Out For Wednesday
Daulton Varsho42 mins ago

Could Make Season Debut This Weekend
Max Scherzer49 mins ago

Plays Catch
Damian Lillard52 mins ago

Will Have His Minutes Monitored Tuesday
Anthony Santander53 mins ago

Sitting On Tuesday Amidst Slump
Jayson Tatum59 mins ago

Listed As Doubtful For Game 2
Robert MacIntyre60 mins ago

Returns To Zurich Classic With High Hopes
Jake McCarthy1 hour ago

Sent To Triple-A
Justin Martinez1 hour ago

Unavailable Recently Due To Fatigue
Derek Forbort1 hour ago

Recovering From Surgery
A.J. Puk1 hour ago

Undergoes MRI Exam
Martin Fehérváry1 hour ago

Martin Fehervary To Miss Postseason Following Knee Surgery
Tyler Glasnow1 hour ago

Dodgers Expect Tyler Glasnow To Make His Next Start
Shane Lowry1 hour ago

Returning To Zurich Classic With Red-Hot Teammate
Nestor Cortes1 hour ago

Moved To 60-Day Injured List
Luke Glendening1 hour ago

Available For Start Of Playoffs
Tyler Soderstrom1 hour ago

To See Time In Left Field And As Designated Hitter
Mitchell Chaffee1 hour ago

Available Tuesday
Nick Kurtz2 hours ago

Will Not Be In A Platoon
Royce Lewis2 hours ago

Running The Bases
Cody Glass2 hours ago

Good To Go Tuesday
Giancarlo Stanton2 hours ago

Takes Outdoor Batting Practice On Tuesday
Brenden Dillon2 hours ago

Won't Play In Game 2
Martín Pérez2 hours ago

Martin Perez To Miss Rest Of The Season
Luke Hughes2 hours ago

Out On Tuesday
Zac Veen2 hours ago

Getting The Day Off With Lefty On The Mound
Matthew Tkachuk2 hours ago

Activated From Injured Reserve
Brenton Doyle2 hours ago

Still Away From The Team
Brendan Donovan2 hours ago

Scratched With Rib Injury
Connor Wong2 hours ago

Catches Bullpen On Tuesday
Gavin Hollowell3 hours ago

Recalled From Triple-A
Brandon Nimmo3 hours ago

Sitting On Tuesday
Damian Lillard3 hours ago

Cleared To Play Tuesday
Brock Purdy4 hours ago

Reports For OTA's Amid Contract Discussions
George Kittle4 hours ago

Skips Start Of 49ers Offseason Program
Dallas Cowboys4 hours ago

Stephon Gilmore Spotted At Cowboys Facility On Tuesday
James Cook4 hours ago

Not At Start Of Voluntary OTAs
Kirk Cousins4 hours ago

Reports To Voluntary OTA's
Cam Ward4 hours ago

Titans Officially Staying Put At No. 1 Overall Pick, Expected To Select Cam Ward
5 hours ago

Ashton Jeanty's Tackle-Breaking Ability Sets Him Apart
5 hours ago

Jalen Milroe Not A Lock To Go In First Round
Denver Broncos6 hours ago

Broncos Willing To Trade Up In This Week's Draft
Indianapolis Colts6 hours ago

Colts Searching For A Tight End That Can Do It All
Daniel Jones6 hours ago

Colts Expect Both Anthony Richardson, Daniel Jones To Help Them In 2025
6 hours ago

Giants High On Jaxson Dart
Rory McIlroy6 hours ago

Making Second Appearance At Zurich Classic
6 hours ago

Saints Not Expected To Take Shedeur Sanders
Aaron Rodgers6 hours ago

Situation Won't Affect Steelers Draft Plan
NFL8 hours ago

Browns, Giants Receiving Calls For No. 2, No. 3 Picks
Nikola Jokić9 hours ago

Nikola Jokic Posts 19th Postseason Triple-Double
Kawhi Leonard9 hours ago

Leads Clippers To Game 2 Victory
Jalen Brunson9 hours ago

Leads All Scorers With 37 Points In Monday's Loss
Tobias Harris10 hours ago

Notches Double-Double In Game 2 Win
Cade Cunningham10 hours ago

Leads Pistons To Victory With 33 Points
Rob Dillingham10 hours ago

Out On Tuesday
Maxi Kleber10 hours ago

Remains Out For Game 2
GG Jackson II10 hours ago

Available For Tuesday
Evan Bouchard10 hours ago

Dishes Out Three Assists In Postseason Opener
Connor McDavid10 hours ago

Racks Up Four Points In Losing Effort
Nick Taylor10 hours ago

Can Surprise Again In The Big Easy
Phillip Danault10 hours ago

Nets Two Goals In Game 1 Victory
Adam Hadwin10 hours ago

Expects To Contend At Zurich Classic
Mark Scheifele11 hours ago

Bags Two Points In Monday's Win
Alejandro Tosti11 hours ago

Could Get Hot Again In New Orleans
Lane Hutson11 hours ago

Posts Two Assists In Playoff Debut
Joe Highsmith11 hours ago

Struggling As New Orleans Approaches
Dylan Strome11 hours ago

Registers Three Assists In Overtime Win
Karl Vilips11 hours ago

Steps Up To Zurich Classic Of New Orleans
Alex Ovechkin11 hours ago

Scores First Playoff Overtime Goal
Michael Thorbjornsen11 hours ago

Ready To Make Waves In New Orleans
Braden Schneider11 hours ago

Undergoes Shoulder Surgery
Tom Hoge11 hours ago

Ready To Make Some Birdies In New Orleans
Billy Horschel11 hours ago

Has Game To Win Third Zurich Classic
Tennessee Titans19 hours ago

Titans Have Turned Down Offers For No. 1 Overall Pick
19 hours ago

Saints Targeting Jaxson Dart?
Kirk Cousins19 hours ago

Falcons Have Had Trade Discussions Regarding Kirk Cousins
Aaron Gordon22 hours ago

Cleared For Action
Ousmane Dieng1 day ago

Still Out On Tuesday
Kevin Love1 day ago

Remains Away From Team
Terry Rozier1 day ago

Hurts Ankle Monday
Damian Lillard1 day ago

Officially Listed As Questionable For Game 2
Isaiah Stewart1 day ago

Ruled Out For Game 2 Against Knicks
Trent Frederic1 day ago

A Game-Time Call Monday
Leon Draisaitl1 day ago

Returns To Oilers Lineup For Postseason Opener
Jake Walman1 day ago

Available For Game 1
Brett Kulak1 day ago

Ready To Play Monday
Aliaksei Protas1 day ago

Expected To Return During First-Round Series
Isaiah Stewart2 days ago

Iffy For Monday Night
Aaron Gordon2 days ago

Listed As Probable For Game 2
Jaylen Brown3 days ago

Not Expected To Be Limited On Sunday
Ryan Blaney5 days ago

Bold Strategies Fall Flat, Still Musters A Top-Five Finish At Bristol
Lucas Glover6 days ago

Looks To Rebound After Poor Performance
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF