Eric Cole Trending In Right Direction Ahead Of Valero
Source: Data Golf
It has been a productive last couple of weeks for Eric Cole, as the 36-year-old has had back-to-back top-15 finishes at the Valspar and last week in Houston. During that time, he's gained over six strokes on approach and four strokes putting. Last week at Memorial Park was particularly impressive given the length of the course and his inadequacies off the tee. TPC San Antonio presents a much more getable opportunity for Cole if everything currently trending in his game stays that way. In two career starts in this event, his best finish is a T39. However, the recipe for grass type, green complexes, and need for sound approach play remains the same as it has for the last few weeks, which makes him an intriguing play at $8,600 on FanDuel.Sam Stevens Enjoys Nice Result In Houston
Source: PGATour.com
Sam Stevens seeks to capitalize on the nice result he had in Houston. The American golfer shot a 65 in the final round to vault into the Top 20. Though Stevens finished 10 shots off the first place total, Stevens looked good on the golf course. The concern is that he has looked so average when it comes to putting and approaching the green. Birdie average has taken the biggest hit with Stevens dropping to 3.7 (127th). Worse, that scoring average of 71.55 comes in at 155th. Getting off to that kind of start makes Stevens just have to do even more to catch up. It is why Stevens carries too much risk to trust from a betting standpoint this weekend. J.T. Poston Seeks To Contend At Valero Texas Open
Source: PGATour.com
J.T. Poston has won three times on the PGA Tour in his career. The American golfer has not even tasted a Top 10 once in 2025. Despite missing only one cut, Poston has always had that round or two that derails his weekend. Last week at the Valspar Championship, Poston could not keep up with the hottest golfers and shot a 72. Missed putts have been hurting Poston's results all 2025. His strokes gained to putting ranks normally in the Top 50. Poston is currently 165th at -0.527. It is not that early anymore. For a golfer who is struggling with the putter, a 3.75% three-putt avoidance even ranks 165th. It is why Poston cannot be trusted to finish inside the Top 20 or Top 10. Sure, he could do that but also could struggle to make the cut. Denny McCarthy Keeps Making Cuts But Needs To Make More Putts
Source: PGATour.com
Denny McCarthy's calling card has always been the putter. The American golfer has five Top 25 results and a couple of Top 10 finishes too. However, he has not truly battled for a win on a Sunday yet. One of the biggest problems for McCarthy in 2025 has been the third round. He averages 30 putts on what would mostly be Saturdays. Even his birdie or better conversion percentage (31.5%) is 102nd or slightly below tour average. Consistency has been missing for McCarthy even though he ranks 17th in strokes gained to putting (0.54). While scoring ranks inside the Top 50, overall birdie average is 91st. That is why a few more putts need to drop and the Valero Texas Open could be that place.Brian Harman Off To A Subpar 2025 So Far
Source: PGATour.com
Brian Harman has already competed in nine events on the PGA Tour. The American golfer who has won three times including The Open Championship in 2023 does not have one Top 10 finish. Now, Harman has three Top 25 results and has only missed the cut twice. However, he took a week off after The Players Championship where a second round 77 caused him to miss the weekend. Harman's swing through Hawaii started off disastrous (75-74 at the Sentry). The season has not quite gone as expected. The Valero Texas Open does not set up well for Harman with four holes 550 yards or greater. With the putter so far off (145th in strokes gained) and averaging 29.58 putts per round and 31.71 on Sundays, Harman may be one to fade from a DFS perspective this week. Harry Hall Bounces Back In Houston Last Week
Source: PGATour.com
Harry Hall enjoyed a solid weekend in Texas at the Texas Children's Houston Open. The English golfer finished inside the Top 20 after three pretty rough tournament results. Even at the Valspar Championship, Hall struggled to finish outside the Top 50 (T-54). However, in Houston, Hall showed flashes of good form much like what we saw in Hawaii. Birdies were dropping in and that final round 65 was one of the better rounds of the day. If not for a late bogey on 7 coming in, Hall would have had a 64. Right now, the golfer stands at +6000 to win the Valero Texas Open. These seem like long odds but Min Woo Lee netted his first win last week. Anything can happen. Ryan Fox Showing Improvement Heading Into The Valero Texas Open
Source: PGATour.com
Ryan Fox started out 2025 with two missed cuts and a T-63 at the WM Phoenix Open. Since then, the golfer from New Zealand has righted the ship enough and was flirting with a Top 10 last week in Houston. Though he faltered a bit to a 71 on Sunday, that still wound up being a Top 15 result. Fox has not won yet on the PGA Tour and currently still ranks outside the Top 100 in OWGR (102nd). He does have eight international wins including the 2023 BMW PGA Championship. The golfer is 38 but still has plenty of fight left. At the least, Fox could be a decent DFS option come this weekend. Joel Dahmen Scores Top-20 Finish At Texas Children's Houston Open
Source: PGATour.com
Joel Dahmen caught a stroke of luck last week in Texas. For one, the American golfer and everyone else did not face the expected deluge. Second, Dahmen finished above the cut line after the second round. As a result, Dahmen stayed around for the weekend and was able to make a charge inside the Top 20 (T-18). It was a nice rebound after missing the cut at the Valspar Championship. Dahmen enjoyed Top 10 results sandwiched between another clunker at Scottsdale. He does not putt all that consistently. Dahmen ranks 181st in putting strokes gained (-0.633). Worse, he averages only 28.74 putts per round which is a respectable 59th. Dahmen has issues with putts of short and intermediate length alike. Those Par 5's could be a real issue this week. Jacob Bridgeman Had Some Rest Heading Into The Valero
Source: PGATour.com
Jacob Bridgeman missed his fourth cut of 2025 last week at the Texas Children's Houston Open. The American golfer has made six cuts and finished in the Top 25 four times. That includes a Top 10 and a third which was outright. Bridgeman fell behind early last week with an opening round 72. Overall, he ranks 7th in strokes gained to putting at 0.729. This is through 29 measured rounds. Considering the volume of play, that is not a small sample size. Anyway, Bridgeman scrambles well but greens in regulation still ranks 150th on tour at 63.72%. With four mammoth Par 5's (550+ yards), Bridgeman must strike the ball far more accurately this week to be near contention. Sami Valimaki Finishes Fourth At Texas Children's Houston Open
Source: Data Golf
Sami Valimaki finished fourth at last week's Texas Children's Houston Open and is now focusing on preparing for this week's Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio. He has missed the cut only twice in nine starts this season and has two top-15 finishes. This will be Valimaki's first appearance at the Valero Texas Open. Over the past 12 months, Valimaki has ranked in the 87th percentile for greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from over 200 yards in the fairway. This is significant because, at last year's Valero Texas Open, more than 28% of approach shots came from this distance. Valimaki could be a valuable addition to DFS lineups this week.Maverick McNealy Finishes Tied For 32nd At Texas Children’s Houston Open
Source: Data Golf
Maverick McNealy finished tied for 32nd at last week's Texas Children's Houston Open and is now focusing on preparing for this week's Valero Texas Open, which will take place at TPC San Antonio. This marks a positive turnaround for McNealy, as he had missed the cut in his previous two events before the Houston Open. Last year, he finished T58 at the Valero Texas Open. In the past 12 months, McNealy has ranked in the 80th percentile for greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from over 200 yards in the fairway. This is noteworthy because, during last year's Valero Texas Open, over 28% of approach shots came from this distance. As a result, McNealy could be a solid addition to DFS lineups this week.Tom Kim Finishes Tied For 36th At Valspar Championship
Source: Data Golf
Tom Kim finished tied for 36th at the Valspar Championship two weeks ago and is now focusing on preparing for this week's Valero Texas Open, which will be held at TPC San Antonio. This season, Kim has only missed the cut twice and has one top-10 finish. It is important to note that he missed the cut at this event last year. Over the past 12 months, Kim ranks in the 62nd percentile for greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from over 200 yards in the fairway. This is significant because, at last year's Valero Texas Open, over 28% of approach shots were from this distance. While Kim may be overlooked this week, including him in DFS lineups does carry some risk.Rickie Fowler Finishes Tied For 52nd At Texas Children’s Houston Open
Source: Data Golf
Rickie Fowler finished tied for 52nd at last week's Texas Children's Houston Open and is now focusing on preparing for this week's Valero Texas Open, which will take place at TPC San Antonio. Although Fowler has not missed the cut in any of his seven starts this season, he did miss the cut at this event last year. Over the past 12 months, Fowler ranks in the 43rd percentile for greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from over 200 yards in the fairway. This is important to mention because at last year's Valero Texas Open, over 28% of approach shots came from this distance. Including Fowler in DFS lineups this week carries some risk.Bud Cauley Finishes Tied For Fourth At Valspar Championship
Source: Data Golf
Bud Cauley finished tied for fourth at the Valspar Championship two weeks ago and is now focusing on preparing for this week's Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio. He has missed only one cut in 2025 and finished T39 at this event last year. Over the past 12 months, Cauley ranks in the 23rd percentile for greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from over 200 yards in the fairway. This is significant because, at last year's Valero Texas Open, over 28% of approach shots were from this distance. While Cauley could be a solid addition to DFS lineups this week, including him does carry some risk.Sam Burns Misses The Cut At Valspar Championship
Source: Data Golf
Sam Burns missed the cut at the Valspar Championship two weeks ago and is now focusing on preparing for this week's Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio. He last played in the Valero Texas Open in 2021, where he also missed the cut. Additionally, Burns has missed the cut in his last two tournaments. Over the past 12 months, he ranks in the 41st percentile for greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from over 200 yards in the fairway. This is noteworthy because over 28% of approach shots at last year's Valero Texas Open came from this distance. Considering his recent performance, including Burns in DFS lineups this week poses some risk.