Valero Texas Open Tips

In addition to his three wins, he has finished runner-up here on two occasions and is still a top-class performer on Tour.

The LaCantera Golf Club plays host to this week's Texas Open for the fifteenth and final time, with defending champion Zach Johnson vying for favouritism with three-time winner Justin Leonard.

The Course: LaCantera Golf Club, San Antonio, TX (par-70, 6,896 yards)
A very short course by modern day standards with two relatively easy par-5's - the 1st and 4th. With the emphasis on accuracy off the tee, this is one course where big hitters don't enjoy an advantage. The signature holes are the 7th, which requires a tee shot from a cliff down to the fairway, and the 12th, which has a ravine that runs along the front of the green. The Bermuda grass greens are large, fast and undulating. Wind is nearly always a factor, but scoring is still pretty low.

Ross' Top Tip: Justin Leonard @ 14/1 Skybet
Whilst some might accuse me of being boring and predictable by picking the Texan, I've never found backing 14/1 winners to be boring! Consider this. In addition to his three wins, he has finished runner-up here on two occasions and is still a top-class performer on Tour as he showed with top-10 finishes at this season's World Matchplay and CA Championship. Which makes the 14/1 on offer in this poor quality field, look more than fair - don't you think?

Next Best: Mark Wilson @ 45/1 bet365 (50/1 Expekt)
Leonard, and possibly Johnson, aside, several of the market leaders look way too short based on their current form or lack of course experience, so I'm quite happy to delve a little deeper down the betting list for my next pick. Mark Wilson is hardly a household name (not even in his own household) but he's a strong horses for courses tip having finished second here last year and third in 2005. What's more, now he's got his second Tour win under his belt - the Mayakoba Classic in early March - we know he'll go on and get the job done should he get into a winning position.

Outsider: Shaun Micheel @ 125/1 Coral
125/1 for a former USPGA winner (albeit back in 2003) in this field looks too good to resist. Of course, you have to balance that off with his general lack of solid form in the past few seasons, but he looks to have got over whatever has been ailing him and a top-20 finish at Quail Hollow, thanks to a closing 66, hinted at better things to come.

Ross' 72-Hole Match Bet: Mark Wilson to beat Daniel Chopra @ 10/11 Ladbrokes

Tournament Lay (Betfair): Tim Clark
I know this week's field lacks strength in depth but 16/1 for a player who has never won on Tour is ludicrous in my opinion.

Recommended Bets:
Justin Leonard 2pts each-way @ 14/1 Skybet
Mark Wilson 1pt each-way 45/1 bet365
Shaun Micheel 1pt each-way @ 125/1 Coral

 

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Tags: Daniel Chopra,  Golf Betting,  Justin Leonard,  La Cantera Golf Club,  Mark Wilson,  PGA Tour,  Shaun Micheel,  Valero Texas Open,  Zach Johnson