The PGA Tour schedule marches deeper into the Lone Star State this week for the 2026 Valero Texas Open, serving its role as a final tune-up for players who are looking to peak for Augusta National. For others, it’s their final chance to punch their ticket into the field for the first major, making this an all-important event and a field jam-packed with elite talent.
The Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio will once again be the host of the Valero Texas Open, presenting a starkly different challenge than we had at the wide open corridors in Houston. It’s a layout defined by narrow, densely tree-lined fairways and multi-layered greens, making this week a more stringent ball-striking test for players.
RELATED: How CBS plans to handle Tiger Woods’ latest travails during its Masters coverage
This venue has proven to be demanding, emphasizing accuracy and creative scrambling. It’s a true positional golf course. With the added pressure of the impending navigation to Magnolia Lane, plus a guaranteed invite to the winner, it provides the perfect test to see who is truly ready for the season’s first major.
Read The Line’s Joe Idone and John Haslbauer make the case for Gary Woodland at the Masters:
Watch the full Preferred Lines betting show powered by Read The Line.
Here are my top 10 contenders who have what it takes to win the 2026 Valero Texas Open. 10. Keith Mitchell 
Jordan Bank
Fitting the classic bill as a “horse for the course,” Keith Mitchell brings both strong results and comfort to TPC San Antonio. With three consecutive finishes of T-17 or better at this event, Mitchell’s exceptional ball-striking is complemented by the rare ability to putt well on these tricky greens.
He has also shown substantial improvement in recent form, gaining over four strokes on approach in three of his last four starts. Mitchell could be a dangerous sleeper pick if he continues to roll it well at the Oaks Course.
9. Daniel Berger
Possessing two pivotal skills off the tee, accuracy and the ability to keep the ball flight low, can provide a massive advantage at TPC San Antonio, and Daniel Berger has both. These traits have allowed him to succeed on several correlated course designs and make him a worthy contender at the Valero.
His iron play has been a strength all season, ranking near the top of the field in approach. A recent near-miss at the Arnold Palmer Invitational signals that he’s primed for contention on another demanding layout.
8. Jordan Spieth 
James Gilbert
Jordan Spieth is right on time. Less than a week before returning to Augusta National Golf Club, Spieth’s game is peaking, and he arrives at TPC San Antonio with arguably the best course history in the field.
A winner of the Valero Texas Open in 2021, he consistently finds a way around this demanding course, relying on his elite shot-making and clutch putting. His tee-to-green numbers are steadily improving, making him impossible to overlook on his home turf.
RELATED: 15 people who wound up in Augusta National’s penalty box
7. Maverick McNealy
If you’re searching for a player with a consistent pedigree and a high floor, look no further than Maverick McNealy. His strengths align beautifully with the demands of TPC San Antonio, as evidenced by his T-3 finish here in 2025.
McNealy excels on par 5s—a key to unlocking low scores at this course—and his baseline performance improves in windy conditions. If the wind starts blowing, as it often does in central Texas, McNealy should be firmly on your radar.
6. Russell Henley 
Richard Heathcote
Russell Henley checks nearly every box when evaluating contenders this week. His precision off the tee is especially valuable on a course that punishes errant drives.
A solo fourth-place finish here in 2024 further strengthens his case. Henley has long been one of the steadiest performers on tour and looks like a serious threat to add another win to his résumé.
5. Robert MacIntyre
The ability to rise to the occasion and consistently climb leader boards makes Robert MacIntyre a highly intriguing prospect. He leads the field in birdies per round, highlighting his upside in outright betting markets.
There’s also an unquantifiable edge to his game that doesn’t always show up in stat models. A sharp short game, a hot putter and fearless shot-making can go a long way toward victory at TPC San Antonio.
RELATED: Jack Nicklaus to join Amazon’s inaugural Masters coverage
4. Collin Morikawa 
David Cannon
Collin Morikawa would likely be drawing even more attention if not for a minor back injury that forced him to withdraw from The Players Championship. A late addition to the field, he’s looking for a proper test ahead of Augusta, and this course is a perfect fit on paper.
Prior to the injury, his momentum was building rapidly. His elite ball control provides a major advantage and creates consistent scoring opportunities. If his health is in a good place, Morikawa has both the form and skill set to win.
3. Tommy Fleetwood
Tommy Fleetwood is another contender who thrives on precision and control. Ranked No. 4 in the Official World Golf Ranking, he is the highest-ranked player in this week’s field. Fresh off a TGL championship, Fleetwood now turns his focus back outdoors in pursuit of his first full-field PGA Tour victory.
He profiles exceptionally well for the Oaks Course, ranking inside the top five in approach, around-the-green play and fairways in regulation. It’s difficult to identify a true weakness in his game, and I fully expect him to give himself every opportunity to contend.
2. Ludvig Aberg 
Icon Sportswire
The former Texas Tech Red Raider returns to the Lone Star State, aiming to dispel narratives that he folded under pressure at the Players Championship. Removing the final 8 holes on that tournament, his ball-striking metrics were otherworldly, dominating the field with his signature relentless aggressiveness and quick pace.
Heading into this season, Aberg was faced with the challenge of improving in two key areas, his chipping and putting. He’s done just that, gaining strokes now in both departments in each of his past four starts. If that trend continues, his ceiling is as high as anyone in the field.
1. Si Woo Kim
At TPC San Antonio, your prospects of winning begin and end with elite ball-striking. As of late March, Si Woo Kim ranks second-best on the PGA Tour in strokes gained/approach, while also hitting fairways at an elevated rate.
His game is uniquely well-suited for this course, and he’s comfortable playing amongst the volatile Texas winds, making his current home base in the Dallas region. His bogey avoidance rate near the top of the field suggests that he has the “grinder” mentality to thrive during this high-stakes tune up for the Masters. I’m comfortable bypassing some of the players with shorter odds and riding with Si Woo Kim as the best value-proposition contender to win the Valero Texas Open.
RELATED: Masters picks 2026: Our 13 best bets to win at Augusta National
Joe Idone is a Read The Line contributor and host of the Preferred Lines podcast.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
