Rickie Fowler Headlines Five Razor-Sharp Picks For 2026 Valero Texas Open

Breaking down the Valero Texas Open 2026 betting card at TPC San Antonio, from outrights to top-10s and 20s, with Rickie Fowler as the "One-and-Done" pick.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 8:40pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and competitive energy of a professional golf tournament, with sharp planes of color and form representing the sport's intensity.Cubist interpretation of the high-stakes action and strategic maneuvering at the 2026 Valero Texas Open, a crucial tune-up event for the Masters.San Antonio Today

Geoff Clark breaks down his top bets and one-and-done pick for the 2026 Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio, highlighting Rickie Fowler, Sepp Straka, Max McGreevy, Austin Smotherman, Jordan Smith, and William Mouw as his top longshot plays. The Valero is the final event before the Masters, so the field is stacked with top PGA TOUR talent looking to tune up their games.

Why it matters

TPC San Antonio rewards precision and ball-striking, so Clark has built his betting card around players who excel in those areas. With several top-20 golfers in the field, the Valero Texas Open presents an opportunity for longshots to cash in and potentially earn a last-minute invite to the Masters next week.

The details

Clark has placed bets on Rickie Fowler (+3021), Sepp Straka (+3021), Max McGreevy (+8800), Austin Smotherman (+9245), Jordan Smith (+9245), and William Mouw (+11500) to win the 2026 Valero Texas Open. He's also backed those players with top-10 and top-20 finishes. Fowler is Clark's "One-and-Done" pick, as the six-time PGA TOUR winner looks to secure a spot in the Masters field with a strong performance.

  • The 2026 Valero Texas Open will take place the week before the Masters, from April 3-6, 2026.
  • Rickie Fowler missed the cut at the 2026 Houston Open the week prior to the Valero.

The players

Rickie Fowler

A six-time PGA TOUR champion who is looking to secure a spot in the Masters field with a strong performance at the Valero Texas Open.

Sepp Straka

A four-time PGA TOUR winner who has been on back-to-back European Ryder Cup teams and is accurate off the tee and dialed in with his irons this season.

Max McGreevy

An Oklahoma native who ranks highly in this field in driving accuracy, strokes gained approach, and par 5 scoring this season.

Austin Smotherman

A player with an excellent ball-striking profile who finished runner-up at the 2026 Cognizant Classic on a similar course to TPC San Antonio.

Jordan Smith

An Englishman who has been flushing the ball this year, gaining strokes with his driver and irons, despite struggling with his short game.

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What they’re saying

“TPC San Antonio rewards precision and ball-striking, and my Valero Texas Open betting card is built around players who fit it.”

— Geoff Clark, Betting Analyst

“Rickie is only 61st in the OWGR, and the top 50 gets an invitation to the Masters next week. A.k.a., he needs to win. While that's obviously unlikely, Fowler is 18th in DataGolf.com's rankings, which is far more respectable than the OWGR, and he is trending in the right direction.”

— Geoff Clark, Betting Analyst

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.