2023 Valero Texas Open Odds: J.J. Spaun Among 3 Betting Picks

The WGC-Dell Match Play is always a marathon of a tournament, and Sam Burns was able to outlast some of the best in the world.

That was the last match play event on the schedule for the near future and ended in style as Burns battled Scottie Scheffler across 21 holes before finally knocking off the World No. 1 in the semifinals. Cameron Young also took extra holes to defeat Rory McIlroy in pursuit of his first TOUR win, but he seemed to run out of gas in the final against Burns.

Now, before The Masters, there is one last stop for us in Texas, which requires us to make Valero Texas Open picks.

As expected, many of the top players are opting to take a week of rest leading into 2023's first major. For others, this is their final chance to try to secure a spot in the field at Augusta National.

Rickie Fowler is certainly the most notable of that bunch since he was unable to get into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings and qualify automatically. He'll be a name to watch, but there are several others who stand out heading into the week.

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First Look

J.J. Spaun

I normally would mark off a player coming in to defend their first tournament win because the uniqueness of the week. Also, obligations of being a defending champion are often a bit of a distraction.

I'm giving Spaun a pass on that since he showed some really good form during the Match Play and is a guy who seems to run really hot or cold with his game.

I'll be interested to see where his outright number opens Monday. After he blitzed his group early in the week in Austin, though, I think he'll have some confidence coming into a course he's clearly comfortable playing.

Spaun's odds on Monday morning at bet365: +3300

Matt Wallace

Wallace has always had the talent, after charging onto the scene in the states earlier in his career, he has struggled to find consistency. He has had things headed in the right direction in recent weeks, and they culminated in his first win this past weekend in the alternate-field event at the Corales Puntacana Championship.

The only downside to that win is that Wallace doesn't get the qualifier into Augusta. So, he'll tee it up again this week with the hopes of winning back-to-back starts and finding his way down Magnolia Lane.

Wallace has some history here at the Valero, where he finished third in 2021. I'll hope he can continue to ride that hot play this week.

Wallace's odds at bet365 on Monday morning: +5000

Patton Kizzire

This one may be a little more under the radar, and it's one I hesitate to bring up since I never seem to get Kizzire right. Regardless, I'll stick with my gut here.

Kizzire has really been showing some form, gaining more than two shots on the field on approach both at The Players and Valspar. He has also had a pretty strong history of top-10 finishes in Texas, including a T9 at this event in 2021.

I expect Kizzire to be in the long-shot range when odds open on Monday morning. If that's the case, he'll be a play for me on the back end of the card.

Kizzire's odds at bet365 on Monday morning: +11000