Valero Texas Open Preview, Picks and Analysis

Post by Sports Writer, Derek Clements 

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TOP players all have their own ways of preparing for majors. With The Masters just around the corner, Rory McIlroy has decided that what works best for him is to take a couple of weeks away and work on his game. His theory is that he will arrive at Augusta feeling fresh and raring to go as he aims to land the solitary major that has thus far eluded him.

Others, meanwhile, believe it is far better to be battle-hardened. Dustin Johnson, now back in the top 10 of the world rankings and already a winner in 2015, is one of those. He gave the Arnold Palmer Invitational a miss, but returns to action this week at the Texas Open at TPC San Antonio. In a state where the wind may blow, Johnson could easily find himself returning to the winners' circle again. He hits the ball so hard and so far that none but the strongest winds affect him, and when the breeze does get up, Johnson is capable of manipulating the golf ball.

 

 

What's more, he has returned to the PGA Tour from his leave of absence with an entirely new approach to the game. Maybe it's because he has finally grown up, maybe it's because he is now married, maybe it's something to do with him becoming a father for the first time. Whatever has caused it, Johnson is a new man, somebody who takes the rough with the smooth, accepts the bad breaks without fuss and moves on.

 

Perhaps his personal problems were the wake-up call he required because something seems to have been awakened within the big American. Gone is the tension, gone appears to be the weight of expectation that he felt he carried around with him. He seems to be taking time to smell the flowers along the way and it has added a new dimension to his game. I didn't think that I would be saying this, but I am sure that Johnson is going to win a major in 2015, maybe even two. And I have a feeling that he could even usurp McIlroy as world No1.

 

Of course he would rather win The Masters, but the Dustinator will be giving the Texas Open his very best shot and I will be surprised if he is not in the frame come the final nine holes. Of course he won't have things his own way, as he faces a top-class field in the lone star state.

 

I have admired Ryan Palmer's game for some time and, like Johnson, nothing ever seems to get him down. That's not to say that there isn't a fire burning within, as there most certainly is, but Palmer may be the kind of guy who needs to get slightly more worked up than he does when things are not going his way. He has bucketloads of talent. Palmer drives the ball well, his iron-play is right up there with the best and he has the touch of an angel around the greens, so why doesn't he win two or three events a season? I don't know the answer, but I do know that I fancy his chances in Texas.

 

You cannot ignore Jordan Spieth either. His victory at the Valspar was right out of the top drawer. He didn't have his A game with him; in fact, he even left his B game at home. But his recovery play and his ability to hole crucial putts was something to behold. You can be sure that during his week off he will have been working out the kinks in his swing and I will putting a little each-way bet on him to be right up there again, just as he is most weeks.

 

I will also be rooting for Sean O'Hair. The American has been to hell and back during his life. He had a father who used to punish him if he didn't play well. In fact, his father even punished him if he felt that young Sean wasn't giving it 100%. You can only begin to imagine how awful his formative years must have been. And yet, somehow, a well-balanced man emerged out the other end. He achieved early success after joining the PGA Tour but then became bogged down in mechanics and lost his game.

 

It was heartwarming to see him make the playoff at the Valspar, and better still to see him continue to play well at Arnie's place. A victory would complete the journey for O'Hair and he has performed well in Texas in the past. How good would it be to see him get the monkey off his back? Pretty good.

Masters invitations hang in the balance for world No 51 Marc Warren and No 52 Harris English, trying to get into the top 50 by the end of the tournament. If they fail to do so, the only other way to get to Augusta is by winning next week at Houston.

 

A final word for Freddie Jacobsen. The Swede has a great record at the Texas Open. These things have to come to an end sometime, but there's no reason to believe it will be this year, so he could also be worth a little each-way flutter.

To win: Dustin Johnson 10/1 On top of the world right now

 

Each-way: Jordan Spieth 8/1 May prefer to keep his powder dry for Augusta

 

Each-way: Ryan Palmer 28/1 Loves this course and plays well in the wind

Dustin Johnson 10/1 Won't mind if the wind blows

 

Jordan Spieth 8/1 Let's hand him a top-five finish right now

 

Ryan Palmer 28/1 Would love to record a victory

 

Sean O'Hair 40/1 Keen to keep maintain his recovery

 

Freddie Jacobsen 75/1 A course specialist

 

Jimmy Walker 22/1 You can never write him off

 

Gary Woodland 47/1 Could bring the course to its knees

 

Martin Kaymer 25/1 Needs a good week before Augusta

 

Russell Knox 40/1 No better place for his first victory

 

Justin Thomas 47/1 He's featured in most of my picks - and will continue to do so

 

Image credit - PGA Tour Facebook