Valero Texas Open 2025 Preview, Picks & Analysis

If you stage a tournament the week before a major you can be absolutely certain that many of the world’s elite golfers are going to bowl up at your event, desperate to fine-tune their games or prove that they are ready for the big one.

Everybody prepares in different ways, of course. There are those who would never choose to compete so close to the year’s first major but for others it is an essential part of their preparation.

And this week’s Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio is no exception. You will not need reminding that The Masters kicks off at Augusta National next week and, sure enough, many of the world’s best players are competing in Texas.

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Among those in the field at TPC San Antonio’s The Oaks Course are Ludvig Aberg, Tommy Fleetwood and Patrick Cantlay.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama has looked like a different player of late. He is a golfer who has battled with back pain throughout his career but is finally playing pain-free. 

He got his year off to a record-breaking start, winning the Tournament of Champions in January with a 72-hole total of 35 under under par. To put that into perspective, it means that he very nearly birdied every other hole he played in Hawai.

The 2021 Masters champion carded a final round 65 to make history on the Plantation Course in Kapalua. He beat the previous record of 34 under, set by Cameron Smith at the same course in 2022.

Matsuyama's eight-under-par final round included an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey, with the 32-year-old sinking a birdie on the 18th to break Smith's record.

However, I believe the man to watch this week is Aberg. When he played at Augusta last year it was his maiden major and he duly finished second behind Scottie Scheffler.

I was surprised that it took him until February to finally land his second PGA Tour title at the Genesis.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Aberg is a class act in every way.

He only turned professional in 2023 and gained full status on the PGA Tour by finishing on top of the national University Rankings, becoming the first player to earn this advantage. He was the world’s leading amateur at the time.

Aberg made his debut as a professional in June 2023 at the Canadian Open, where he made the cut and finished in a tie for 25th place. In July he finished in a tie for fourth at the John Deere Classic.

His first start on the DP World Tour came at the Czech Masters, where he also finished in a tie for fourth place after a final round 66. He then went on to win the European Masters, a tournament he started in 186th place in the Race to Dubai and ranked 200th in the world. His win at Crans-sur-Sierre took him to 49th in the Race to Dubai and was enough to convince Luke Donald to give him a wild-card pick for the European Ryder Cup team. He went on to produce a starring role as Europe thrashed the USA.

And his incredible form continued. The week after the Ryder Cup, Aberg finished in a tie for second at the Sanderson Farms Championship and followed it with a tied 13th at the Shriners Children’s Open and tied 10th at the World Wide Technology Championship. And he ended the 2023 PGA Tour season by winning the RSM Classic in only his 12th start on the PGA Tour.

He began the RSM in 53rd place in the world rankings and 96th place in the FedEx Cup fall standings. He ended it in 53rd place in the FedEx Cup standings.

His win at the Genesis came in only his 40th PGA Tour starts. He has missed just six cuts, winning twice, finishing second four times, in the top five 10 times and in the top 10 on 14 occasions.

Twelve months ago, Akshay Bhatia overcame a shoulder injury and a surge from Denny McCarthy to win a playoff and seal his Masters spot. Bhatia was six shots clear at the turn before McCarthy birdied eight of his last nine holes to reach 20 under. 

Bhatia also birdied the final hole to force a playoff but hurt his shoulder celebrating the crucial putt. He was able to play on after treatment and sealed his second PGA Tour win at the first extra hole.

"It was just incredible to be able to be in this position," Bhatia said. "My mum's birthday was on 1 April, and her wish was [for me] to get into the Masters. So I hope I make her proud."

Bhatia began the day with a four-shot lead that soon became six with birdies at the first two holes.

But McCarthy wiped out that advantage with an incredible run on the back nine, including seven straight birdies, to post a final-round 63.

Bhatia responded with a birdie putt at the 18th to set up a playoff, but felt his shoulder pop out of his socket as he raised his arm in celebration.

He was able to continue after having it taped up and holed a six-foot putt for victory after McCarthy sent his second shot into the water.

"This shoulder I've had some issues with and when I made that putt and raised my arm it came out of the socket and went back in," said Bhatia.

"My physio will take care of me. I'm not too concerned, but it's definitely a little uncomfortable right now."

Tournament Winners:

It was won in 2015 by Jimmy Walker, in 2016 by Charley Hoffman, in 2017 by Kevin Chappell, in 2018 by Andrew Landry, in 2019 and 2023 by Corey Conners, in 2021 by Jordan Spieth, in 2022 by JJ Spaun and last year by Akshay Bhatia. There was no tournament in 2020 because of the pandemic.

The Course:

TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course is a par 72 measuring 7,435 yards and was designed by Greg Norman and Sergio Garcia. It features narrow, tree-lined fairways, huge bunkers, fast, undulating greens and several water hazards - and it is a proper test!

Form Guide:

Ludvig Aberg now has a second PGA Tour title under his belt and is impressive in everything he does. Looking for the perfect Augusta tune-up.

Prize Money:

The winner will collect $1.6m and 500 FedEx Cup points.

How to Watch:

Thursday, April 3, Friday, April 4, Sky Sports Golf, 1.15pm; Saturday, April 5, Sky Sports Golf, 2pm; Sunday, April 6, Sky Sports Golf, 6pm.

To Win:

Ludvig Aberg. World-class

Five to Follow:

Ludvig Aberg. Looking for perfect Augusta tune-up

Hideki Matsuyama. Playing quite beautifully

Akshay Bhatia. Always fun to watch

Rickie Fowler. Needs to win to make it to Augusta

Matt Fitzpatrick. Struggling for form