Betting tips: Who to back at the Texas Open
The one to be on: Ryan Moore
Eye-catching at the Masters – Ryan Moore so nearly landed us a 200/1 each-way bet until falling away late on Sunday – it’s very surprising to see him at 28/1 to win the Texas Open.
Matt Kuchar’s leading the market because all the big guns have decided to have a week off. Moore won’t get many better opportunities to get off the mark this season.
He’s only played this event once, in 2012. But he posted a top 10 and now looks to be in the kind of form that saw him finish runner-up in last year’s Tour Championship.
The each-way back: JJ Spaun
It will be interesting to see how he fares on his first appearance at the Texas Open but, on the face of it, the 50s and above I’ve seen for JJ Spaun merit interest.
Tied sixth last week at the RBC Heritage, JJ also recorded back-to-back top 10s at the Farmers Insurance and Phoenix Opens at the start of the year – in better fields.
The dark horse: Daniel Summerhays
Small stakes here and it’s a bet you are making on past, rather than present, form. Daniel Summerhays is 80/1 this week and can boast only one top 20 this season – at the Phoenix Open.
But just like Luke Donald at Harbour Town, something seems to happen to the Utah native when he arrives at TPC San Antonio. His worst finish since 2012 was last year, when he came in 13th.
He’s been a picture of consistency here with fourth, second and seventh places in the previous three years.
If he’s not on your each-way radar, he should definitely feature in any top 10 and 20 bets.
Does he make the cut? Ian Poulter
It’s a big week for the Postman, who needs to make $31,000 to secure his PGA Tour card.
He should have managed this comfortably at Harbour Town but, while his game tee to green looked in fine shape, his putting did not in the final round.
William Hill go 2/7 that Poults makes the cut and 5/2 that he goes home.
On the face of it, the odds-on price seems fair enough. Poulter has only missed one cut this year at the Puerto Rico Open and you may see fit to include him in any accumulators to accentuate value.
But those seeking to find a reason to back the bigger price can take solace in the fact that he couldn’t have troubled the hole if it was a bucket on Sunday at the RBC Heritage.
He’ll also probably also need a top 40 display to grab the cash he needs. If things get tough early at the Texas Open, frustrations are likely to boil over.
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Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
