With the year's first major on the horizon, the PGA Tour remains in Texas for the 2026 Valero Texas Open. The Valero Texas Open, one of the longest-running events on the schedule, marks a second consecutive week in the Lone Star State for the PGA Tour.
Following in the footsteps of last week's Houston Open, this week's event in San Antonio is the penultimate event ahead of the 90th playing of The Masters. The 132-man field teeing it up at the Valero Texas Open will face a stern test in TPC San Antonio's Oaks Course (Par-72, 7,435 yards). Winning scores have varied at this event over the years, with the wind often playing a factor. Brian Harman, who won last year's event at 9-under, will look to be the first to successfully defend at the Valero Texas Open since Zach Johnson in 2009.
With two-time major winner Collin Morikawa and a plethora of others withdrawing from the event earlier in the week, the field has certainly taken a hit. Still, several big names are getting final reps in before heading to Augusta next week, including Ludvig Aberg, Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, Hideki Matsuyama, Russell Henley, and 2022 Valero Texas Open winner J.J. Spaun, to name a few.
Who will take significant momentum into the first major of 2026? Let's dive into some picks and predictions for the 2026 Valero Texas Open.
2026 Valero Texas Open picks and predictions
Sleeper pick for the Valero Texas Open: Max McGreevy (+9400)
Max McGreevy's history at the Valero Texas Open is not pretty, but he comes into this week after tying for 19th last week in Houston and notching a T15 at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson last summer. He strung together some nice results in the fall, finishing runner-up at the RSM Classic and tying for 3rd in Bermuda. McGreevy ranks sixteenth in the field from tee to green over the last twenty rounds, Per Data Golf. Additionally, he has gained strokes on approach in every start since the Farmers in late January.
Pick to win the Valero Texas Open: Denny McCarthy (+4600)
Runner-up at the Valero Texas Open two years ago, Denny has four top 20 finishes in six starts at TPC San Antonio dating back to 2018. He got off to a slow start in 2026 but finished T26 at the Valspar two weeks ago and tied for twelfth in Houston last time out. McCarthy has gained strokes on approach in three consecutive starts and has flipped the putter in recent outings, gaining on the greens in each of his last two.
Pick to win the Valero Texas Open: Alex Noren (+4000)
After missing last year's Valero Texas Open, Noren returns in 2026 after finding some success at the Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio on two previous visits. T15 in 2023, and T14 in his last start here in 2024, Noren comes into this year's Valero Texas Open on the back of four consecutive top 32 finishes, including tying for 12th at the Genesis Invitational in February. This should be a good venue for the Swede, and if he can find himself in contention, he has proven he can get over the line, having won twice on the DP World Tour last year, including at the BMW PGA Championship last September.
Pick to win the Valero Texas Open: Sepp Straka (+2800)
Coming off a T8 finish at The Players Championship in his most recent outing, Straka has now finished T18 or better in four of his last five starts, including a runner-up at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. Second in the field in approach over the last twenty rounds, and fourth from tee to green, Straka returns to the Valero Texas Open this week for the first time since a T22 finish here in 2023. He is no stranger to winning the week before a major, having won at the Truist Championship last year ahead of the PGA Championship.
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