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Don't call it a Texas swing as the PGA Tour stops briefly in San Antonio for the Valero Texas Open before opening it back up in New Orleans for the Zurich Classic and then the Wells Fargo Championship and Players Championship in May. The Masters hangover has about lifted so let's lock in for what could be a very underrated event this weekend.

Let's take a look at this week's contest.

Event information

What: Texas Open | Where: San Antonio, Texas | When: April 20-23

Participants and odds

  • Charley Hoffman: 18-1
  • Matt Kuchar: 18-1
  • Brendan Steele: 22-1
  • Brooks Koepka: 22-1
  • Kevin Chappell: 22-1
  • Ryan Moore: 22-1
  • Branden Grace: 25-1
  • Jimmy Walker: 25-1

Field strength: C-

I love Charley Hoffman, but this is not a very good field. When Brendan Steele is in a group with the third-highest favorites, your event might need a little beefing up. Still, there are several intriguing smaller storylines for the week ahead.

Three stories to watch

1. Ian Poulter's last gasp: That "last gasp" part is probably a misnomer because Poulter will certainly receive sponsor exemptions into events if he wants them, but Poulter must earn $30,000 this week to keep his PGA Tour card. He is on a major medical exemption, and this is his final official chance. It will be a fascinating subplot all weekend (if he makes the cut).

2. Charley Hoffman's defense: Hoffman showed out for the first 54 holes at Augusta National two weeks ago, and he is the defending champion here.

"I've had more success at Valero than really any other golf course since it's gone over there," Hoffman told PGATour.com recently. "It's a place where I feel comfortable, sort of like the Masters. I step on the property and it fits my eye. I just like the way it suits my game. Great place I look forward to playing every year."

3. Fast finish: In the last decade, only one Texas Open has been decided by more than two strokes (Jimmy Walker over Jordan Spieth by four in 2015) and six of the last 10 have been decided by one or gone to a playoff. The finishing hole at TPC San Antonio is a fun, risk-reward, 591-yard par 5 that favors the bold. It has made for some agonizing, dramatic endings here over the years.

Past winners

  • 2016: Charley Hoffman
  • 2015: Jimmy Walker
  • 2014: Steven Bowditch
  • 2013: Martin Laird
  • 2012: Ben Curtis

What a strange, strange list. The list of runners-up in that span is even crazier, and it includes Rory McIlroy, Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth.

Let's look at the picks this week.

Winner: Ryan Palmer has top 10s in each of the last two years here and is coming off a top 15 at the Heritage last weekend. He also has the added boost of knowing he's playing with fellow Texan Jordan Spieth at the Zurich Classic team event next weekend. I'm feeling the start of a heater. Odds: 28-1

Top 10: Billy Horschel missed the cut last week right after his second child was born so he gets a pass (obviously) for that. Horschel has top 10s in thee of the last four years at this course. He also has two top 15s in his last five events. Odds: 28-1

Sleeper: Bryson DeChambeau is always lurking, and this week he is at 80-1. I know this season has not gone to script with six WDs and cuts in his last nine events, but his pedigree is elite and he finished T2 at the Puerto Rico Open a few weeks ago. I still believe he'll have a lot of future success on the PGA Tour. Odds: 80-1