This week's field includes:
- The field includes only no golfers from the top 25 players in the latest Official World Golf Rankings. There are 11 top-100 players in the field and the top ranked player is 42nd ranked Stephen Ames.
- The field includes only one of the top 25 of this years PGA Tour money list Steve Flesch. There are 9 top-50 ranked players, Flesch (25th), Heath Slocum (33rd), Ken Duke (41st), Chad Campbell (43rd), Nick Watney (44th), John Mallinger (46), Charley Hoffman (47th), Mark Wilson (49th) and Anthony Kim (50th).
- The field includes 9 past champions: Eric Axley (2006), Robert Gamez (2005), Bart Bryant (2004), Tommy Armour III (2003), Justin Leonard (2001 & '00), Duffy Waldorf (1999 & '95), Bob Estes (1994), Blaine McCallister (1991) and Corey Pavin (1988).
A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the Valero Texas Open are these performance charts, one with the players listed alphabetically and the other with the players listed by average finish.
One last way to check who is the best is through a special formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at the Valero Texas Open in the last five years.
Who to Watch for at the Valero Texas Open:
Best Bets:
| Steve Flesch | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T12 | Cut | - | T7 | - | - | - | T54 | T45 | - | - |
Is one of the hottest players in the field, look for him to contend this week.
| Charley Hoffman | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
This course suits Hoffman's long ball style of golf. Hasn't shown any signs of better play of late but you never know if this course can zap it out of him.
| Dean Wilson | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T2 | 7 | T3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Been looking forward to this week, is 39 under in just 12 rounds.
Best of the rest:
| Justin Leonard | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T37 | - | T10 | - | Cut | Win | Win | - | T2 | - | T11 |
Another of those players that we just can't tell what is up, do know that he has done well on this course and has the experience so we have to expect a good week.
| Chad Campbell | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | T19 | - | T17 | T53 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Yes he was a winner last week but he can do it again, playing well right now.
| J.J. Henry | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | T5 | T5 | T29 | T34 | T2 | - | - | T59 | - | - |
Great record on this course, Ryder Cup prevented him from playing last year.
| Nick Flanagan | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Playing in event for the first time | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Getting to play on the PGA Tour after winning three on the Nationwide Tour, look for him to do well in this event for the first time.
| Stephen Ames | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Cut | - | - | Cut | - | - | T8 | - | - | - |
TNot very impressive in last two starts but he did have that one T8th that makes you think he can play well on this course.
| Heath Slocum | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cut | T13 | T10 | T44 | Cut | T58 | - | - | - | - | - |
Another of those type of players that could turn it on for this week.
Longshot's that could come through:
| Johnson Wagner | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Playing in the event for the first time | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
One of those guys that had a great finish last week and could do it again.
| Anthony Kim | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
This was the place that he got it all going last year, hasn't been playing well but the change to a course that he did well on could be some help.
| Colt Knost | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Playing in the event for the first time | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Making his professional debut, so anything can happen.
