Valero Texas Open: News, odds, and our picks.

Good Afternoon. Welcome to Caddyshanks. We're like that buddy who's willing to look your wife right in the eye and explain to her how a round of golf takes 6 hours. We got your back.

Here's what we've got for ya today:

• Doin Lines: Valero TX Open

• Golf Data

• Golf Shots Heard Round The World

• For The Group Chat

• Golf Thing We'd Buy If We Weren't Broke

Here's everything you need to know about betting the last ever WGC-Dell Matchplay.

🚩 Location: TPC San Antonio, Texas

💰 Purse: $8,900,000 ($1.6 million to the winner)

👑 Previous Winner: JJ Spaun

⛳️ Field: 144 Golfers

👀 Watch On: NBC and Golf Channel

Yeah, this isn't the most exciting week on the PGA Tour schedule, but true bettors don't take a week off, so let's do this.

Like we mentioned yesterday, the real prize for winning this event is an invitation to The Masters next week. This gives a lot of added meaning to the players in the field, like our boy Rickie Fowler.

*some notes*

TPC San Antonio is a Greg Norman & Sergio Garcia creation, believe it or not.

It plays long at 7400yds, but it doesn't necessarily benefit the longest players in the field.

Historically, and this shouldn't be shocking to anyone, it's great iron play that wins the Valero. That, and being able to play well in windy, firm conditions.

We can expect a healthy dose of both wind and firm conditions this weekend.

💰Shanks Picks💰

Outright Winner: Rickie Fowler +2000

Fade: Tyrell Hatton +1200

Dark Horse: Cameron Davis +5000

Top Ten: Alex Noren +333

Golf Data

"Your worst putt is better than your worst chip" is a common refrain on golf courses.

Is it actually true and backed by data?

Lou Stagner did a deep dive on The Texas Wedge recently. Here's what he found:

Key Takeaways

• Putting wins in all situations but one.

• When mid to high handicap players are 5 to 15 feet from the edge of the green:They are ~0.10 shots better with putter.Their worst putt will be ~3 to ~6 feet closer than their worst chip.

• When mid to high handicap players are 15+ feet from the edge of the green:They are ~0.15 to ~0.25 shots better with putter.Their worst putt will be ~5 to ~7 feet closer than their worst chip.

• Lower handicap players have more options.Putting is slightly better inside ~55 feet.Outside 60 feet, chipping becomes the better option by a small amount.

• I did not put this in the table, but the chances of knocking the shot in the hole was similar for both chipping and putting.As to which performed better, It was split across the different scenarios and the make rate was typically within 0.2% of each other. This is interesting as putting performs better across almost all situations, but putting was NOT the clear winner in make rate from off the green. Given how the rest of the data looks, I would have expected putting to be the clear winner in make rate from off the green, but it wasn't.

Golf Shots Heard Round The World

Expensive: LIV Golfers would apparently have to pay 2-4x their signing bonus in order to leave, and the Saudis are getting more involved in the day to day.

Jason Day's Facility: Jason Day has an insane home practice facility. 

More Data: Masters Odds + Shots Gained Data over the last 3 months.

Golf Community: You may not know it, but golf is a great community. Here's a great example about a young man named Elijah.

8 Days: Until the 2023 Masters.

Golf Social Round Up

Our favorite social channels (recently).

1. @morgan.egloff on Instagram – This dude is trying to make it to the PGA Tour and his dedication is praiseworthy. Check this video where he documents a day in the life. If I didn’t have a job and was trying to make it on the tour I’d just play Call of Duty all day (whoops).

2. @miaellax on Instagram – what I like about her is that she doesn’t claim to be an absolute G at the game. In fact, I find her very relatable because she talks alllll the time about having just picked up the game a few years ago. Nonetheless, her success on social media is a testament to the fact, with a positive attitude and actionable swing changes, you too can make a huge impact on your play (and gain a poopload of followers on social). Also, the tempo here makes me drool.

3. @JakeHuttGolf on Twitter – How this guy doesn’t have more followers blows my mind. He very creatively crafts golf lessons that are often catchy songs as well. Hopefully you remember one of these tips out on the course have x amount of bevys.

4. @ClubProGuy on Twitter – No way to describe this account except for this tweet. 

5. @Caddyshanks on Twitter and Instagram – Hey wait what the f–

For The Group Chat

Did Bubba Watson have the worst, most bland, Masters dinner ever?

Golf Thing We'd Buy If We Weren't Broke

Ladies and gentlemen, tune into your tube on Thursday because America’s favorite pastime is BACK. I know there are some people out there that are absolute fanatics about their team who also happen to be golfers and if you want to represent on the course, MLBshop.com has you covered.

If you click the link, you should immediately notice that there are some sick golf bags. These bad boys are $324.99 and you bet your ass I’d have this in the back of my local broken down muni cart if I had the money… also it would be a lot easier to support my Oakland A’s if they weren’t so embarrassing.

That's all folks! See you Friday!