Rickie Fowler’s Bold Predictions: Which Five Players Will Dominate the 2026 Valero Texas Open?
This is another flusher with an awful short game. In fact, Smotherman is third in this field in SG: Ball-Striking on TOUR this year and first in SG: Approach. He finished T2 at the 2026 Cognizant Classic, formerly “The Honda Classic,” on a similar course to TPC San Antonio that requires driving accuracy, or you’re absolutely screwed.
Plus, Smotherman won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour last season (the PGA TOUR’s minor league), and finished T8 at the 2026 American Express and T13 at THE PLAYERS last month, at another TPC course (Sawgrass), where you need precise ball-striking. Maybe Smotherman peaked, and he’ll go back to the Korn Ferry Tour, but his odds and player profile fit my game plan for the Valero.



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