Leaders Prepare for Marathon Finish at Valero Texas Open
Weather interruptions have forced a third straight suspension or delay at the Valero Texas Open. Tournament officials halted play Saturday after an early start and a run of inclement conditions.
Play was called for the day after a lengthy delay. Organizers scheduled the third round to resume Sunday at 8:45 a.m. ET.
Schedule, forecast and what’s at stake
Sunday’s weather forecast looks favorable for finishing both remaining rounds. If play spills into Monday, it would be the first Monday finish at this event since 2016.
The final group had completed just six holes when play stopped. That means leaders may face 30 holes of competition on Sunday.
Leaderboard and betting picture
Robert MacIntyre entered the suspension with a four-shot lead. Ludvig Åberg (+240) trimmed that margin to two through six holes.
Matt Wallace (+4500) and Ryo Hisatsune (+1500) sit next on the board. Both are at 11-under, four shots back of MacIntyre.
Retail sportsbooks are offering live markets. Third-round three-ball lines are active and showing value opportunities.
Three-ball example: Phillips vs. Kirk and Spaun
One notable market pairs Chandler Phillips (+170) with Chris Kirk and J.J. Spaun. Phillips and Kirk were each 4-under in the third round. Spaun stood 2-under through nine holes.
Kirk is listed as the favorite at -145. Much of his approach gains through nine holes came from a hole-out on No. 9. Kirk has also produced highlight shots, including a 142-yard hole-out for eagle on the ninth.
Phillips, by contrast, gained most of his strokes with the putter. He recorded +2.29 strokes putting through nine holes. The pricing suggests Kirk is a heavy favorite. But the underlying numbers make this matchup closer.
Based on remaining holes, Phillips at +170 offers value in what feels like a near coin-flip situation. The wager is a strategy play to isolate two similarly performing golfers in a live three-ball market.
Davis Thompson: Top-10 case
Davis Thompson appears underpriced for a top-10 finish at +110. He has gained 3.05 strokes tee-to-green for the week. The next-best figure in that category sits around +1.95.
Thompson opened with a 6-under round and gained 4.0 strokes tee-to-green. He then posted a 1-over round while still gaining 2.7 strokes tee-to-green. Large putting losses cost him in round two.
Through 13 holes of round three, Thompson added another +2.4 strokes tee-to-green. His putting in that span has been modest (+0.21). He currently sits T10 and would be disadvantaged by a 54-hole finish.
If a full fourth round is completed, Thompson’s consistent ball striking makes a top-10 result likely.
Brad Thomas reported these developments for Filmogaz.com. Leaders are bracing for a potential marathon finish at the Valero Texas Open. Sunday promises a long day for competitors and for wagering markets alike.
