General / Dan Geraghty / 13 May 2009 / Leave a comment

Daniel Geraghty scours a weakened field for value and finds players with course form and a point to prove...

At various stages during the Players last week, I thought each one of my selections was going to win. Phil Mickelson started quickly and was soon a short price favourite before blowing up. Camilo Villegas was pushing for favouritism at the end of a great first round and Ian Poulter spent a long time as favourite during the later stages of the tournament. In the end Poulter finished a gallant second while Phil and Camilo fell away.

This week see's many of the PGA tours stars taking a well earned break. The Texas Valero Open field has no strength in depth whatsoever. I really didn't want to pick Anthony Kim this week, he's been infuriating to follow recently, double and triple bogeys following eagles have been commonplace. Nevertheless, he has form here (second in 2006), he has a point to prove and at this price, in this field it's worth a gamble.

I'm a big fan of Chris Stroud and have selected him for this column in the past. With so few big names this is the kind of tournament that Stroud can realistically think about winning, particuarly as he's tied for sixth place both times he's played here. Stroud started the year well but has had a tough time of late. Returning to Texas where he's played so well before can spark him back to form.

Colt Knost had a glittering Amateur career that saw him ranked as the world's best. He turned pro in 2008, giving up invitations to the 2008 Masters, US Open and Open Championship. In that 2008 season he played on the nationwide tour and won twice. This year he's had a torrid start to his career on the PGA tour but he grew up in Texas and played golf at Southern Methodist University in Texas so the Valero Texas Open is as good a place to kick start his year as any. Knost knows how to win and his results should start improving soon.