The LPGA Tour heads back to Texas and the Old American Golf Club for the annual Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic this week. The sixth edition of this tournament will once again feature a strong field of including three of the top-10 ranked players in the world in Sung Hyun Park, Ariya Jutanugarn and Cristie Kerr. The one notable absence is that of defending tournament champion Haru Nomura, which means a new champion will be crowned at this year’s event. Here is a closer look at the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic including a couple of smart sports betting picks worth putting money down on this week. Odds are courtesy of BetDSI Sportsbook.
Event Details
Event: Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic
Category: LPGA
Date: May 3rd-May 6th, 2018
Location: Old American Golf Club, The Colony, Texas
This tournament will still be well represented by past champions including 2016 winner Jenny Shin and 2014 winner Stacy Lewis. Meanwhile, there are a number of competitors that have already won on the LPGA Tour this year including Lydia Ko, Moriya Jutanugarn and Brooke Henderson.
Past Five Winners
2017: Haru Nomura -3
2016: Jenny Shin -14
2015: Inbee Park -15
2014: Stacy Lewis -16
2013: Inbee Park -13
What To Know About The Course
Power will undoubtedly be important at the Old American Golf Club so the big hitters that can really launch the ball off the tee will have the opportunity to showcase their talents. In addition to Driving Distance, Greens In Regulation is another statistic to keep an eye on as one of the keys to success at the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic. A number of golfers enter this week with plenty of past experience at this course. That experience should play an important role when it comes to narrowing down a true cast of contenders for this week’s event.
The Field
It really should be no surprise to see the Jutanugarn sisters at the top of the list among the sports betting favorites to win this week’s tournament. Ariya is technically the sports betting favorite to win at +550 odds, but Moriya isn’t far behind her at +600 odds to win outright. Meanwhile, Minjee Lee is available to bet on at +900 odds followed by Ko at +1000. Henderson, who is another recent tournament winner, is listed at +1400 odds to win this event. In terms of potential sleeper picks, Kerr simply can’t be overlooked despite her +4000 price tag this week. At those long odds, there is actually some additional value betting on Kerr as a long shot to contend in Texas.
A Good Matchup To Bet: Stacy Lewis over Ariya Jutanugarn
Jutanugarn is the sports betting favorite for this week’s tournament but she might be a strong bet to fade against Lewis based on betting value if you believe in Lewis to contend for the win. The Woodlands, Texas-native recently revealed that she is expected a child in November, which could serve as added motivation at this week’s event. While she hasn’t exactly dominated this year, Lewis won this tournament in 2014 so she could surprise with a strong outing this week. If you are willing to take a chance to make a decent profit, consider betting on Lewis to finish ahead of Jutanugarn in the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic this week.
Top-Five Pick: Minjee Lee
If you are looking for somebody who has the skill set to excel at this course, Lee might be one of the best bets on the board. She has the power game to thrive in this tournament. Meanwhile, Lee has had a strong season so far so this could be another strong week for her. While you might not be willing to bet money on her to win the event outright, Lee should be a strong sports betting pick to finish in the top-five in the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic this week.
