Golf best bets: Three props for the Valero Texas Open 

We were on Stephan Jaeger to finish inside the top 20 at last week's Texas Children's Houston Open, but we apparently should've bet him outright at 50/1. Oh well, we'll take the +200 winner any chance we can. 

The PGA Tour stays in Texas this week for the Valero Texas Open, and we've got another three-pack of props fresh off the press. 

Akshay Bhatia top-20 finish (+250 FanDuel)

It's been a hot-and-cold start to the 2024 season for Akshay Bhatia. In nine starts this year, the 22-year-old has finished inside the top 20 five times and missed the cut four times. Bhatia either has it or he doesn't, and right now he has it.

The lefty is coming off a T17 finish at the Valspar Championship and a T11 at the Houston Open where he ranked second in the field among players who made the cut in strokes gained on approach. Bhatia has now gained strokes with his irons in seven of his nine starts this season, and he's gained strokes off the tee in all nine. TPC San Antonio is a long golf course that demands accuracy and length off the tee and precision with long irons, and those are Bhatia's biggest strengths this year. If the putter shows up this week, the talented youngster should be in store for another solid finish.

Austin Eckroat top-30 finish (+180 DraftKings)

Austin Eckroat is one of the hottest approach players in the world right now, as he's gained more than 18 strokes on the field with his irons alone over his last four starts. The Cognizant Classic champion from a few weeks ago is swinging it as confidently as he ever has on the PGA Tour, and that's a great sign heading into a tough ball-striking test at TPC San Antonio.

Eckroat has struggled with the putter this year, but he led the field in strokes gained from putting in his last Texas start at the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson. If his putter cooperates this week, he could contend for another win. 

Tournament matchup: Ludvig Aberg > Rory McIlroy (+115 DK)

Rory McIlroy is still searching for his A-game with the Masters just a week away. The Northern Irishman hasn't finished better than T19 in five PGA Tour starts this season, and he reportedly went to see swing coach Butch Harmon after The Players Championship to clean up some issues. This is more of a tune-up for McIlroy in hopes of building some momentum for Augusta National. 

Ludvig Aberg, on the other hand, has three top-10 finishes in his last five starts and has been outstanding with his ball striking all season. The up-and-coming star is a perfect fit for TPC San Antonio because he drives it long and straight and is an elite mid-to-long-iron player. He's also used to these first, windy conditions as a Texas Tech product. We'll gladly take Aberg at a plus-money price to beat a struggling McIlroy.