Kelly Bidlin recommended Ryan Gerard as a strong candidate for first-round leader bets at the Valero Texas Open, noting his consistent trend of starting tournaments hot on Thursdays. He pointed out that frequently during this season, Gerard has appeared near the top of the leaderboard after the opening round, making him a valuable option for first-round leader markets.

Kelly Bidlin highlighted Keith Mitchell as a promising target in first-round leader and placement market bets due to his consistent struggles with completing four rounds but excelling statistically elsewhere. Mitchell ranks as a top-10 ball striker on Tour with elite performance off the tee and on approach shots. However, Kelly noted Mitchell notoriously struggles with putting and around-the-green play, frequently resorting to visibly awkward putting strokes. Because Mitchell consistently shows near-top form earlier in tournaments and rarely finishes strongly on Sunday, Kelly identified him as a player perfectly suited for first-round leader bets and top-20 wagers rather than outright bets.