Fansided

Don’t Overlook The Valero Texas Open

By Les Bailey

Apr 22, 2011; Hilton Head, SC, USA; Ben Curtis blasts out of the bunker onto the 15th green during the second round of the Heritage Classic at the Harbour Town Golf Links. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2011; Hilton Head, SC, USA; Ben Curtis blasts out of the bunker onto the 15th green during the second round of the Heritage Classic at the Harbour Town Golf Links. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Apr 22, 2011; Hilton Head, SC, USA; Ben Curtis blasts out of the bunker onto the 15th green during the second round of the Heritage Classic at the Harbour Town Golf Links. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2011; Hilton Head, SC, USA; Ben Curtis blasts out of the bunker onto the 15th green during the second round of the Heritage Classic at the Harbour Town Golf Links. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

With the 2013 Masters just around the corner, and The LPGA Nabisco Championship(their first Major of the year) going on this weekend it’s quite easy to overlook The Valero Texas Open. Interest in this tournament spiked when world number two, Rory McIlroy decided last week to throw his hat into the ring here in an attempt to improve his fledgling game, but this is a pretty good field of world class players.

Not only is there a large contingent of foreign players still prepping for the masters, but some top players from the PGA Tour, including three-time winner of the Valero, and University of Texas grad, Justin Leonard, along with last year’s champion, Ben Curtis. Leonard won here in 2000, 2001, and 2007.

Also in the field are Charl Schwartzel, Ian Poulter, Padraig Harrington, 2012 Players Champ, and 2013 WGC-Match Play Champ, Matt Kuchar.  Former British Open champ Darren Clarke was given a sponsor exemption, while slots also opened up for David Duval and John Daly. … Texas teen Jordan Spieth, who took special temporary membership after the Tampa Bay Championship presented by EverBank, makes his sixth PGA TOUR start of the year.

TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks), 7,522 yards, par 72. A Greg Norman/Sergio Garcia collaboration, the Oaks opened in 2010 as one of two courses that winds through Texas Hill Country just north of San Antonio. Four greens have undergone alterations since last year to improve receptiveness and create more possible hole locations. Changes were made at Nos. 1, 4, 10 and 12. … Garcia won’t tee it up on the course he helped design, sitting this week out to hone his game for the Masters.

This is the first time that the Valero Texas Open will function as the final warm-up for the Masters. It was the result of a calender quirk that put an extra weekend in the schedule between the Shell and The Masters. It will provide one more opportunity for the winner to secure a berth at Augusta if he doesn’t already have an invitation.

Television coverage in San Antonio will be Thursday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. ET (GC), 3-6 p.m. ET (NBC).

Follow me on Twitter @Spin_47

Home/Golf