Tag: 2024 Valero Texas Open

2024 Valero Texas Open Friday tee times, PGA Tour pairings and how to watch

The purse at the Valero is $9.2 million with $1.656 million going to the winner.

On a windy Thursday in San Antonio, Akshay Bhatia got hot, going out in 32 and coming home in 31 to post a first-round 63, good for a three-shot lead after 18 holes at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.

This is the final PGA Tour stop before the Masters, the final chance for those not already in the field at Augusta National Golf Club to punch their ticket. Bhatia is among those not yet qualified, so a win this week would come with a nice addition prize.

There are two golfers three back in a tie for second at 6 under, Justin Lower and Brendon Todd. Lower shot a 66 and held the lead after the morning wave. Todd started on the 10th hole and closed with four birdies on his last five holes.

Jordan Spieth, meanwhile, managed just a 1-over 73 but had the highlight of the day with an ace on the 16th hole.

The purse at the Valero is $9.2 million with $1.656 million going to the winner. The winner will also receive 500 FedEx Cup points.

Valero: Photos | Best merchandise

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the second round of the 2024 Valero Texas Open. All times listed are ET.

Friday tee times

1st tee

Tee time Players
8:20 a.m.
Luke Donald, Ben Griffin, Matti Schmid
8:31 a.m.
Martin Laird, Aaron Baddeley, Zac Blair
8:42 a.m.
Lanto Griffin, Nate Lashley, Joseph Bramlett
8:53 a.m.
Lee Hodges, Nick Hardy, Kevin Kisner
9:04 a.m.
Adam Svensson, Chez Reavie, Webb Simpson
9:15 a.m.
Camilo Villegas, Stewart Cink, Brendon Todd
9:26 a.m.
Garrick Higgo, Chesson Hadley, Carson Young
9:37 a.m.
Matt NeSmith, Josh Teater, Sam Stevens
9:48 a.m.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Callum Tarren, Ben Kohles
9:59 a.m.
Alexander Bjork, Trace Crowe, Tom Whitney
10:10 a.m.
Victor Perez, Norman Xiong, Jorge Campillo
10:21 a.m.
Pierceson Coody, Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Ben Willman
10:32 a.m.
Max Greyserman, Ryan McCormick, Tom Adrounie
1:35 p.m.
Andrew Putnam, Jhonattan Vegas, Ryan Moore
1:46 p.m.
Ryan Palmer, Aaron Rai, Roger Sloan
1:57 p.m.
Charley Hoffman, Maverick McNealy, Nicolai Hojgaard
2:08 p.m.
Collin Morikawa, Corey Conners, Max Homa
2:19 p.m.
Brian Harman, Matt Fitzpatrick, Adam Scott
2:30 p.m.
Ludvig Aberg, Harris English, Joel Dahmen
2:41 p.m.
Billy Horschel, J.J. Spaun, Zach Johnson
2:52 p.m.
Andrew Landry, Troy Merritt, Eric Cole
3:03 p.m.
Denny McCarthy, Doug Ghim, Scott Gutschewski
3:14 p.m.
Adam Long, Jimmy Walker, Chandler Phillips
3:25 p.m.
Rafael Campos, Erik Barnes, Joe Highsmith
3:36 p.m.
Ben Silverman, Patrick Fishburn, Blaine Hale, Jr.
3:47 p.m.
Jimmy Stanger, Paul Barjon, Hayden Springer

10th tee

Tee time Player
8:20 a.m.
Alex Smalley, Hayden Buckley, Taylor Montgomery
8:31 a.m.
Keith Mitchell, Ben Martin, Brandon Wu
8:42 a.m.
Tyler Duncan, Bud Cauley, Robby Shelton
8:53 a.m.
Rory McIlroy, Chez Reavie, Webb Simpson
9:04 a.m.
Hideki Matsuyama, Lucas Glover, Jordan Spieth
9:15 a.m.
Tom Kim, Akshay Bhatia, Russell Henley
9:26 a.m.
Austin Eckroat, Grayson Murray, Adam Schenk
9:37 a.m. Kevin Streelman, Bronson Burgoon, Harry Hall
9:48 a.m. Alex Noren, S.H. Kim, Kevin Yu
9:59 a.m. C.T. Pan, Kevin Chappell, Byeong Hun An
10:10 a.m.
Chan Kim, Mac Meissner, Rico Hoey
10:21 a.m.
Thorbjorn Olesen, David Skinns, Peter Kuest
10:32 a.m.
Jacob Bridgeman, Raul Pereda, Joe Sullivan (a)
1:35 p.m.
Justin Lower, Vince Whaley
1:46 p.m.
Michael Kim, Taylor Pendrith, Andrew Novak
1:57 p.m.
Mark Hubbard, Sam Ryder, Carl Yuan
2:08 p.m.
Erik van Rooyen, Chad Ramey, Matt Kuchar
2:19 p.m.
Nico Echavarria, Ryan Brehm, Brandt Snedeker
2:30 p.m.
Davis Riley, Cameron Champ, J.B. Holmes
2:41 p.m.
Vincent Norrman, Seamus Power, K.H. Lee
2:52 p.m.
Greyson Sigg, Davis Thompson, Ben Taylor
3:03 p.m.
David Lipsky, Dylan Wu, Ryan Fox
3:14 p.m.
Padraig Harrington Beau Hossler, Tyson Alexander
3:25 p.m.
Nicholas Lindheim, Ryo Hisatune, Chris Gotterup
3:36 p.m.
Alejandro Tosti, Parker Coody, Wilson Furr
3:47 p.m.
Harrison Endycott, Kevin Dougherty, Alex Welch

How to watch, listen

ESPN+ is the exclusive home of PGA Tour Live. You can also watch the Valero Texas Open on Golf Channel free on Fubo. All times ET.

Friday, April 5

Golf Channel/Peacock: 4-7 p.m

Sirius XM: 1-7 p.m

ESPN+: 8:15 a.m.-7 p.m

Saturday, April 6

Golf Channel/Peacock: 1-3:30 p.m

NBC: 3:30-6 p.m.

Sirius XM: 3-6 p.m

ESPN+: 10 a.m.-6 p.m

Sunday, April 7

Golf Channel/Peacock: 1-2:30 p.m

NBC: 2:30-6 p.m.

Sirius XM: 1-6 p.m

ESPN+: 10 a.m.-6 p.m

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Watch: The always exciting Jordan Spieth made an ace at the Valero Texas Open

What a crowd reaction.

To say it was a rough day for Jordan Spieth may be an understatement.

The winner of the 2021 Valero Texas Open was 4 over when he stepped on the 15th tee, not a welcome sign after consecutive missed cuts in an event you’d like to see some signs of life heading into the Masters.

Well, one shot can certainly turn a round around. And Spieth is plenty capable of hitting that one shot.

On the par-3 16th hole at TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course, Spieth pulled a 7-iron from 199 yards. He smashed it and started walking to the green after a solid swing. The ball hopped a couple times and never left the flag.

Boom. An ace.

What a crowd reaction.

For Spieth, it’s the fourth ace of his Tour career and first since the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational. He followed with a birdie on the 17th hole and is still very much alive to make the weekend.

Birthday boy Justin Lower celebrates in style by shooting 66, takes early lead at Valero Texas Open

The short game was what really kept Lower’s round on track at day’s end after he missed a few greens.

SAN ANTONIO — He might hail from Northeast Ohio, but Justin Lower sure felt right at home in Central Texas on Thursday during the first round of the 2024 Valero Texas Open.

And why wouldn’t he?

With winds swirling in all directions, TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course felt akin to a breezy day in Akron, where Lower was born. His putter, long the strength of his game, came through in big ways down the stretch as he saved par on both 16 and 17 and then dropped a long birdie putt on 18 to post a 66 that made him the clubhouse leader.

His wife, Janise, was quick to kiss him when he stepped off the final hole, oh, and by the way, Lower just happened to be celebrating his 35th birthday.

Not a bad day for a guy who posted a career-best third-place finish at the Mexico Open at Vidanta less than two months ago.

And while his tee-to-green game was strong early on while posting birdies on two of the first three holes and hanging up a 33 at the turn, the short game was what really kept his round on track at day’s end when he missed a few greens.

“The short game … it can really save you around a place like this,” Lower said. “Luckily, the rough isn’t too penalizing. If it was five inches everywhere, I don’t think we’d finish probably with the wind and everything. My short game’s been great, my putting’s finally starting to come around. Hopefully, it continues that trend and yeah, I’m extremely proud of the round.”

Lower had an emotional moment at the Valspar Championship when he stepped on his wedge after a missed bunker shot, but it’s one of the few lowlights in what’s been an upward trajectory for the Malone University product. Last week at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, Lower made four birdies down the stretch to get on the right side of the cutline and then fired a 68 on Sunday to finish inside the top 30.

“That moment of frustration that probably a lot of people saw, I wasn’t feeling great,” Lower said. “I had been not sick, but just battling kind of physical ailments, I had like a trap thing going on and I was just really frustrated. It was my I think fifth (tournament) in a row. I know better than to play four in a row.

“And I’m human, we’re all human out here. I just had a moment of frustration. We went home after that round and it was just nice to be home and sleep in my own bed for a couple nights. Then we went down to Houston and I played solid last week, it was nothing great. But yeah, I just needed a moment, I guess.”

Lower now finds himself in unfamiliar territory as he’ll be looking back at most of the field when Friday’s second round begins, but he doesn’t feel he’s got a target just yet. For example, as the opening round’s first wave concluded, Max Homa (68) was two shots behind Lower, while Collin Morikawa and two-time champ Corey Conners were both four back after posting rounds of 70.

And besides, why not just enjoy a day like Thursday, when he was leading a PGA Tour event and planned to head out to a nearby joint called Blanco BBQ, a spot his cousin recently introduced him to?

“I don’t know if I’m the hunted at all. I’m still a quote-unquote mule out here as compared to other guys, but I’m just trying to play as best as I can, I’m trying to learn as much as I can every day,” Lower said. “I find myself watching guys on the range just to see if I can pick anything up, stuff like that, and around the greens especially. I’ve learned a lot and I feel like I’m kind of coming into my own finally.

“I’m happy to be here, for sure.”

New logos, old Texas roots on display in 2024 Valero Texas Open merchandise shop

The event is boasting a revamped logo scheme, one that leans even heavier into the tournament’s Texas roots.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Now more than a century old, the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio has done some moving in its day.

The tournament — which was previously held at Brackenridge Park, Willow Springs, Fort Sam Houston, Oak Hills Country Club and La Cantera before settling on its current home at TPC San Antonio — started Thursday with one of the strongest fields in decades. Among those vying for the title are world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, past champion Jordan Spieth, two-time champ Corey Conners and many others looking to get their final Masters prep in.

But while the venue has changed, the logos associated with the tournament have only seen some minor tweaks through the years. That changed in 2024, however, as the merchandise tent is boasting a number of new items and a revamped logo scheme, one that leans even heavier into the tournament’s Texas roots. Some of this is available online but the head covers are exclusive to this shop just off the 18th fairway at the Oaks Course.

Here’s a look at what’s available at the merchandise tent this week:

Rory McIlroy poised to push panic button on ‘pretty jarring’ PGA Tour TV numbers

“If the numbers aren’t as good, it’s an argument to still say we need to put everyone back together.”

SAN ANTONIO — The fatigue is real. Talk of growing the game has officially been put on the backburner.

In the aftermath of nearly two years of PGA Tour-LIV Golf feuding, Rory McIlroy said Wednesday he isn’t surprised that many golf fans have become disenchanted, but he sounded more than just mildly concerned about the ramifications that appear to be manifesting in recent viewership numbers.

Speaking in San Antonio as he prepares for his last tuneup before the 2024 Masters, McIlroy said the raw data from PGA Tour telecasts is alarming, as one in every five former TV viewers has decided to shut the product off.

“I know this isn’t a be-all, end-all, but if you look at the TV ratings of the PGA Tour this year, they’re down 20 percent across the board,” he said. “That’s a fifth. That’s big. I would say the numbers on LIV aren’t great either in terms of the people tuning in. I just think with the fighting and everything that’s went on over the past couple years, people are just getting really fatigued of it and it’s turning people off men’s professional golf, and that’s not a good thing for anyone.”

While the four-time major champ is focused on his own game, especially in light of his failure to crack the top 15 in any of his first five starts of 2024, he’ll be keeping an eye on how TV viewers respond to the first major of the year in Augusta. But then he believes an even truer indication will come from the other three majors on the schedule.

“It’s going to be really interesting to see how the four major championships do, or even the three because put Augusta aside, I think that sort of lives in its own world,” he said. “It will be really interesting to see how the major championship numbers fare compared to the other bigger events because there’s an argument to be made if the numbers are better and you’ve got all the best players in the world playing, then there’s an argument to say ‘OK, we need to get this thing back together.’

“But on the flip side, if the numbers aren’t as good, it’s an argument to still say we need to put everyone back together because people are losing interest in the game even if they don’t want to tune in to the four major championships.”

2024 Cognizant Classic
Rory McIlroy plays a shot on the fifth hole during the first round of the 2024 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches at PGA National. (Photo: Brennan Asplen/Getty Images)

Many assumed that additional exposure to the game through PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ and other online avenues would lead to a rise in viewership numbers, all while more people are playing the game in record numbers and consuming more golf content online.

But McIlroy, who in the Netflix documentary “Full Swing” described himself as the closest player on Tour to PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, said recently that it’s been difficult to see some of the world’s best players not matching up on a consistent basis.

“That’s where I said like things need a correction and things are unsustainable because I’m close with NBC and the people that really care about these things and the people that tune in to watch golf,” he said. “You know, 20 percent’s a pretty jarring number this year.”

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This PGA Tour pro is about to make his 500th start (and he thinks the feat will become a rarity)

“I think the unicorn of 500 starts is going to be even harder to attain in the future for PGA Tour players.”

SAN ANTONIO — Charley Hoffman is just a few years from a major milestone, one that will afford him the opportunity to compete on multiple tours. The San Diego native is less than three years from hitting the big 5-0, meaning he’ll be eligible for the PGA Tour Champions as well as the PGA Tour.

But this week at the Texas Valero Open, the wily veteran is celebrating an even bigger number as he makes his 500th PGA Tour start.

After playing collegiately at UNLV, Hoffman made his PGA Tour debut in 2006. One year later, Hoffman tallied his first of four Tour wins at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

And while with age comes wisdom, Hoffman joked Wednesday at the TPC San Antonio Oaks Course that he’s avoided too much wisdom, thus maintaining a carefree attitude through decades of competition.

“The Charley Hoffman with the long hair and trying to become a PGA Tour player and star, I think I was just dumb enough to think I could do it. I thought I could compete with the best in the world. I played my first event when I was 16 in San Diego and I thought I could play with the guys,” Hoffman said. “Then now, and I’ll use at the WM Phoenix Open, I think I’m just dumb enough to think I can compete against these 20-something-year-olds and I still think I can beat them. So I think there’s a little bit of stupidity inside there which is consistent through all this.

2024 WM Phoenix Open
Charley Hoffman on the 16th hole during the weather-delayed third round of the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on Feb. 11, 2024.

“I just love to compete, I love to play, I love to feed off people. When I was younger I used to try to get on the first tee and learn from the older guys. Now I like playing — if I go play a practice round, I don’t mind playing with the younger guys, sort of feed off their energy and what they do and their charisma and how they hit it.”

Hoffman comes to the Alamo City with three straight missed cuts at the Mexico Open, Players Championship and Valspar Championship, but he hasn’t lost any enthusiasm. Still, Hoffman is competing, as shown by a tough playoff loss to Nick Taylor at the WM Phoenix Open. The close call has him working as hard as ever.

In fact, he first learned he was nearing 500 starts in Phoenix and said he then planned for the milestone to be broken in Texas.

“I honestly strategically picked this week to have it done just because it’s so near and dear to my heart and a place where the family I knew during spring break could come and celebrate that sort of stuff with me. It’s something we hand-picked after I found out where my 500th start was going to be. It’s quite mind-blowing,” he said. “I played the pro-am ironically with Joe Ogilvie today. We just started talking, I think the unicorn of 500 starts is going to be even harder to attain in the future for PGA Tour players. Guys are traditionally playing less, there’s rumblings of a shorter season and so on and so forth. So to get to 500 starts, it’s going to be hard for the younger guys.

“It’s something that I probably never thought I’d get to and it’s quite an accomplishment. I want more, I don’t see myself going anywhere as long as I’m healthy. I obviously want to hopefully get to 600.”

Going years between victories, Hoffman is long past due. With his last win coming here at the 2016 Valero Texas Open, Hoffman is going on over eight seasons without finding the winner’s circle as he winds down his Tour career. But he’s certainly in his comfort zone here in Central Texas, finishing the Valero with three runner-up showings and seven top-10 finishes.

“I would say Texas in general I’ve played fairly well throughout my career,” he said. “Obviously we were at a different golf course, La Cantera prior, had some success there and then moved over here. I remember back in the day, like take a tour of TPC San Antonio, come over here and see if you like the golf course. I never did do that tour, but obviously it’s a golf course I fell in love with.

“It’s a golf course you’ve got to drive your golf ball well. I’ve traditionally played well in the wind, which is the reason why I think I’ve played well in Texas. It’s a ball-striker’s golf course, it’s a course that you need to give yourself opportunities on the green to be in the right sections. It’s something that just fits my eye. I think the demand of it just sort of just fits my game.”

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Rory McIlroy using prototype TaylorMade iron at 2024 Valero Texas Open

McIlroy has a new club in the bag the week before he goes for the Career Grand Slam once again at the Masters.

When it comes to drivers, Rory McIlroy has been more than willing to upgrade into TaylorMade’s newest, latest and greatest every year since he signed an endorsement deal with the company is 2017. Irons, however, are another story.

The four-time major winner has used a prototype set of RORS Proto irons fitted with Project X 7.0 shafts for nearly all his rounds, occasionally adding a TaylorMade P·760 2-, 3- or 4-iron based on the course setup and conditions. Those clubs, which Jon Rahm played when he was a TaylorMade staff player, were released in 2018, so it was noteworthy when McIlroy was spotted on the range preparing for the start of the Valero Texas Open with a prototype TaylorMade 4-iron.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5TrRsAAW4z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

McIlroy was asked about the club during his pre-tournament press conference.

“So after I went to Vegas, I went out to The Kingdom [TaylorMade’s test center in Carlsbad, California] for two days. I needed to get into a fresh set of irons, my irons were like two years old maybe, so they were getting a little worn,” McIlroy explained. “They just produced these couple of proto, I guess like are they the MC replacements maybe, I think? I’m not sure what they’re actually going to be called. Yeah, I have no idea.”

Commenting on how the 4-iron played, McIlroy said, “They performed really well. It’s just as fast as the 760 that I was using. Launch is a little higher actually, which was surprising, and it’s just sometimes I felt like when I hit my 5-iron in the blade and then the 4-iron in the 760, it was such a different feel. To go from a 5-iron now to that 4-iron, it feels a little closer to what I feel in the 5-iron. So just a little bit more responsive, but didn’t lose any performance from it, which is great. Yeah, it will be in the bag this week.”

As a true muscleback blade, McIlroy’s RORS Proto irons have extra mass low in the head, behind the area where he makes contact with the ball, but his prototype 4-iron is clearly a better player’s cavity back iron. The current P•7MC has a very similar shape and similar milling design on the back of the head, as well.

McIlroy’s prototype is fitted with the same Project X 7.0 Rifle shaft and Golf Pride MCC grip as his other irons and wedges. 

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Photos: PGA Tour’s 2024 Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio

Check out the best photos from the week.

It’s the final stop of a Texas two step before the season’s first major championship.

The PGA Tour is in San Antonio, Texas, for the 2024 Valero Texas Open. TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course is the host, and Corey Conners is the defending champion. He has two PGA Tour victories, and both have come at the Valero.

Also in the field are world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, past champion Jordan Spieth and many others looking to get their final Masters prep in.

Coming out on top was Akshay Bhatia after he survived a back-nine rally and playoff against Denny McCarthy.

Here’s a look at the best photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open.

How does Billy Horschel muster inspiration from Taylor Swift? He just stays ‘Fearless’

“Listen, Taylor Swift is massive in my household.”

Billy Horschel is a warrior. A PGA Tour player known for a fiery side and a willingness to speak his mind, the University of Florida product is not one to back down from a battle.

But in his house, Horschel is outnumbered. And since he knows what’s good for him, the 2014 FedEx Cup champion figured if he was going to acquiesce on a topic, it might as well be Taylor Swift. See, the 14-time Grammy winner is a big deal in the Horschel home, where daughters Skylar and Colbie and wife Brittany are all big fans.

“Listen, Taylor Swift is massive in my household. My girls went to a Taylor Swift concert last year in Atlanta with my wife and they are massive Swifties,” Horschel explained.

So, he’s not sure what planted the seed in his head — perhaps it was pre-teens playing a Swift-heavy playlist — but Horschel seemed to inadvertently channel his inner-Swiftie when he turned to his wife and said he needed to play with a little more reckless abandon on the golf course.

“I sort of had a dream I think Sunday night of Players, woke up Monday morning and we were talking about Valspar,” Horschel recalled. “Before I left that Monday morning, I said yeah, I think I’m just going to put a Sharpie on my left wrist that says ‘fearless’ because I had a dream seeing fearless on my left wrist. She said, ‘Well, I’ll just make you a bracelet,’ so she made me a bracelet. I didn’t realize this either, I don’t think my wife realized it at the time, I guess Taylor Swift’s second or third album is ‘Fearless’ and she has a song ‘Fearless.’ I’m not the biggest Swiftie.

“I get asked about it a lot from the fans now when I sign autographs, they ask if I’m a Swiftie or are they friendship bracelets or anything. It’s a cool little thing, but also just puts me in the right mind frame of when I’m playing golf of what I want to be thinking about.”

Horschel has clearly been playing with less fear on the golf course in recent days, posting four top-25 finishes in his first eight starts this season, including a T-7 at the Texas Childrens Houston Open last weekend in which he posted a 64 on Sunday to climb near the top of the leaderboard.

Heading into this week’s Valero Texas Open, a place where he’s traditionally finished strong, the seven-time PGA Tour winner feels like he’s, well, 22.

“The game’s been in a really good spot all year. You look at the stats in every department, it’s in a really good spot. It’s sort of been more or less getting out of my own way. I say getting out of my own way,” Horschel said. “When you hit shots that you’re not accustomed to hitting the way I did last year, you start to have some mental little demons in there a little bit, so I’ve had to clear those out and replace them with better golf shots.

“We’re just trying to build the momentum. Over my career historically, we can go back around look, I tend to play well as I build momentum. My wins come from playing well multiple weeks in a row and that’s how it’s always been in my career. So hopefully I can continue to build that momentum until that victory pops up again.”

Billy Horschel of the United States watches his shot from the first tee during the final round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course on March 31, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images)

Horschel has extra motivation to win at TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course. For just the second time since 2014, he’s not in the field for the Masters, meaning he’ll need a victory to make his 10th appearance in the April major.

It adds pressure, certainly, but the vet knows he’s locked in at the right time.

“Yeah, I’m not in Augusta and my main focus this week is to win,” he said. “Listen, I’m not very happy that I’m not in Augusta. I’ve been fortunate enough to play there quite a few times, and I play the game of golf because I want to create a legacy, that’s all I’ve ever cared about. The money aspect is great, but I’ve always understood that if you play well and you win golf tournaments, the financial side takes care of itself. I want to be remembered for what I did on the golf course and winning golf tournaments and winning golf tournaments that you can put your name next to legends in the game of golf and players that are the best in that generation that you’re playing against.

“I’m not happy that I’m not in Augusta or any of the majors as we sit here right now, but listen, it’s my own fault. I can’t do anything about that, I didn’t play well last year, but the great thing is this game of golf gives you opportunities to correct that wrong and I’m trying the best I can right now to make up for a bad year last year and get myself back to where I feel like I deserve to be in the game of golf or I want to be in the game of golf.”

2024 Valero Texas Open Thursday tee times, PGA Tour pairings and how to watch

The purse at the Valero is $9.2 million with $1.656 million going to the winner.

It’s time for the final Masters tune-up.

The 2024 Valero Texas Open kicks off Thursday from TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course. The par-72, 7,438-yard layout will test plenty of the PGA Tour’s best, including Rory McIlroy, Max Homa, Hideki Matsuyama, Jordan Speith and numerous others.

Corey Conners is the defending champion, and the Valero is where he has captured both of his Tour titles.

The purse at the Valero is $9.2 million with $1.656 million going to the winner. The winner will also receive 500 FedEx Cup points.

Valero: Odds, picks to win

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the first round of the 2024 Valero Texas Open. All times listed are ET.

Thursday tee times

1st tee

Tee time Players
8:20 a.m.
Patrick Rodgers, Justin Lower, Vince Whaley
8:31 a.m.
Michael Kim, Taylor Pendrith, Andrew Novak
8:42 a.m.
Mark Hubbard, Sam Ryder, Carl Yuan
8:53 a.m.
Erik van Rooyen, Chad Ramey, Matt Kuchar
9:04 a.m.
Nicho Echavarria, Ryan Brehm, Brandt Snedeker
9:15 a.m.
Davis Riley, Cameron Champ, J.B. Holmes
9:26 a.m.
Vincent Norrman, Semaus Power, K.H. Lee
9:37 a.m.
Greyson Sigg, David Thompson, Ben Taylor
9:48 a.m.
David Lipsky, Dylan Wu, Ryan Fox
9:59 a.m.
Padraig Harrington, Beau Hossler, Tyson Alexander
10:10 a.m.
Nicolas Lindheim, Ryo Hisatsune, Chris Gotterup
10:21 a.m.
Alejandro Tosti, Parker Coody, Wilson Furr
10:32 a.m.
Harrison Endycott, Kevin Dougherty, Alex Welch
1:35 p.m.
Alex Smalley, Hayden Buckley, Taylor Montgomery
1:46 p.m.
Keith Mitchell, Ben Martin, Brandon Wu
1:57 p.m.
Tyler Duncan, Bud Cauley, Robby Shelton
2:08 p.m.
Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Tommy Fleetwood
2:19 p.m.
Hideki Matsuyama, Lucas Glover, Jordan Spieth
2:30 p.m.
Tom Kim, Akshay Bhatia, Russell Henley
2:41 p.m.
Austin Eckroat, Grayson Murray, Adam Schenk
2:52 p.m.
Kevin Streelman, Bronson Burgoon, Harry Hall
3:03 p.m.
Alex Noren, S.H. Kim, Kevin Yu
3:14 p.m.
C.T. Pan, Kevin Chappell, Byeong Hun An
3:25 p.m.
Chan Kim, Mac Meissner, Rico Hoey
3:36 p.m.
Thorbjorn Oleson, David Skinns, Peter Kuest
3:47 p.m.
Jacob Bridgeman, Raul Pereda, Joe Sullivan

10th tee

Tee time Player
8:20 a.m.
Andrew Putnam, Jhonattan Vegas, Ryan moore
8:31 a.m.
Ryan Palmer, Aaron Rai, Roger Sloan
8:42 a.m.
Charley Hoffman, Maverick McNealy, Nicolai Hojgaard
8:53 a.m.
Collin Morikawa, Corey Conners, Max Homa
9:04 a.m.
Brian Harman, Matt Fitzpatrick, Adam Scott
9:15 a.m.
Ludvig Aberg, Harris English, Joel Dahmen
9:26 a.m.
Billy Horschel, J.J. Spaun, Zach Johnson
9:37 a.m.
Andrew Landry, Troy Merritt, Eric Cole
9:48 a.m.
Denny McCarthy, Doug Ghim, Scott Gutschewski
9:59 a.m.
Adam Long, Jimmy Walker, Chandler Phillips
10:10 a.m.
Rafael Campos, Erik Barnes, Joe Highsmith
10:21 a.m.
Ben Silverman, Patrick Fishburn, Blaine Hale, Jr.
10:32 a.m.
Jimmy Stanger, Paul Barjon, Hayden Springer
1:35 p.m.
Luke Donald, Ben Griffin, Matti Schmid
1:46 p.m.
Martin Laird, Aaron Baddeley, Zac Blair
1:57 p.m.
Lanto Griffin, Nate Lashley, Joseph Bramlett
2:08 p.m.
Lee Hodges, Nick Hardy, Kevin Kisner
2:19 p.m.
Adam Svensson, Chez Reavie, Webb Simpson
2:30 p.m.
Camilo Villegas, Stewart Cink, Brendon Todd
2:41 p.m.
Garrick Higgo, Chesson Hadley, Carson Young
2:52 p.m.
Matt NeSmith, Josh Teater, Sam Stevens
3:03 p.m.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Callum Tarren, Ben Kohles
3:14 p.m.
Alexander Bjork, Trace Crowe, Tom Whitney
3:25 p.m.
Victor Perez, Norman Xiong, Jorge Campillo
3:36 p.m.
Pierceson Coody, Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Ben Willman
3:47 p.m.
Max Greyserman, Ryan McCormick, Tom Adrounie

How to watch, listen

ESPN+ is the exclusive home of PGA Tour Live. You can also watch the Valero Texas Open on Golf Channel free on Fubo. All times ET.

Thursday, April 4

Golf Channel/Peacock: 4-7 p.m.

Sirius XM: 1-7 p.m

ESPN+: 8:15 a.m.-7 p.m

Friday, April 5

Golf Channel/Peacock: 4-7 p.m

Sirius XM: 1-7 p.m

ESPN+: 8:15 a.m.-7 p.m

Saturday, April 6

Golf Channel/Peacock: 1-3:30 p.m

NBC: 3:30-6 p.m.

Sirius XM: 3-6 p.m

ESPN+: 10 a.m.-6 p.m

Sunday, April 7

Golf Channel/Peacock: 1-2:30 p.m

NBC: 2:30-6 p.m.

Sirius XM: 1-6 p.m

ESPN+: 10 a.m.-6 p.m

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