Tag: Valero Texas Open

Valero Texas Open Saturday tee times, TV and streaming info

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for Saturday’s third round of the Valero Texas Open.

While a lot of eyes will be on Augusta, Georgia, this week and next, there’s still plenty worth watching this week in Texas.

The Valero Texas Open returns to TPC San Antonio this week ahead of the first men’s major of the year. The Oaks Course, designed by Greg Norman with Sergio Garcia as a consultant, has hosted the Valero Texas Open since its opening year of 2010.

Cameron Tringale leads by two shots through 36 holes after carding a 3-under 69 on Friday. Matt Wallace and Jordan Spieth are T-2 at 7 under. Kevin Stadler, Kyle Stanley, Erik van Rooyen and Brandt Snedeker are T-4 at 5 under. Six golfers including Matt Kuchar are T-8 at 4 under.

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

Valero Texas Open: Leaderboard | Yardage book

Valero Texas Open tee times

1st tee

Tee Time Players
10:43 a.m. Charl Schwartzel, Rickie Fowler, Keegan Bradley
10:54 a.m. Martin Trainer, Si Woo Kim, Matthew NeSmith
11:05 a.m. Ryan Palmer, Luke List, Padraig Harrington
11:16 a.m. Kyoung-Hoon Lee, Ryan Moore, Gary Woodland
11:27 a.m. Pat Perez, Adam Hadwin, Sepp Straka
11:38 a.m. Cameron Davis, Seung-Yul Noh, Nick Taylor
11:49 a.m. Sung Kang, Sebastián Muñoz, Chase Seiffert
12 p.m. Hideki Matsuyama, Keith Mitchell, Charley Hoffman
12:11 p.m. Doc Redman, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Rory Sabbatini
12:22 p.m. Lucas Glover, Brandon Hagy, Anirban Lahiri
12:33 p.m. Brandt Snedeker, Matt Kuchar, Camilo Villegas
12:44 p.m. Kevin Stadler, Kyle Stanley, Erik van Rooyen
12:55 p.m. Cameron Tringale, Matt Wallace, Jordan Spieth

10th tee

Tee Time Players
10:43 a.m. Jimmy Walker, Tyler Duncan, Chris Kirk
10:54 a.m. Tom Hoge, John Huh, Martin Laird
11:05 a.m. Chesson Hadley, Vincent Whaley, Joseph Bramlett
11:16 a.m. Denny McCarthy, Tom Lewis, Abraham Ancer
11:27 a.m. Troy Merritt, Corey Conners, Graeme McDowell
11:38 a.m. Aaron Wise, Patton Kizzire, D.J. Trahan
11:49 a.m. Vaughn Taylor, Greyson Sigg, Sebastian Cappelen
12 p.m. Will Gordon, K.J. Choi, Kelly Kraft
12:11 p.m. Joel Dahmen, Cameron Champ, Lanto Griffin
12:22 p.m. Beau Hossler, Doug Ghim, Kris Ventura
12:33 p.m. Sam Fidone, Ben Martin, Scottie Scheffler
12:44 p.m. Branden Grace, Brendan Steele, Scott Stallings
12:55 p.m. Bo Van Pelt, Rafael Campos, Tain Lee

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How to watch

Saturday, April 3

TV

Golf Channel (Watch for free on fuboTV): 1-3:30 p.m.
NBC: 3:30-6 p.m.

STREAMING

PGA Tour Live: 8:15 a.m.-6 p.m.
Twitter: 8:15-9:30 a.m.

RADIO

PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.

Sunday, April 4

TV

Golf Channel (Watch for free on fuboTV): 1-2:30 p.m.
NBC: 2:30-6 p.m.

STREAMING

PGA Tour Live: 8:15 a.m.-6 p.m.
Twitter: 8:15-9:30 a.m.

RADIO

PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.

We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.

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Cameron Tringale has been sneaky good this year. Will he breakthrough this weekend?

Tringale is off to his best start in years, bouncing back from the horror of being disqualified from last summer’s PGA Championship.

SAN ANTONIO — Surprised to see Cameron Tringale’s name hovering around the top of the leaderboard through two days at the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open?

You shouldn’t be.

Tringale is off to his best start in years, bouncing back from the horror of being disqualified from last summer’s PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park when he signed for a score lower than what he actually made. That marked the second time he DQd from a PGA Championship — in 2014, a guilt-ridden Tringale called the PGA Tour a week later and disqualified himself after finishing T-36 at Valhalla and earning $53,000. He claimed to have missed a stroke when attempting to tap in on the 11th hole of the final round.

But ever since last August’s faux pas, Tringale has been flying somewhat under the radar in the process. In 14 starts this season, the California native has made 11 cuts and finished in the top 25 on six different occasions, including a third-place finish at November’s RSM Classic and a T-7 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February.

Valero Texas Open: Leaderboard | Photos

And during Friday’s second round on the TPC San Antonio Oaks Course, Tringale showed just how good his form has been of late — following a pair of bogeys and a par by ripping off five straight birdies to grab the lead. It marked the fourth time he’s ever turned that trick, the last one coming at the aforementioned RSM Classic.

Tringale said his approaches were the key.

“I knew I made a nice birdie on 13, a tough par 3. But then 14 was a pretty easy, easy hole today. Then I just hit a lot of really good iron shots to those holes. I think my furthest putt was four feet after 13, so just good approaches to the green. Still gotta roll those in, but was able to do it,” he said. “I was 2 over through two, so I was really just trying to get back into the round and get into the red numbers again. I think when those things start to happen, you’re just kind of focused on where you’re at.

“But then I looked back and I thought, wow, that was five in a row and I didn’t even birdie 18, which is probably the easiest of all of them.”

Valero Texas Open: Leaderboard | Yardage book

Tringale has enjoyed success at the Valero before — he had two top 10 finishes early in his career (5th in 2011 and 8th in 2012). He also joins Charley Hoffman and Jimmy Walker as the only players to have played the event every year for the last decade. Both Hoffman and Walker have Valero titles during that span. (Hoffman, for the record, shot a 66 on Friday to get to 3 under for the tournament.)

But Tringale knows he’s only halfway home, and it will take stellar play over the final two days to earn his second PGA Tour victory — a team win with Jason Day at the 2014 Franklin Templeton (now QBE) Shootout is his only other one.

“My takeaway was that it was a good day. I made a lot of birdies and took advantage of when I was in the fairway, I took advantage most of the time. Except for the last hole, I kept it in play and just had a lot of looks and a few went in,” he said. “I’d like to hit a few more fairways. My driver was just kind of leaking left, or not fading back. Hit a few extra drives tomorrow. But other than that, I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing.”

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Luke Donald says retirement has ‘crossed my mind’; still delivers inspirational Good Friday message

Donald opened the Valero Texas Open with a 77. Still, he had an inspirational Good Friday message.

SAN ANTONIO — Things haven’t gone well for five-time PGA Tour champ and former World No. 1 Luke Donald of late, as he’s failed to make the cut in each of the last eight events he’s played.

And they don’t look any rosier after he stumbled to a 77 in the opening round of the Valero Texas Open on Thursday.

After closing the day by knocking his ball into the water and taking double-bogey on the par-5 finishing hole, Donald was asked by a friend if he was ready to hang things up.

“I was caught off guard a little, to be honest. Sure it’s crossed my mind from time to time in moments when I’m down on myself if I want to keep doing this — who wouldn’t get frustrated when you are working hard and not seeing the results,” Donald said in an Instagram post.

But then he opened the window on his hotel room this Good Friday and realized how fortunate he is.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNKnph8sEwS/?igshid=eammz35a6ebv

“But as I pulled back my curtains from my hotel room this morning and saw this beautiful sunrise, all I could think about was what a great opportunity I have today to do something great & how fortunate I am to be doing it. Most of the time, I feel pretty encouraged with my game, it really doesn’t feel very far away — the difference between success and failure is so minimal at the level I play,” he said.

Donald was No. 1 in the world back in 2011, the year he led the PGA Tour in earnings. But he hasn’t won since the 2012 Transitions Championship (now Valspar) in Tampa and has earned just $30,210 in 12 starts on the PGA Tour this season.

Donald is scheduled to go off for his second round in San Antonio at 1:04 p.m. CT.

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Watch: Phil Mickelson blows up with a 10 on the final hole at Valero Texas Open

Between a pair of penalties and some rough bounces, Mickelson tied his highest score on a PGA Tour hole, finishing with a 10.

SAN ANTONIO — Before Jordan Spieth announced he’d be playing the Valero Texas Open, the biggest draw in the field was Phil Mickelson.

On Thursday, that big draw put up a mighty big score.

Between a pair of penalties and some rough bounces, Mickelson tied his second-highest score on a PGA Tour hole, finishing with a 10 and ending the day at 79.

The par-5 closing hole at TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course has a creek that runs along the right side of the green and down through the fairway. Mickelson, who bombed a drive 306 yards into a perfect position, tried to reach the green in two, but just missed as his ball bounced into the creek.

And that was just the beginning.

After taking a penalty, Mickelson’s fourth shot came up short and rolled back into the rough below the green. His fifth failed to get on the green as did his sixth. His seventh shot hit the rock facade and rolled back behind him into a hazard. Another penalty ensued and Mickelson then ran one to the back of the green.

In typical Phil fashion, he then buried a tricky 15-foot putt to make 10.

Is it something about pre-Masters Texas tournaments? Back in November at the Vivint Houston Open, which was also the week before Augusta, Mickelson’s final round included an 8 on the 9th hole, the highest score he has ever recorded on a par 3.

Mickelson’s highest number in Tour play came at Pebble Beach in 2008 when he scored an 11.

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Valero Texas Open Friday tee times, TV and streaming info

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

While a lot of eyes will be on Augusta, Georgia, this week and next, there’s still plenty worth watching this week in Texas.

The Valero Texas Open returns to TPC San Antonio this week ahead of the first men’s major of the year. The Oaks Course, designed by Greg Norman with Sergio Garcia as a consultant, has hosted the Valero Texas Open since its opening year of 2010.

Jordan Spieth riled up golf fans once again with an opening-round, 5-under 67 but still finds himself three shots behind leader Camilo Villegas.

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

Valero Texas Open: Leaderboard | Yardage book

Valero Texas Open tee times

1st tee

Tee Time Players
8:25 a.m. Nick Watney, Luke List, Will Gordon
8:36 a.m. Seung-Yul Noh, K.J. Choi, Sam Burns
8:47 a.m. Padraig Harrington, Kelly Kraft, Harry Higgs
8:58 a.m. Sung Kang, Martin Trainer, Henrik Stenson
9:09 a.m. Nick Taylor, Austin Cook, Kevin Stadler
9:20 a.m. Martin Laird, Russell Knox, Jim Furyk
9:31 a.m. Sebastián Muñoz, Pat Perez, Zach Johnson
9:42 a.m. Adam Hadwin, Hunter Mahan, Beau Hossler
9:53 a.m. Jhonattan Vegas, Matthew NeSmith, Doug Ghim
10:04 a.m. Camilo Villegas, Lucas Glover, Brandon Hagy
10:15 a.m. Hank Lebioda, Kris Ventura, Sam Fidone
10:26 a.m. Vincent Whaley, Carlos Sainz Jr, Patrick Grimes
1:20 p.m.
Anirban Lahiri, Sepp Straka, Kyoung-Hoon Lee
1:31 p.m. Henrik Norlander, Doc Redman, Adam Schenk
1:42 p.m. Ben Martin, Abraham Ancer, Cameron Davis
1:53 p.m. Gary Woodland, Rickie Fowler, Scottie Scheffler
2:04 p.m. Ryan Palmer, Corey Conners, Jordan Spieth
2:15 p.m. Andrew Landry, Keegan Bradley, Jimmy Walker
2:26 p.m. Branden Grace, Brendan Steele, Kevin Chappell
2:37 p.m. Graeme McDowell, Aaron Wise, D.A. Points
2:48 p.m. Chris Kirk, Scott Stallings, Patrick Rodgers
2:59 p.m. Vaughn Taylor, Peter Malnati, Scott Brown
3:10 p.m. Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Kramer Hickok, Greyson Sigg
3:21 p.m. Rafael Campos, J.J. Killeen, Tain Lee

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10th tee

Tee Time Players
8:25 a.m. John Huh, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Xinjun Zhang
8:36 a.m. Harold Varner III, Robby Shelton, Scott Harrington
8:47 a.m. Brian Stuard, Rory Sabbatini, Byeong Hun An
8:58 a.m. Joel Dahmen, Cameron Champ, Tony Finau
9:09 a.m. Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar, Hideki Matsuyama
9:20 a.m. J.B. Holmes, Andrew Putnam, Davis Love III
9:31 a.m. Si Woo Kim, Lanto Griffin, Adam Long
9:42 a.m. Brian Gay, Nate Lashley, Keith Mitchell
9:53 a.m. Kyle Stanley, Charley Hoffman, Charl Schwartzel
10:04 a.m. Chesson Hadley, Cameron Tringale, Chase Seiffert
10:15 a.m. Matt Wallace, Ryan Brehm, Akshay Bhatia
10:26 a.m. Rob Oppenheim, Joseph Bramlett, Mac Meissner
1:20 p.m.
Denny McCarthy, Tom Lewis, Bernd Wiesberger
1:31 p.m. Ryan Moore, Sean O’Hair, Bo Hoag
1:42 p.m. Cameron Percy, Sam Ryder, Erik van Rooyen
1:53 p.m. Charles Howell III, Troy Merritt, Jason Dufner
2:04 p.m. Michael Kim, Brice Garnett, Luke Donald
2:15 p.m. Ryan Armour, Wesley Bryan, Danny Lee
2:26 p.m. Brandt Snedeker, Satoshi Kodaira, Danny Willett
2:37 p.m. Tyler Duncan, Ted Potter, Jr., Patton Kizzire
2:48 p.m. Bo Van Pelt, D.J. Trahan, David Hearn
2:59 p.m. Tom Hoge, J.J. Spaun, Bronson Burgoon
3:10 p.m. Roger Sloan, Rhein Gibson, Sam Bennett
3:21 p.m. Michael Gligic, Sebastian Cappelen, Austin Eckroat

How to watch

Friday, April 2

TV

Golf Channel (Watch for free on fuboTV): 4-7 p.m.

STREAMING

PGA Tour Live: 8:15 a.m.-7 p.m.
Twitter: 8:15-9:30 a.m.

RADIO

PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM: 1-7 p.m.

Saturday, April 3

TV

Golf Channel (Watch for free on fuboTV): 1-3:30 p.m.
NBC: 3:30-6 p.m.

STREAMING

PGA Tour Live: 8:15 a.m.-6 p.m.
Twitter: 8:15-9:30 a.m.

RADIO

PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.

Sunday, April 4

TV

Golf Channel (Watch for free on fuboTV): 1-2:30 p.m.
NBC: 2:30-6 p.m.

STREAMING

PGA Tour Live: 8:15 a.m.-6 p.m.
Twitter: 8:15-9:30 a.m.

RADIO

PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.

We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.

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Look out: Jordan Spieth’s 67 at the Valero Texas Open came despite ‘really bad contact’

Jordan Spieth insisted he simply couldn’t make good contact, yet he still posted the best number of the early players on Thursday.

SAN ANTONIO — The good news for those hoping to catch the suddenly dangerous Jordan Spieth at this week’s Valero Texas Open is the betting favorite closed his opening round on Thursday with a bogey, wrapping the day with an impressive but not necessarily dominant 67.

But there’s bad news for the rest of the field at TPC San Antonio, as well — Spieth insisted he simply couldn’t make good contact most of the day, yet he still posted the best number of the early players taking on the Oaks Course.

In fact, after needing a provisional on No. 9 — his final hole of the day — he turned to longtime caddie Michael Greller in disbelief.

“I was telling him, ‘man, I just can’t find the center of the face right now.’ I hit that one as much off the heel as the one before,” Spieth said. “It was just kind of an off-day on contact.”

Spieth didn’t need his best to jump out to the early lead, posting three birdies on his first five holes of the day. And while the former Texas Longhorn wasn’t thrilled with his performance on Thursday, he feels like things are round into form at just the right time — with the Masters fast approaching on the schedule.

Valero Texas Open: Leaderboard | Yardage book

And while the ball might not have felt right coming off the club on Thursday, Spieth is fine with the results.

“I certainly would have signed up for 5 under starting out. I felt like I played some really nice golf on our front nine, the back nine. Then just kind of got a little loose off the tee on the front nine, our second nine, and was able to kind of make due. I hit some decent drives, ended up in iffy spots,” he said. “Overall, I just chipped and putted really well, which was the difference-maker today. I didn’t quite hit it as good as I have been, but certainly the short game came through. Just kind of put a little more emphasis on that this week, so kind of a little balancing act right now trying to get enough work in on all facets of the game.”

Spieth, who won the Masters back in 2015, still doesn’t have a Tour victory in nearly five years, but he keeps inching closer with each outing. But Thursdays haven’t presented a problem in 2021: Spieth has fired a 70 or better in the opening round of every tournament he’s played this calendar year. He hit just six of 14 fairways and nine of 18 greens, but needed just 23 putts on the day, including a 21-footer on No. 12.

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So a little work might put him on track to snap that drought. Fellow Texas alum Scottie Scheffler — who reached the finals of last week’s WGC Dell Technologies Match Play — was right behind Spieth with a 68 as was Tom Hoge after the early group finished.

But Spieth is playing a numbers game at this point, putting himself in positions to succeed. And speaking of numbers, he knows he’s just a fraction off from where he needs to be.

“I’ve got all afternoon to figure that out on the range. I had really bad contact today. Normally, even if I don’t necessarily strike the ball well, normally I’m hitting it close to the middle of the face,” Spieth said. “The rest of the swing, I mean, I feel like I’m swinging the same and out in front of it and putting a good move on it. I just, when you’re off by five, six millimeters off of contact on either side, it will affect that ball flight and get you thinking a little more.”

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The urban legend of TPC San Antonio’s ‘Sergio tees’ (and will they ever be used again?)

A small path off the 16th tee leads to a gnarled live oak. Ask any of the members about the area and a smile instantly comes to their faces.

SAN ANTONIO — The 16th tee box at TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course sits perched with a stunning view of the green and the vast JW Marriott resort behind it.

The vista is so good, in fact, it’s the spot they’ve chosen to place a white Lexus — one waiting for any player at the Valero Texas Open to take it home with an ace on the 183-yard par 3.  The area is a hub of activity due to a number of cabanas, a nearby fan shop and its proximity to the main entrance.

And when smaller-than-normal crowds follow names like Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler on this Central Texas course this week, they’ll shuffle past a small path just off the 16th tee that leads down behind a stunning, gnarled live oak.

For those with little knowledge of the course, it’s insignificant.

But ask any of the members about the area and a smile instantly comes to their faces.

“You mean the Sergio tees?” one member said on Thursday. “Trust me, we all know about the Sergio tees.”

Valero Texas Open: Leaderboard | Yardage book

A pair of courses sit in Cibolo Canyon, about 20 miles north of the famous Riverwalk. The Canyons Course — home of the PGA Tour Champions AT&T Championship from 2011 to 2015 — was designed by Pete Dye, who used Bruce Lietzke as his player consultant.

But the Oaks Course was designed by Greg Norman, in consultation with Sergio Garcia. At the time Norman was working through the project, Garcia was dating his daughter, Morgan-Leigh Norman. The two split up, however, before TPC San Antonio officially opened in 2010.

According to the urban legend told by members, Garcia was not extensively involved as the project neared completion, but one of his major contributions to the course was an alternate tee box on 16, which is still rudimentarily maintained, but never set up for live play.

A view from the alternate ‘Sergio tees’ off the 16th tee at TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course. Sergio Garcia is said to have come up with the idea for the box, although it’s not used during the Valero Texas Open. (Photo by Tim Schmitt/Golfweek)

For those who play the course regularly, the Sergio tees often provide an added level of excitement.

“I’d say we only play over there one in every 20 times,” said member Aaron Imler of San Antonio, who has been a member of TPC San Antonio for eight years. “But if it’s a big-money game and we want to mix it up, we’ll use it. And it makes things interesting.”

The Sergio tees play over a pond (immaterial for Tour players) and a series of bunkers. It makes the hole considerably more difficult, even if it shortens things a bit.

“If the pin is on the left side of that green, the angle is really difficult,” Imler said. “There’s no way to get to it. You almost have to play right, take your medicine and try to make par.”

The Sergio tees have only been used once at the Valero Texas Open, during a single round of the 2010 event — the year the tournament ended a 15-year run at La Cantera Golf Club and moved to TPC San Antonio. Adam Scott won that year, holding off Fredrik Jacobson for the victory.

According to numerous people asked on Thursday, there are no plans to include the Sergio tees in any future event.

Imler, for one, thinks that’s a shame.

“They really should use them,” he said, while taking in the first round on Thursday. “The members would sure get a kick out of it, but it would also make things interesting for the players. They wouldn’t know where it’s going to be each day.”

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Joel Dahmen says a Las Vegas bachelor party cleared his head for first PGA Tour victory

Dahmen went to meet some buddies in Sin City for a long-planned bachelor party. Then he went out and won his first PGA Tour title.

Joel Dahmen was in a slump. Missing the cut in six of seven tournaments at the start of the calendar year, the University of Washington product had slipped out of the 125 on the FedEx Cup standings for the first time in years.

He needed something to help kick him from his funk. Something to completely clear his mind and make him forget about the PGA Tour grind.

He needed … Vegas, baby.

Rather than playing in the Honda Classic, Dahmen went to meet some buddies in Sin City for a long-planned bachelor party. The result was favorable — Dahmen returned to action in the Dominican Republic and captured his first PGA Tour title at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship.

“We went to Vegas for two nights last weekend and reset the system, had plenty of fun. We played golf, we played at TPC Summerlin and we played at Shadow Creek. We had a blast,” Dahmen said on Wednesday in advance of this week’s Valero Texas Open. “I actually played really well on Saturday at Shadow Creek and I was kind of chirping at the guys, this is the day it’s going to turn around for me, kind of jokingly through a couple cocktails maybe, but I really did believe it was going to turn around.

“Getting away from the game for a couple days, like really getting away from it. I didn’t follow any of the Honda. Normally, I watch golf on Sundays. I watched Matt Jones, I know — huge win for him after a long time. But I just was totally checked out from the whole thing, so when I showed up in Puntacana on Monday, it was kind of a fresh start for me.”

VALERO TEXAS OPEN: Tee times, TV | Odds | Fantasy

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Dahmen, one of the more affable players on Tour, finally got that elusive first victory by virtue of some scintillating play amid the island breezes. And while some players come on Tour and find instant success, Dahmen said that’s not the norm for most professional golfers, many who toil as he has for years, hoping to finally find their way into the winner’s circle.

“Most people see Viktor Hovland and (Collin) Morikawa and (Matthew) Wolff and these young guys come right out of college and they win right away and they’re top 20 in the world and winning majors,” Dahmen said. “That’s not reality. The reality is you’re going to go through mini-tours for a little bit. I was fortunate enough to play the PGA Tour Canada, actually was up there for five years. The first couple years I was just kind of a kid dinking around, and then for the Korn Ferry Tour for two years, played out there.

“You learn to travel, you learn to do all these things so when you are out here, it’s not as big a shock and that helps a lot, too.”

Joel Dahmen
Joel Dahmen poses with the trophy after winning the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship on March 28, 2021 in Punta Cana. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

This week, he comes into the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio’s Oak Course with renewed vigor, on a track he thinks he can score on.

Dahmen hasn’t enjoyed much success at this venue — in fact, his final round in 2019 was an 80 as he dropped to 69th place — but he does believe it could be the perfect spot for another high finish.

“On paper, this course sets up pretty well for me. I think as far as the metrics of it and all the data, it says I should be able to play well here,” he said. “I’m not a long hitter, so obviously that’s a big advantage to hit the ball far. But you have to place it around these greens, and the wind typically blows so you have to control your golf ball as well.

“I don’t know how hard it’s supposed to blow this week, but obviously it blew really hard last week and (Wednesday) in the pro-am it blew. It’s blowing just as hard, it’s blowing 25 plus out there. Maybe that will kind of help me playing windy conditions last week.”

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When Scottie Scheffler last played the Valero he was hoping to get a Tour card; now he’s expected to win it

Scheffler is one of the betting favorites for the Valero Texas Open, with his odds to win the event trailing only those of Jordan Spieth.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Twenty-four months. That’s how long ago a wide-eyed Scottie Scheffler stepped to the first tee at TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course, hoping to earn his PGA Tour card.

To say the expectations surrounding the University of Texas product have changed a wee bit in that time frame is an understatement.

Coming off a stellar performance at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in which he reached the final before falling to Billy Horschel, Scheffler has made his way to this week’s Valero Texas Open as one of the betting favorites, with his odds to win the event trailing only those of fellow Longhorn Jordan Spieth.

Not bad for a guy who was simply hoping to become a regular two short years ago.

“I think it’s awesome people have that confidence in me, I definitely have always had that confidence in myself,” Scheffler said on Tuesday. “It’s definitely a little strange coming from — I think I played this event in 2019 when I was playing on the Web and I was just hoping to get my Tour card — and so just to have the opportunity to play in this event was awesome.

“Now, just playing a full schedule and coming out here with my game in pretty good shape, I definitely expect myself to be there late on Sunday with a chance to win.”

The last time Scheffler appeared at the Valero, his game was on an upswing, arriving just days after a second-place finish at the then-Web.com Tour’s Savannah Golf Championship. Scheffler played the Valero on a sponsor’s exemption, but using a 68 on Friday he made the cut and then played solidly in finishing the event at 9 under, good enough to tie for 20th.

The payday was, at the time, his largest on the PGA Tour at $90,500. To put that in perspective, for placing second in Austin last week he received $1,150,000.

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And it’s not just Scheffler’s bank account that’s grown, it’s also his stature among Tour players. Where Scheffler was simply a big, strong Texas prodigy the last time he came to San Antonio, he’s already earned the respect of others.

Finishing fourth in his FedEx Cup playoff debut and jumping to No. 22 in the Official World Golf Ranking tends to do that for a guy.

“It definitely feels a little bit different when you have proven yourself a little bit and I’ve kind of moved my way up in the world rankings, moved my way up in the FedExCup. I had a good finish in the FedExCup last year,” Scheffler said. “So I think the sense is definitely a little bit different in that I feel more like I belong with those guys, I’m not really on the outside looking in.

“But there are a lot of guys out here that have won a lot of big tournaments and I’m still looking to do that as well, so in that sense I’m still on the outside looking in.”

Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler reacts to sinking a putt on the second playoff hole to win his playoff match against Xander Schauffele at the 2021 World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 26, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo: Darren Carroll/Getty Images)

Win or lose this week, Scheffler is eager to take another crack at a Texas event, especially after the overwhelming support he received last week at Austin Country Club.

“I don’t know if it necessarily gives us an advantage, but I love being able to play in our home state. I think it’s great. I love being here in Texas, the food is great, people are great, crowds are wonderful,” Scheffler said. “So for me, if there’s an event in Texas, as long as it somewhat fits in my schedule, I’m going to work it in somehow.

“I mean, I love playing in our home state. I would say just as an excitement factor, I’m sure it’s an advantage for us just getting amped up to play in the home state.”

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2021 Valero Texas Open matchups, placings and first-round leader predictions

Check out prop bets for the PGA Tour’s 2021 Valero Texas Open.

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The Valero Texas Open is the final opportunity for PGA Tour pros to tune-up for the 2021 Masters Tournament, and is an opportunity for others to grab one of the final remaining invitations to Augusta National Golf Club. Below, we’ll look for the best value bets in the 2021 Valero Texas Open odds, with tournament matchups, placings and first-round leader PGA Tour picks and predictions.

TPC San Antonio hosts this tournament once again. Corey Conners, who’s 24th in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings, returns to defend his 2019 title after the 2020 tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jordan Spieth (+1200) is the pre-tournament betting favorite after Dustin Johnson withdrew Monday afternoon ahead of his Masters title defense.

Let’s look for some value bets, as this is typically one of the most wide-open events on the PGA Tour schedule with motivation being a question for many of the biggest names in the field each year.

2021 Valero Texas Open: Matchups

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 12:29 p.m. ET.

Jordan Spieth vs Tony Finau (-105)

Finau is a slight underdog in this tournament matchup despite being the top-ranked golfer in the field following Johnson’s exit. Spieth has more experience at TPC San Antonio, including a runner-up finish in 2015, but he has played here just once in the last four runnings with a T-30 finish in 2019.

Finau, who has four top-10 finishes in eight events this year, is the better of the two in Strokes Gained: Approach and SG: Off-the-Tee for the 2020-21 season.

Abraham Ancer vs. Corey Conners (-110)

This is an evenly-priced line between the reigning champ and Golfweek’s 23rd-ranked golfer. Conners has been in the better 2021 form with back-to-back top-10 finishes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship.

His short game is also much improved from 2019 when he was top-three in the field in SG: Approach, SG: Off-the-Tee and SG: Tee-to-Green.

2021 Valero Texas Open: Placings

Top 5: Charley Hoffman (+650)

Hoffman ranks third in this field with 1.99 strokes gained on the field per round over 40 career rounds played at TPC San Antonio. He won in 2016 and was a runner-up in both 2011 and 2019.

He’s also still in need of a Masters invitation and will be among the most highly motivated this week.

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Top 10: Joel Dahmen (+600)

Dahmen wasn’t extended an invitation to the Masters following his win at last week’s Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship as it was an opposite-field event against much weaker competition than this.

Still, he’s in top form and has plenty of motivation. Get him for a 6-1 payout with a nine-place cushion against the stronger field.

2021 Valero Texas Open: First-round leader

Ryan Moore (+6600)

Moore is second to Conners in this field with 2.53 strokes gained per round at TPC San Antonio over 16 career rounds. He finished third in 2019, seventh in 2018 and T-18 in 2017.

He has missed the cut in four of six events this year, but largely due to erratic putting. He knows these greens well and has had success.

BetMGM has him priced at +6600 to win this event, meaning the House views him as just as likely to hold the 18-hole lead.

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