– This Thursday marks the start of the Valero Texas Open, known worldwide as the tournament played before the Masters Tournament. It’s an objective fact and there’s no further discussion, but it would be wrong to think of it in a derogatory manner. A respect to Mr. Valero. In 1934, when the first Masters was held, the Valero Texas had already been on the American circuit calendar for 12 years. Its first edition was in 1922, making it the third oldest in PGA Tour history and the one held for the most consecutive years in the same city. In this case, San Antonio. Beware of Mr. Valero.
– Having clarified that, it’s inevitable that our eyes turn to the Masters. It’s just around the corner and is the first Major played in nine months. The wait is long and fuels anticipation. It’s a week that many great players use to rest, but there are a handful of contenders for victory in Augusta who are indeed at the TPC San Antonio. Here are some: Ludvig Aberg, Hideki Matsuyama, Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, Corey Conners, or Tony Finau.
– For whatever reason, each has their own, they prefer to arrive at the Masters with competition sweat. We focus on the case of Matsuyama, very curious. The Japanese player, who has no special ties to Texas, has played it every year since 2021. Before that, he had never played it. And anyone suggesting to the Japanese now that it might be better not to play the Valero would be ignored. As you may recall, Hideki won the Masters in 2021, a week after playing the Texas Open for the first time. Since then, he plays it every year. Understandably so…
– It should be noted that Matsuyama played the Masters for the first time in 2011, when he was named the tournament’s best amateur. From then until 2020, he never played the week before Augusta. He changed his routine in the unusual pandemic season when the Masters was played in November. That time he did play in Houston the week before, and for whatever reason, he liked it and decided to repeat in 2021 with the Valero Texas Open. The experience was so successful that, for now, the Japanese player doesn’t miss the event.
– There are 27 players participating in the Valero who have secured their place in the Masters. They are Ludvig Åberg, Daniel Berger, Akshay Bhatia, Keegan Bradley, Sam Burns, Rafael Campos, Patrick Cantlay, Corey Conners, Tony Finau, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Brian Harman, Tom Hoge, Max Homa, Zach Johnson, Tom Kim, Chris Kirk, Patton Kizzire, Thriston Lawrence, Hideki Matsuyama, Denny McCarthy, Maverick McNealy, J.T. Poston, Justin Rose, Adam Schenk, Jordan Spieth, Cameron Young. The rest of the field are seeking, in addition to victory, a place in Augusta. The Valero is the last chance. The tournament champion, if not already exempt, earns a trip to Georgia.
