Valero Texas Open
The Texas Open, known as the Valero Texas Open for sponsorship reasons, is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, played near San Antonio, Texas. It dates back 99 years to 1922, when it was first called the Texas Open; San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corporation took over naming rights in 2002. It is played at The Oaks Course at the TPC San Antonio, northeast of the city. The Valero Energy Foundation is the host organization for the Valero Texas Open.
Tournament information | |
---|---|
Location | San Antonio, Texas |
Established | 1922, 99 years ago |
Course(s) | TPC San Antonio, Oaks Course |
Par | 72 |
Length | 7,435 yards (6,799 m)[1] |
Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
Format | Stroke play |
Prize fund | $7.5 million |
Month played | April |
Tournament record score | |
Aggregate | 254 Tommy Armour III (2003) |
To par | −27 Mike Souchak (1955) |
Current champion | |
Corey Conners |
The event is currently managed by Wasserman Media Group.[2] In 2003, it was the site of the 72-hole PGA Tour scoring record of 254, shot by Tommy Armour III.[3] Many big-name players have won this tournament, including Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, and Arnold Palmer, who won it three years in a row. It has always been considered a tournament where it is relatively easy to shoot low scores. Since 1934, every tournament winner has finished with a score under-par.
It has always been played in San Antonio area,[4] and is the sixth oldest professional golf tournament worldwide, the third oldest on the PGA Tour and the longest held in the same city. From its inception until 1940, it was held at Brackenridge Park Golf Course, with the exception of 1927–1928, when it was played at Willow Springs Golf Course. After the event left Brackenridge Park, it returned to Willow Springs (1941–1949). In 1950 and 1951, it was played at both Brackenridge Park and Ft. Sam Houston Golf Course; afterwards it stayed at Brackenridge Park, with the exception of 1956 and 1960, when it returned to Ft. Sam Houston.
Oak Hills Country Club hosted from 1961 to 1966, then it went to Pecan Valley Golf Club (1967–1970). There was no event in 1968, as Pecan Valley was the site of the PGA Championship in July. No event was held in 1971; it was played at Woodlake Golf Club for five editions (1972–1976), then returned to Oak Hills (1977–1994). (No event was held in 1987, as Oak Hills hosted the first Tour Championship in late October.)
It was held at the Resort Course at La Cantera Golf Club (1995–2009), then moved to its present site at TPC San Antonio, in the affluent Cibolo Canyon community, in 2010.[5]
The Texas Open was usually held in September or October; in 2007 and 2008, the event was demoted to the Fall Series. With the demise of the Atlanta Classic, the PGA Tour moved the Texas Open into that slot on the schedule in May 2009 and it became a regular FedEx Cup event.[6] The 2009 event offered an increased purse of $6.1 million (up from $4.5 million) and its winner's share exceeded $1 million for the first time. In 2011, the event moved to the week following the Masters Tournament; that 2011 edition is best known for Kevin Na's 16 (+12) on the ninth hole in the opening round.
As a Fall Series event, the Valero Texas Open was the alternate tournament to the Presidents and Ryder Cups. In 2013, the tournament was in early April, the week before The Masters, and aired on NBC for the first time; several European Tour players participated in the Texas Open for the first time since the mid-1980s.
Since Valero became title sponsor in 2002, the tournament has become the annual leader in charitable fundraising among PGA Tour events. In 2015, the Valero Texas Open become only the fourth PGA Tour event to eclipse the $100 million milestone in funds raised for charity. The 2018 edition of the Valero Texas Open raised $12 million for charity, bringing the grand total to over $138 million in charitable giving.[2]
In 2019, the Valero Texas Open returned to being played before The Masters, thereby shifting the weekend coverage from CBS to NBC.
Course layout
Oaks Course
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yards | 454 | 602 | 213 | 481 | 342 | 403 | 207 | 604 | 474 | 3,780 | 447 | 405 | 410 | 241 | 567 | 464 | 183 | 347 | 591 | 3,655 | 7,435 |
Par | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
Source:[1]
Highlights
- 1951: Al Brisch became the first player to record a round of 60 in a PGA Tour event.[7]
- 1955: Mike Souchak's 27-under par set the record for the lowest score recorded in a 72-hole PGA Tour event – a record which stood until John Huston scored 28-under par at the 1998 Hawaiian Open.[8]
- 2004: Oft-injured Bart Bryant, recovering from elbow surgery and playing on a Major Medical Extension, earned his first PGA Tour win in his 187th start.
- 2005: Robert Gamez won his first event since March 1990, giving him the record for longest time between PGA Tour wins.
- 2017: After 180 PGA Tour starts and six runner-up finishes, Kevin Chappell birdied the 72nd hole for his first PGA Tour win.
- 2019: Corey Conners, playing on conditional status, Monday qualified for the tournament and earned his first PGA Tour win the week before the Masters. He was the first player to win on the PGA Tour after qualifying on a Monday in nine years.[9]
Winners
^ Indicates weather-shortened to 54 holes
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Main sources[71][72][73]
Multiple winners
Nine men have won this tournament more than once through 2019.
- 3 wins
- Arnold Palmer: 1960, 1961, 1962
- Justin Leonard: 2000, 2001, 2007
- 2 wins
- Bill Mehlhorn: 1928, 1929
- Sam Snead: 1948, 1950
- Dutch Harrison: 1939, 1951
- Ben Crenshaw: 1973, 1986
- Jay Haas: 1982, 1993
- Duffy Waldorf: 1995, 1999
- Zach Johnson: 2008, 2009
References
- "TPC San Antonio, AT&T Oaks Course: A hole-by-hole look". Commemorative Tournament Magazine. Valero Texas Open. 2013. pp. 40–6. Archived from the original on March 25, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- "Valero Texas Open – Fact Sheet". Valero Texas Open. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Kelley, Brent. "Lowest 72-Hole Stroke Total on PGA Tour". About.com. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
- Inside the course: TPC San Antonio Archived May 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- Valero Texas Open to move to TPC of San Antonio complex Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- Last autumn appearance for Valero Texas Open Archived October 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- "Players who have shot sub-60 rounds on the PGA Tour". PGA of America. January 24, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
- "Mike Souchak, 1927 - 2008". Golf Digest. July 10, 2008. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
- "Monday qualifier Conners wins Valero Texas Open". ESPN. Associated Press. April 7, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
- Lavner, Ryan (March 12, 2020). "PGA Tour cancels Players and other events thru April 5th". Golf Channel. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
- "Beman Wins Texas Golf". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. May 12, 1969. p. 35. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Rodriguez Wins Open". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Daytona Beach, Florida. Associated Press. May 1, 1967. p. 16. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Henning Wins Texas Tourney". Spartanburg Herald. Spartanburg, South Carolina. Associated Press. May 2, 1966. p. 9. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Beard Captures Texas Open Golf With 270 Total". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. April 26, 1965. p. 27. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "65 Wraps Up Texas Open For Crampton". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press. April 27, 1964. p. 2C. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Rodgers Captures Texas Open Golf". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. April 29, 1963. p. 30. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Another Palmer Finish In Texas". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press. April 30, 1962. p. 16. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Arnie's Eagle Wins Texas $30,000 Golf". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. May 1, 1961. p. 14. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Palmer Tops Texas Open". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Associated Press. February 27, 1960. pp. 2–3. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Ellis Wins Texas Open Tourney on Final Hole". Rome News-Tribune. Rome, Georgia. United Press International. February 23, 1959. p. 3. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Donora Native Wins Texas Open". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. United Press. February 16, 1958. p. 21. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Jay Hebert Wins Texas Open Golf". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Associated Press. February 16, 1957. p. 8. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Littler's 'High' 276 Bags Texas Open". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. United Press. February 20, 1956. p. 24. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Souchak Wins Texas Open, Breaks Hogan's Records". Ludington Daily News. Ludington, Michigan. Associated Press. February 21, 1955. p. 5. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Record Golf By Harper Wins Top San Antonio Prize". The Times-News. Hendersonville, North Carolina. February 23, 1954. p. 10. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Holguin Triumphs In Texas Open With 72-Hole 264". Spartanburg Herald. Spartanburg, South Carolina. Associated Press. February 16, 1953. p. 7. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Burke Posts Record 260". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. February 18, 1952. p. 12. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Worsham Leads The Texas Open Golf Tourney". The Free Lance-Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Associated Press. February 15, 1952. p. 8. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Harrison Wins Golf Playoff". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. United Press. February 13, 1951. p. 29. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Harrison, Ford Go Into Open Playoff". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Sarasota, Florida. Associated Press. February 12, 1951. p. 10. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- "Sam Snead Far Ahead In Earnings". The Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press. February 13, 1950. p. 18. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Dave Douglas Captures Texas Open Golf Crown". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press. February 14, 1949. p. 18. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Snead Pockets First Money". Prescott Evening Courier. Prescott, Arizona. Associated Press. February 9, 1948. p. 5. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Porky Oliver Takes Texas Open Tourney". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Lewiston, Maine. Associated Press. February 10, 1947. p. 9. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Hogan Winner In Texas Open". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Sarasota, Florida. Associated Press. February 11, 1946. p. 8. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Byrd Snatches Texas Open Golf". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. United Press. January 29, 1945. p. 16. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Nelson Favorite To Annex TexasOpen Golf Title". The Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press. January 25, 1945. p. 10. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Revolta Wins Texas Open Golf". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. United Press. February 15, 1944. p. 23. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Revolta Now Leads Field In Texas Open". The Palm Beach Post-Times. West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press. February 13, 1944. p. 18. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Harbert Takes Texas Tourney". Eugene Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon. United Press. February 17, 1942. p. 6. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Ben Hogan, Battle Creek Golfer Tie". Lodi News-Sentinel. Lodi, California. United Press. February 16, 1942. p. 5. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Little Wins in Texas Open nMatch With 273". The Bend Bulletin. Bend Oregon. Associated Press. February 10, 1941. p. 2. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Byron Nelson Wins Playoff". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. February 13, 1940. p. 16. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Pros Start Play For Texas Title". The Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press. February 12, 1940. p. 19. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Nelson Hits Golf Stride". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. February 11, 1940. p. 11. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Harrison Tops Money Winners On Golf Circuit". San Jose News. San Jose, California. United Press. February 13, 1939. p. 6. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Harrison Gets 66; Tied for 1st in Texas Open". Chicago Daily Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. February 12, 1939. p. A1. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Cox Wins In Texas Open Golf Tourney". Berkeley Daily Gazette. Berkeley, California. United Press. February 12, 1934. p. 10. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Young Texas Pro Leads Open Field With 136". The Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. February 11, 1934. p. C2. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Clark Captures Texas Tourney From Bif Field". San Jose News. San Jose, California. Associated Press. February 1, 1932. p. 8. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Two Tie for Lead in Texas Open with 143". Chicago Daily Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. January 31, 1932. p. A2. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Espinosa Cracks Par To Win Texas Crown". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press. February 2, 1931. p. 3. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Abe Espinosa Wins $6000 Texas Open". Berkeley Daily Gazette. Berkeley, California. United Press. February 2, 1931. p. 6. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Shute Getse Big Prize In Texas Open Tourney". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Sarasota, Florida. Associated Press. February 3, 1930. p. 8. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Shute Wins Texas Open". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. United Press. February 3, 1930. p. 11. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Melhorn (sic) Is Winner In Texas Open". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. United Press. January 28, 1929. p. 27. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "More Records Drop As Mehlhorn Wins Texas Open Golf Tournament". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. January 28, 1929. p. 16. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Bill Mehlhorn Is Texas Open Winner". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. United Press. February 8, 1928. p. 26. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Wild Bill Melhorn (sic) Shoots 297 To Annex Texas Open Title". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. February 8, 1928. p. 11. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Texas Open Won By Cruickshank". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. January 31, 1927. p. 12. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Cruickshank Leading Field in Texas Open". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press. January 30, 1927. p. 3-1. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Golfers Tuning Up for First Day's Attack on Texas Title". The Miami News. Miami, Florida. Associated Press. January 28, 1927. p. 18. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Melhorn (sic) 'Razzed' Cruickshank Causing Latter To Miss Ten Inch Putt For Texas Crown". Palm Beach Daily News. Palm Beach, Florida. United Press. January 19, 1926. p. 2-1. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Golfers Gather For Texas Open". The Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press. January 14, 1926. p. 6A. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Mac Smith With Two 69s Leads Field For Title". San Antonio Express. San Antonio, Texas. Associated Press. January 16, 1926. p. 10.
- "Turnesa Awarded $1,500 As Texas Open Champion". San Antonio Express. San Antonio, Texas. Associated Press. February 25, 1925. p. 27.
- "Kirkwood Wins Texas Open Golf Tournament". San Antonio Express. San Antonio, Texas. Associated Press. February 17, 1924. p. 27.
- "Hagen Nabs Open Title". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. January 29, 1923. p. 3-1. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "Large Field Enters Texas Golf Tourney". The Christian Science Monitor. Boston, Massachusetts. January 26, 1923. p. 12. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- "The 19th Hole". The Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. February 8, 1922. p. 10. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- Valero Texas Open – Winners Archived 2014-03-30 at the Wayback Machine – at www.pgatour.com
- Valero Texas Open – Winners Archived 2014-05-23 at the Wayback Machine – at golfobserver.com (1970–2009)
- Johnson, Sal; Seanor, Dave, eds. (2009). The USA Today Golfers Encyclopedia. New York, New York: Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 978-1-60239-302-8.