The PGA Tour is in San Antonio for the Valero Texas Open, and the last opportunity to qualify for the first major championship of the year.
Established in 1922, as the Texas Open, 2023 will be the 93rd edition of the tournament.
The event is hosted at TPC San Antonio which has hosted the Valero Texas Open since the course opened in 2010.
TPC San Antonio is a 36-hole facility featuring two 18-hole courses. The Canyon Course was designed by legendary course architect Pete Dye, and the Oaks Course was designed by Hall of Fame golfer, and current LIV Golf CEO, Greg Norman.
Texas Open Naming Timeline
| Texas Open | 1922 – 1945 1948 – 1955 1981 – 1985 1988 – 1989 1994 |
| San Antonio Texas Open | 1946 – 1947 1972 – 1980 |
| Texas Open Invitational | 1956 – 1969 |
| San Antonio Open Invitational | 1970 |
| Vantage Championship | 1986 |
| H.E.B. Texas Open | 1990 – 1993 |
| LaCantera Texas Open | 1995 – 1997 |
| Westin Texas Open | 1998 – 1999 |
| Westin Texas Open at LaCantera | 2000 |
| Texas Open at LaCantera | 2001 |
| Valero Texas Open | 2002 – present |
Sandwiched between last weeks designated event, the WGC Match Play, and the first major of the year, the Masters, the field for the Valero Texas Open features few of top players.
Only two (Hatton – 17th & Matsuyama – 21st) who made the trip to San Antonio are in the top-25 of the OWGR.
In previous years many of the top professionals played in events the week prior to the major championships as a tune up.
However, in the new age of designated events, which are sprinkled throughout the PGA Tour schedule the top players are skipping the lower rated events to rest up for the major championships.
Notables in the Field (OWGR Top-100)
| Tyrrell Hatton 17 | Hideki Matsuyama 21 | Sepp Straka 32 |
| Chris Kirk 34 | Si Woo Kim 39 | Alex Noren 42 |
| Rickie Fowler 59 | Davis Riley 63 | Andrew Putman 65 |
| JJ Spaun 69 | Christiaan Bezuidenhout 73 | Trey Mullinax 85 |
| Adam Schenk 89 |
Despite not receiving a bump to elevated status the purse for the Valero Texas Open did receive a slight bump up from the payouts from 2022.
Last year the Valero Texas Open field competed for a total purse of $8.6 million with $1.548 million going to the champion, JJ Spaun.
This year the field will compete for $8.9 million with $1.602 million going to the eventual champion.
Calvin Peete who won 13 times on the PGA Tour won the 1984 Texas Open, as it was called at the time.
Players to watch
JJ Spaun
The defending Valero Texas Open champion will be making his sixth trip to TPC San Antionio. JJ’s win at last year’s event was the first of his career.
So far this PGA Tour season in 14 events played, JJ has seven top-25s which include two top-10s.
His best finish of the 2023 season was a tie for fifth place at the Sentry Tournament of Champions back in January.
He finished last week’s event, the WGC Match Play, in a tie for ninth place.
JJ is currently ranked 48th in the FedEx Cup, and 69th in the OWGR.
Joseph Bramlett
This will be Joe’s fourth trip to TPC San Antonio for the Valero Texas Open.
In three previous trips his best finish was a tie for 34th place in 2021.
So far this season in 15 events played, Joe has four top-25s which include two top-10s.
His best result this season was a tie for seventh place at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Joseph is currently ranked 78th in the Fedex Cup , and 185th in the OWGR.
Cam Champ
This will be Cam’s fourth trip to San Antonio for the Valero Texas Open.
In three previous trips, his best result was a tie 34th place in 2021. Cam missed the cut in last year’s event.
So far this season in 10 events played Cam has one top-10.
His last event to date was the Valspar Championship, where he failed to make the cut.
Cam is currently ranked 163 in the FedEx Cup, and 194th in the OWGR.
Tee Times
Spaun: Thursday – 1:58 PM; Friday – 9:03 AM
Bramlett: Thursday – 8:41 AM; Friday – 1:36 PM
Champ: Thursday – 1:58 PM; Friday – 9:03 AM
How to watch
Thursday (3/30) & Friday (3/31) – 4 PM to 7 PM (Golf Channel)
Saturday (4/1) – 1 PM to 3:30 PM (Golf Channel); 3:30 PM to 6 PM (NBC)
Sunday (4/2) – 1 PM to 2:30 PM (Golf Channel); 2:30 PM to 6 PM (NBC)