Valero Texas Open Round 1

Started 196 days, 3 hours, 55 minutes ago

Date & Time
Thu 2nd April 2026 7:30am Local
Thu 2nd April 2026 12:30pm UTC

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League
PGA Tour

Season
2026

Round
Round 14

Status
FT

Location

TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course)

Video Highlights

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Event Statistics

Description

The opening round at TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course) marks the final opportunity for players to secure a spot in next week's Masters. The objective for the field is to manage the difficult Greg Norman-designed layout, which is known for its narrow fairways and penalizing "cavernous" bunkers. A primary goal for competitors like Tony Finau and Jordan Spieth is to capitalize on the morning's calmer conditions before the notorious Texas winds typically intensify in the afternoon.

The tactical focus for Round 1 revolves around par-5 scoring, particularly at the 14th hole, which often serves as a pivotal point for early momentum. With a massive $9,800,000 purse on the line, the strategy for the "bubble" players—those not yet qualified for Augusta—is to remain aggressive enough to stay within striking distance of the lead without falling victim to the course's thick rocky brush. The ultimate goal for every starter is to establish a solid foundation and avoid the early big numbers that have historically derailed campaigns in San Antonio.

Reports

Result List

Result Description

The first round concluded with a three-way tie at the top as Robert MacIntyre, Mark Hubbard, and Alex Smalley all carded impressive rounds of 6-under-par 66. MacIntyre’s round was highlighted by a clean card and exceptional iron play, while Hubbard relied on a hot putter to navigate the undulating greens of the Oaks Course. They lead a crowded leaderboard that features several high-profile chasers.

Tony Finau and Davis Thompson sit just one stroke back at 5-under-par, with Finau providing one of the day's highlights by eagling the par-5 14th. Other notable performances included Will Zalatoris, who utilized a mid-round scoring streak to finish at 4-under-par, and Austin Smotherman, who thrilled the gallery with a hole-in-one on the par-3 13th. While the scoring conditions were relatively favorable for the early starters, the field average rose as the afternoon gusts made precision into the greens increasingly difficult.