As players prepare for the upcoming Masters tournament, their various paths are exemplified by the participant list of the Valero Texas Open. Notably absent from the roster is Scottie Scheffler, the world’s premier player. But Rory McIlroy, set for only his third outing at this event, chose to participate. Previously, he placed second in 2013 but didn’t make the cut in 2022.
For players like Séamus Power and Pádraig Harrington, back-to-back participation in the PGA Tour driven by sponsorship invites is their lone chance to secure a place in Augusta, provided they can secure a victory in San Antonio. This route is applicable exclusively for players lacking pre-existing exemption.
The unfolding year hasn’t been kind to McIlroy in terms of form in the PGA Tour. In light of this, he decided to seek guidance from esteemed coach Butch Harmon as he readies himself for a tenth attempt to achieve a career grand slam. He recently shared with Morgan Hoffmann on the “I Can Fly” podcast that he’d met Harmon for a golf lesson.
Although Butch Harmon is a sporadic coach, upon sharing his plans with his daughter Poppy, she assured him, that he was already proficient in golf, an advice McIlroy deems as the most valuable in recent years. Despite the involvement of other coaches like fellow Northern Irishman Michael Bannon and Pete Cowen, McIlroy continues to collaborate with his long-term coach Bannon.
Ahead of the last month’s Players Championship, where his performance started strong but slipped to the 19th spot, McIlroy shed light on his ongoing struggles. He attributed his issues to the discordance between the sensations he feels while using woods and irons, ultimately leading to his shots going off course.
Regarding my golf techniques, I’ve been focusing on developing separate swinging approaches for my woods and my irons over the last few days. Apart from this aspect, I’m pretty confident in my game.
Here are some important details about the upcoming Valero Texas Open:
– The prize fund is €8.5 million, with a winning package of €1.6 million.
– It will take place in San Antonio, Texas, USA.
– The tournament will take place at The Oaks course of the TPC San Antonio.
– The course, which is a par 72 and measures 7,438 yards, was conceived with the input from Greg Norman, Sergio Garcia and Pete Dye. Thereby incorporating a range of features within the long layout.
– It features a varied landscape with flat, tree-lined areas and wide fairways carved out of the rocky landscape.
– The site’s unique feature is the par-3 16th hole, complete with a green-centred bunker.
– The Oaks has been the chosen grounds for the competition for the fifteenth time.
This tournament is the Last Chance Saloon for several players hoping for the remaining invite to next week’s Masters Event. The invitation will be offered to the winner of the tournament. In fact, two of the past four victors (Corey Conners in 2019 and JJ Spaun in 2022) have secured last-minute exemptions into the Major via this competition. Presently, four members of the world’s top-10 are participating in the event. The list includes McIlroy, Åberg, Brian Harman and Max Homa. On the other hand, former FedEx Cup Champion Billy Horschel, along with Harrington and Power, are amongst those vying for the win to secure their passage down Magnolia Lane.
Here’s a thought from defending champion Corey Conners: “I definitely enjoy being at this venue and it brings back many positive memories. The golf course is in brilliant shape yet again, and it’s thrilling to return. I’m eager to make a solid attempt at the title once again this year.”
Wagering: As many players choose to rest before the Masters, McIlroy, ranked second in the world, is the star attraction. The Northern Irish golfer is touted as the 8-1 frontrunner as he seeks a boost ahead of the Masters, whereas Åberg has odds of 10-1. Conners, champion in 2019 and last year too, stands at 20-1, whilst it could be worth considering outside chances such as Aaron Rai (55-1) and JJ Spaun (125-1).
Television coverage: Viewers can tune into Sky Sports Golf from 1.15pm.