The Valero Texas Open is set to take off with the opening round in nine days.
The tournament winner will earn a $9.5 million purse with a $1.7 million winner’s share and 500 FedExCup points. Those points help determine a player’s performance during the FedExCup regular season and playoffs. With 33 players successfully committed to participating in the Open, here are some predictions of who could finish at the top of the leaderboard.
So far, eight players returning to the field have previously won the VTO: Jordan Spieth, Zach Johnson, Corey Conners, Martin Laird, Charley Hoffman, Jimmy Walker, J.J. Spaun and Akshay Bhatia. These players will be top-three in the upcoming tournament: Spaun, Collin Morikawa and Russell Henley.
Morikawa is a decorated PGA tour player who has played in 126 events, with 44 top-10 finishes and six wins under his belt overall. During the second round of the Players Championship, Morikawa carded a 7-under-par to improve to 9-under-par 65, allowing him to move his way up the leaderboard quietly and calmly. This year, Morikawa has finished runner-up two times, the most recent being at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The TaylorMade enthusiast has been strong from the tee box and around the green with an impressive ability to recover from difficult situations. Morikawa has been able to secure wins with his stealth movement up the leaderboard in past tournaments.
Spaun’s name was important last week as the Los Angeles native went head-to-head with number one FedExCup leader Rory McIlroy in a three-hole playoff. Unfortunately, the wind was a factor in his loss, and Spaun failed to take home the win for the Players Championship, but he showed fans he is a worthy competitor. However, Spaun is familiar with TPC San Antonio as the Valero Texas Open was his first win in his PGA Tour career. This could be an advantage for him because of his familiarity with the course.
Consistency is important for a golfer; it builds confidence in the shots a player takes or the club used in a specific situation. Arnold Palmer Invitational winner Henley is third in the golf world based on the FedExCup standings. He finished fourth overall in the 2024 VTO.
“Putting in consistently on the short game, wedges and hitting balls. Trying to work on all of it all the time, no matter if I am playing well or playing bad,” Henley said on his win at API.
Henley is also a strong player when it comes to remaining calm during tough-hole results. In the final round of his last win, he carded three bogeys, which is difficult on a final round because one shot could change the trajectory of winning or losing the tournament. In the end, Henley took home the win along with the $20 million purse.
Many more great players will attend the Valero Texas Open, and some will be looking to earn their first win this season. Spectators are in for a treat as they await to see what each tour player brings to the table.
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