The PGA TOUR continues its thrilling 2025 season with the Valero Texas Open, teeing off Thursday at the challenging AT&T Oaks Course in San Antonio. Running April 3-6, this prestigious event represents the final opportunity for players to sharpen their skills before heading to Augusta National for The Masters.
The tournament boasts a compelling mix of established stars seeking form and ambitious challengers hoping to secure a late invitation to the season's first major championship. In a remarkable trend, three of the past five Valero Texas Open champions—including last year's winner Akshay Bhatia—earned last-minute Masters berths through their victories in San Antonio.
The 7,494-yard par-72 layout features some of the most demanding par-5 holes on tour. Weather forecasts suggest wind could become a significant factor over the weekend, potentially turning this into a battle of precision approach play. Under calmer conditions, expect winning scores to approach the 20-under mark.
Heading the list of contenders is Tommy Fleetwood, whose elite ball-striking makes him particularly well-suited for this challenge. The Englishman arrives with impressive consistency, having finished no worse than T22 in five 2025 starts, including a T5 and T11. After placing T7 here last year, Fleetwood appears poised to possibly capture that elusive first PGA TOUR victory.
Patrick Cantlay enters as another strong favorite despite making his Valero Texas Open debut. The American has demonstrated remarkable consistency this season with two top-five finishes and seven top-20 results in his last ten tournaments. His well-rounded game and ranking of 13th in Strokes Gained: Total make him a serious threat to claim his first victory since 2022.
According to Statbet performance analytics, players who excel in Strokes Gained: Approach historically perform 27% better at TPC San Antonio than tour average, making iron play a crucial factor this week.
After unexpectedly missing the cut at THE PLAYERS Championship, Hideki Matsuyama returns rested and motivated. His previous Valero Texas Open appearances yielded 15th and 7th place finishes, suggesting the course suits his game. Despite ranking just 104th in Strokes Gained: Off The Tee, Matsuyama compensates with exceptional skills around the greens, ranking 2nd in Scrambling this season.
For those seeking a potential surprise contender, Justin Rose presents an intriguing option. The veteran Englishman makes his first Valero Texas Open appearance since 2006 and his first-ever visit to TPC San Antonio. His 2025 campaign has alternated between disappointments and brilliance, with a T3 at Pebble Beach and T8 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational highlighting his upside.
As players make their final adjustments before Augusta, this week's tournament offers compelling storylines and the tantalizing possibility of another golfer punching a last-minute ticket to The Masters through victory in the Texas Hill Country.
