I’ll be volunteering at the Valero Texas Open again this year after having a blast last year walking inside the ropes with the NBC Golf team. This year, Greg Norman Productions has taken over the tournament management and they have promised big changes to the Valero Texas Open.
I have gone to the tournament for just about every year I can remember. It moved over to TPC San Antonio Oaks Course four years ago and top players seem to enjoy the course. It’s much easier to walk then the Resort Course at La Cantera where it had been held prior to 2010.
I got an email from the tournament two days ago announcing early commitments this year. It’s shaping up to be a good tournament already, and we are still 7-weeks out.
Here are a few of the names so far:
Martin Laird
Defending champion shot a 63 in the final round last year to win by two-strokes over Rory McIlroy.
Matt Kuchar
#8 ranked player in the world right now. I walked with Kuchar’s group last year while volunteering and hope to get his group assignment again this year.
Sergio Garcia
#9 ranked player in the world will be back in San Antonio for the first time since 2010. Garcia actually was the player consultant to Greg Norman in the design of the Oaks Course.
Jimmy Walker
Quite arguably the hottest player to start the 2013-2014 PGA Tour season. He is the FedEx Cup leader right now after two wins so far this year.
Some other big names already committed: Jim Furyk, Billy Horschel, Padraig Harrington and Retief Goosen.
No word yet on Rory McIlroy. He played last year and would’ve probably won if not for Laird’s hot Sunday. Last year the Valero Texas Open was played the week before The Masters. The Shell Houston Open will be held the week before The Masters so we have to see what other big names will play three weeks in a row.
[…] Open. That’s awesome and gives San Antonio two of the top 10 world ranked players so far. Sergio Garcia has already committed and is currently the 9th ranked player in the world. Matt Kurchar is also coming back to San […]