- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,130,650
- Reaction score
- 59
SAN ANTONIO — When J.J. Spaun emerged from a jam-packed leaderboard to capture his first PGA Title in 2022, holding off Matt Jones, Beau Hossler and others to take the Valero Texas Open, not only did he earn a healthy paycheck, he also earned a ticket to Augusta National.
And Spaun wasn't the first to use the TPC San Antonio Oaks Course as his entrance into golf's greatest stage, as Corey Conners, Andrew Landry, Kevin Chappell, Charley Hoffman, Jimmy Walker and others had also previously done so.
It's also a good bet that — if the tournament remains on the schedule in its current slot — many more will use the event for a similar late gate pass to Magnolia Lane.
While leaders Robert MacIntyre and Ludivg Aberg already have spots in the Masters field, here's a list of the players in position to turn a victory into a trip to Augusta National.
(Editor's note: A few of these players had not finished when the horn sounded for lightning before 7 p.m.)
The 36-year-old Central New York native and former college teammate of Xander Schauffele at Long Beach State has never qualified for the Masters, but he backed up an opening round 67 with a solid 68 on Friday and sits within striking range of the leaders.
Although Smalley hasn't cracked the top 15 in any of his nine PGA Tour starts this year, he's only missed one cut and already amassed over $700,000. Can he add a first-ever Masters start to the resume? He's in position to catch the leaders in San Antonio.
Putnam is looking to get back to a second Masters after missing the cut in 2020. He was just two shots off the lead after the first round with a 66, but fell back a bit with a 70 on Friday. Still, he's within range of the leaders at the midway point.
With a PGA Tour win under his belt from the 2025 Sanderson Farms, Fisk would love to run the table at the Valero and earn his debut at the Masters, but he's had a rough start to the season, missing the cut in his first three starts, and he's yet to crack the top 35 in any of his eight events played.
The British product has a total of just 15 PGA Tour starts under his belt but after finishing in the top 10 in the 2025 DP World Tour Eligibility Ranking, he can start dreaming of Amen Corner.
If not here, soon. Hisatsune was named the 2023 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year on the DP World Tour, the first player from Japan to win the award. That season, he won the French Open, becoming the first Japanese player to win in Continental Europe in over 40 years. Prior to that, he won three times on the Challenge Tour before age 19. And he's cleared more than $2.1 million this season with some impressive finishes.
Horschel has 10 Masters starts under his belt and has made the cut seven times, but he needs a big run this weekend to get back for No. 11.
Finau finished in the top 10 in three of his first four Masters appearances, but he's in danger of missing the trip to Augusta this year for the first time since 2017.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Valero Texas Open golfers eye Masters invitation
Continue reading...
And Spaun wasn't the first to use the TPC San Antonio Oaks Course as his entrance into golf's greatest stage, as Corey Conners, Andrew Landry, Kevin Chappell, Charley Hoffman, Jimmy Walker and others had also previously done so.
It's also a good bet that — if the tournament remains on the schedule in its current slot — many more will use the event for a similar late gate pass to Magnolia Lane.
While leaders Robert MacIntyre and Ludivg Aberg already have spots in the Masters field, here's a list of the players in position to turn a victory into a trip to Augusta National.
(Editor's note: A few of these players had not finished when the horn sounded for lightning before 7 p.m.)
Kevin Roy (9 under through 36)
You must be registered for see images
The 36-year-old Central New York native and former college teammate of Xander Schauffele at Long Beach State has never qualified for the Masters, but he backed up an opening round 67 with a solid 68 on Friday and sits within striking range of the leaders.
Alex Smalley (8 under after 36)
You must be registered for see images
Although Smalley hasn't cracked the top 15 in any of his nine PGA Tour starts this year, he's only missed one cut and already amassed over $700,000. Can he add a first-ever Masters start to the resume? He's in position to catch the leaders in San Antonio.
Andrew Putnam (8 under through 36)
You must be registered for see images
Putnam is looking to get back to a second Masters after missing the cut in 2020. He was just two shots off the lead after the first round with a 66, but fell back a bit with a 70 on Friday. Still, he's within range of the leaders at the midway point.
Steven Fisk (8 under after 36)
You must be registered for see images
With a PGA Tour win under his belt from the 2025 Sanderson Farms, Fisk would love to run the table at the Valero and earn his debut at the Masters, but he's had a rough start to the season, missing the cut in his first three starts, and he's yet to crack the top 35 in any of his eight events played.
John Parry (8 under through 36)
You must be registered for see images attach
The British product has a total of just 15 PGA Tour starts under his belt but after finishing in the top 10 in the 2025 DP World Tour Eligibility Ranking, he can start dreaming of Amen Corner.
Sam Ryder (8 under through 35 holes)
You must be registered for see images
Ryo Hisatsune (8 under after 32 holes)
You must be registered for see images
If not here, soon. Hisatsune was named the 2023 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year on the DP World Tour, the first player from Japan to win the award. That season, he won the French Open, becoming the first Japanese player to win in Continental Europe in over 40 years. Prior to that, he won three times on the Challenge Tour before age 19. And he's cleared more than $2.1 million this season with some impressive finishes.
Billy Horschel (5 under through 36 holes)
You must be registered for see images
Horschel has 10 Masters starts under his belt and has made the cut seven times, but he needs a big run this weekend to get back for No. 11.
Tony Finau (7 under through 35 holes)
You must be registered for see images
Finau finished in the top 10 in three of his first four Masters appearances, but he's in danger of missing the trip to Augusta this year for the first time since 2017.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Valero Texas Open golfers eye Masters invitation
Continue reading...
