Top stars gather in San Antonio for the last PGA Tour event before Augusta. Åberg hot, Fleetwood favored, and the winner earns a Masters spot.
The PGA Tour heads to San Antonio this week for the Valero Texas Open, the traditional final tuneup before the Masters. Teeing off Thursday at TPC San Antonio (The Oaks Course), the event features a $9.8 million purse and a star-studded field of 22 Masters invitees ready to sharpen their games one last time before heading to Augusta National.
The winner of this week’s tournament—if not already exempt—earns the final spot in next week’s Masters field, making the Valero one of the most significant regular-season events on the calendar. Remarkably, the last five champions all made the cut at Augusta, underscoring the event’s value as a final dress rehearsal.
Åberg’s Hot Form and a Loaded Field
Ludvig Åberg arrives in Texas riding one of the hottest streaks of the season. The Swedish star posted consecutive top-5 finishes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (T3) and THE PLAYERS Championship (T5), where he produced a tournament-record-tying 63 in Round 2 with a sensational front-nine 29. Currently ranked No. 18 in the World Rankings and a Masters runner-up in 2024, Åberg is among the form players heading into major season.
Other notable competitors include Tommy Fleetwood, the 2025 Tour Championship winner and early bookmakers’ favourite. The field also welcomes Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama, Tony Finau, Brian Harman (defending champion), Will Zalatoris, and Russell Henley.
Masters Odds and Final Week Preparations
With the 90th Masters beginning April 9, this week represents the final audition for Augusta glory. Scottie Scheffler leads the Masters odds at +350, with Rory McIlroy at +700 pursuing his career Grand Slam. Jon Rahm arrives hot off a LIV Golf victory in Hong Kong and a playoff loss to Bryson DeChambeau in South Africa, sitting at +1100.
The Valero Texas Open runs through Sunday at TPC San Antonio (The Oaks Course), a Par 72 layout measuring 7,494 yards. Last year’s defending champion Brian Harman finished at 9-under par. Recent winners at the venue include Jordan Spieth (2021), Scottie Scheffler (2022), Corey Conners (2023), and Bhupinder Bhatia (2024).
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