The Valero Texas Open will be the only main golfing event of the week as players sharpen their focus on next week’s Masters at Augusta National, writes ANDRE HUISAMEN.
The TPC San Antonio will give a number of golfers the final opportunity to secure their ticket to Georgia, including Rickie Fowler, for whom only victory can avoid him missing a Major for the first time after 42 occasions.
In fact, only 23 of the players in the Texas Open field have already secured their qualification for the Masters with everyone else having to fight it out for victory over the next four days.
READ: Last chance for Fowler to earn Masters spot
This includes the participation of South African duo Erik van Rooyen and Branden Grace, who will both be eager to deliver a promising performance.
Van Rooyen will be part of one of the early tee-off groups on Thursday when he lines up alongside Cameron Percy and Sam Ryder for the opening two rounds of the Texas Open.
Grace will get his opening round under way on the 10th tee of the TPC San Antonio course. The South African will feature in a group with Brendan Steele and Kevin Chappell.
Charl Schwartzel will complete the South African participation for the week, but with the exemption of having already sealed his spot at the Masters.
Schwartzel’s famous victory at the 2011 Masters means he will head to Augusta as a former champion, earning him a free qualification to compete.
He will, however, be determined to get some good momentum going at the Texas Open. Schwartzel has been paired with Charley Hoffman and Kyle Stanley for Thursday and Friday’s action.
