SAN ANTONIO — Matt Kuchar walked up the 18th fairway. This was his ninth hole since he began on his back during the Valero Texas Open’s opening round. He knew his gameplan was layup with his second shot at the par 591-yards.
The TPC San Antonio Oaks Course is a good place to be aggressive for the veteran 44-year-old, but Kuchar knows when and where to go. His two young playing partners, Nico Echavarria and Matt Wallace, blasted drives while Kuchar hustled up to reach the creek-protected green. Wallace wiggled, initially waiting for the group to putt out but switched to an iron after that. Wallace finally made par after he won the Corales Puntacana Championship.
Kuchar calmly shot his second shot from 70 yards. He then stuck a wedge at four feet and hit the ball in for the group’s sole birdie.
You can’t go wrong with a little bit of experience.
After a long fog delay, whipping Texas winds, and occasional rain, Thursday saw those with more wrinkles and gray hairs finally get their chance at the Greg Norman-designed course. Sergio Garcia also contributed to it.
Kuchar posted a solid finish, which is not surprising considering he has been a nine-time winner of the PGA Tour. He finished in the top 25 in seven of the 10 starts here, including a runner up showing in Kuchar’s 500th event.
He started Thursday with a bogey, but he got rolling, finishing at 33, and posting a day-end score of 68.
Matt Kuchar takes a shot on the 18th green during the Valero Texas Open tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III – USA TODAY Sports
Other people over 40 joined the party. Jimmy Walker, a 44 year-old winner of this event in 2015, was hot and in contention after the first day.
Padraig Harrington, 51 years old, made a late push for the top of the leaderboard. He sat even with Kuchar at 4 over after the first players passed the day.
Kuchar believes a win at San Antonio would be enough to earn him an invitation to Augusta National. He’s been there four times in 12 appearances and has posted top-8 finishes. Kuchar lost his Masters appearances in 2022, and would love to be back at the first major.
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He insisted that he isn’t focusing on it, and even laughed at a question about an Augusta appearance.
Kuchar stated, “You’ve gotten far ahead of yourself.” Kuchar said, “That’s too far in the future for me to worry about.”
He is, however, in a place he finds himself at ease. Kuchar was fourth on this course in 2014 and seventh in 2019. He tied for second last season.
It’s not an easy course but I like it. It takes a lot of effort to find fairways here. Kuchar stated that he believed he could find fairways. “For the most parts, you have to hit every shot here. This course will bite you if you play indifferent golf. Although I had a few mistakes today, I managed to play on good form. I really enjoy the course.
Harrington only played in two events on this season’s PGA Tour, but he is just back from a T-5 at Galleri Classic on Champions circuit. He was recently inducted into the 2024 World Golf Hall of Fame. He played 34 holes, including the back, and looked commanding throughout.
T1 in the clubhouse
51-year-old @Padraig_H shares lead @ValeroTXOpen. pic.twitter.com/HU155GwufZ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR March 30, 2023
Thursday was his first round in the top three since the 2015 Honda Classic, where he won the title.
“Tough conditions are what I like. I kept my head down and didn’t see the leaderboard until it was over. I didn’t realize I was leading.
That’s what you have to do when it’s tough,” Harrington stated. You have to make sensible shots. Sometimes the sensible shot doesn’t mean trying to hit the middle, but rather squeezing the ball up one side. It’s okay if it hits the rough. You need to think a lot and I did a great job mentally today.”
Valero Photos
Wallace looked great after winning his first title playing in a featured team with Nico Echavarria and Kuchar. The Englishman ended the day at 3 under, with Nick Taylor, Garrick Higgo, and Chez Reavie. Wallace was third at TPC San Antonio his debut year, but he failed to make the cut last season. Wallace attributes his confidence to getting him back in a good place.
Wallace stated, “This course tends to lead the person who is playing well.” You can’t hide it here, especially off-the-tee. I had a few bogeys from hitting my tee shots offline. If you are able to hit your tee shots correctly, you will have many chances.
