Valero Texas Open 2026 Preview: The Last Golden Ticket to Augusta Is Up for Grabs

The Texas Two-Step is complete. Gary Woodland just delivered one of the most emotional victories in golf history at the Houston Open. Now the PGA Tour rolls south to San Antonio for the final audition before Augusta.

The Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio is always interesting. But this year? It’s absolutely stacked — and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

One Masters invitation is on the line. If the winner isn’t already qualified for Augusta, they’re in. That’s it. Last call.

The Field Is Ridiculous

Brian Harman defends his title, but the headliners tell you everything about how seriously players are taking this week:

• Ludvig Aberg — still stinging from his Players Championship collapse, looking to build momentum before Augusta
• Tommy Fleetwood — perpetually “due” at a major, using this as a final tune-up
• Hideki Matsuyama — the 2021 Masters champion, always dangerous at Augusta
• Collin Morikawa — two major wins, zero green jackets, wants to change that
• Jordan Spieth — the 2015 Masters champ has been showing signs of life lately
• Max Homa, Tony Finau, Robert MacIntyre — all legitimate contenders

That’s a borderline major-quality field for a regular-season event.

Who’s NOT Here

Notable absences that matter:

Scottie Scheffler skipped the Houston Open for the birth of his second child and isn’t here either. The defending Masters champion will show up at Augusta well-rested and without competitive reps in nearly a month. Whether that helps or hurts is a genuine debate.

Rory McIlroy is nursing a back injury and eyeing consecutive Masters titles. Smart to rest, but the back thing is concerning.

The Masters Bubble Boys

This is where it gets spicy. Several players are on the wrong side of the Masters qualifying criteria, and the Valero is their absolute last chance:

Michael Thorbjornsen had a gut-wrenching Houston Open — he was in contention through three rounds before fading. He’s right on the OWGR bubble. A big week in San Antonio could punch his ticket.

Rickie Fowler is here, and his Masters dream has been on life support after missing the cut in Houston. Realistically, he needs to win outright — and even then, that only works if he’s not already qualified through other criteria. The math is brutal.

Nicolai Højgaard already secured his Masters invite with a runner-up finish behind Woodland in Houston (moved into the top 50 OWGR). He’s here for reps, not desperation.

Pierceson Coody and Matt McCarty are lurking on the bubble too.

TPC San Antonio: The Course

The Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio is a Greg Norman design that rewards accuracy over brute force. At 7,435 yards with narrow fairways lined by live oak trees, it’s a shot-maker’s course.

Key stats that matter:

• Driving accuracy correlates more with success here than driving distance
• The greens are small and undulating — approach play is everything
• Par 5s are reachable but guarded, creating risk-reward drama
• Wind is always a factor in the Texas Hill Country

If you’re picking a winner, look at the guys who are elite in strokes gained: approach. That’s Matsuyama, Morikawa, and Fleetwood territory.

My Pick

I’m going Collin Morikawa. His iron play has been elite all season, TPC San Antonio rewards precision over power, and he’s got the quiet intensity of a guy who knows he needs a confidence boost heading into major season.

Dark horse: Tom Kim. The kid is fearless in big moments and his short game has been unreal lately.

Whoever wins, they’re either walking into Augusta with a golden ticket or walking in with serious momentum. Either way, this is appointment television.

Tournament starts Thursday, April 2. Coverage on Golf Channel and CBS.

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The Masters is next week. I can barely contain myself. More coverage coming all week — check out our full Masters field breakdown and the pre-tournament drama that’s already unfolding.