PGA TOUR
Valero Texas Open
Spieth Wins Valero Texas Open
Jordan Spieth returned to the winner’s circle after claiming the Valero Texas Open by two shots at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course. It was 27-year-old’s first win in 83 starts on the PGA Tour since winning The Open Championship in 2017.
Spieth put away his 12th PGA Tour title and maiden win in his home state of Texas with a stunning final round 6-under 66 to get to 18-under. Compatriot Charley Hoffman finished in outright second place at 16-under.
Spieth, a two-time Australian Open winner, began the final round in a share of the lead at 12-under with England’s Matt Wallace. Hoffman was two shots back.
Wallace, aged 30, was searching for his maiden PGA Tour victory. The four-time European Tour winner covered the front nine in even par to sit one shot behind Hoffman and three shots behind Spieth at the turn. The world No. 60 never really mounted a challenge on Sunday. However, he made a late surge with birdies the 16th and 17th for a final round 2-under 70. He finished at 14-under in outright third place. It matched his best result on the PGA Tour.
Hoffman, who last won on the PGA Tour at the 2016 Valero Texas Open, was looking for his 7th PGA Tour title. The 44-year-old, produced three unanswered birdies on the front nine for 3-under 33. The world No. 115 carded birdies at the 13th and 14th holes and then poured in a birdie from 19 feet at the 16th hole to close within one shot of Spieth with two holes left. He signed for a final round 6-under 66 to get to 16-under.
Spieth started the final with the hope of scoring his first PGA Tour win in 3½ years. The three-time major champion got off to a hot start with back-to-back birdies at the 2nd and 3rd holes before dropping a shot at the 4th. He produced birdies at the 6th and 8th holes for an outward nine of 3-under 33. At the 14th, Spieth holed a birdie putt from 9 feet to retain a two shot lead over Hoffman. Moments earlier Hoffman tapped in for birdie at the same hole. A resurgent Spieth produced clutch golf down the final stretch of holes. He made an impressive up and down from the front of the 15th green to maintain two shot lead. He then dropped a birdie putt from five feet at the 17th hole to take a two shot lead down the final hole. Spieth fired rounds of 67, 70, 67 & 66 to reach 18-under.
The win was Spieth’s 14th title worldwide. He now owns six top 15s from his last seven PGA Tour starts.
2017 Australian Open champion Cameron Davis was the only Aussie to make the cut. He finished at 3-over and in a tie for 69th place.
America’s Rickie Fowler gave a sign his form is improving finishing in a tie for 17th place at 5-under. It was his best result in more than one year. However, the 32-year-old has not qualified for The Masters next week to end a streak of 41 consecutive starts at majors that began at the 2010 PGA Championship.
The PGA Tour moves to Georgia for The Masters at Augusta National. Dustin Johnson is the defending champion.
Final Scores
Valero Texas Open
1. Jordan Spieth -18
2. Charley Hoffman -16
3. Matt Wallace -14
4. Lucas Glover -12
5. Anirban Lahiri -10
Australians
T69. Cameron Davis -+3
MC. Rhein Gibson
DQ. Cameron Percy
Photo credit: Steve Dykes/Getty Images
