Valero Texas Open: JJ Span claims first win and confirms Masters debut

JJ Span claims to have won his first PGA Tour and Valero has received an invitation to the Masters for the first time while holding his nerves in the final stage to win the Texas Open.

The 31-year-old American TPC finished 13-under 275 with 3-under 69 cards in the final round in San Antonio, two ahead of Matt Jones and Matt Kutcher.

He became the first player to win the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods started his final round with a double-bogey at the 2008 US Open in Tory Pine.

Span, who started the day with a four-way tie for the lead, missed the first green left with his approach and then three-put for that catastrophic start, but, as none of his rivals could clearly pull it off, he firmly returned to the debate. After birdies in the sixth, eighth and ninth, chipping from 50 feet to the left rough in the next hole.

A nice approach of three feet set up another birdie in the 11th which took him a clear to the top of the leaderboard and he doubled his advantage with a nine foot birdie putt nail in the 14th.

The span was deadly from within 10 feet throughout the week and won the PGA Tour for the ninth time so far this year, beating a weaver’s tee shot on the 18th before snatching important par putts on the 15th, 16th and 17th. Its 147th start.

‘What you dream’

After confirming the win, Spann said: “I think a year ago I told you that even going on tour I had to do a lot of work to get there, but to stay here and get through a lot. And finally get a win, it’s everything you dream of. It’s incredible. I’m speechless. “

And in his opening double-bogie, he added: “It didn’t bother me as much as you thought. If anything it calmed me down. I knew there was still a lot of golf and I wanted to double the first hole over the last, so I just knew that if I had patience and stayed away from the plug and argued myself with nine holes to play, I could ask for anything. “

It’s something you dreamed of as a kid, playing in the Masters and I was thinking about it last night. But there is still much to be done and you have to do your best to stay present. I think the guys did the best they could win that week, staying in the moment and focusing on each shot and luckily I was able to do that and ended up with ‘W’.

JJ Span playing in The Masters

The Australian Jones, who had five birdies in an impeccable front nine, came out of the pack and set the clubhouse goal with the help of an 11-under 66, although he eventually missed an 11-foot birdie putt that could apply further pressure. On the spaun.

He shared second place with the veteran American Kutcher, who played some daring shots in the final but fell short with 69 as he sought to extend his big game run to 28 in a row, but his failure to win meant he would miss the Masters. For the first time in 13 years.

Brandt Schneider, Beau Hosler and Dylan Fritley shared the lead with Spoon under 10 overnight but they all struggled to make an impact in the final group.

Hosler had the best performance of the trio and led the 12-under after birdie in the eighth, but trailed with a bogey at 10 and a double-bogie at 14 where he thinned a bunker shot through the green in an unnecessary lie.

He eventually finished Level-Par 72, splitting fourth under 10 with Adam Hadwin (67), Troy Merritt (69) and Charles Howell III (69), while Fritley (73) with nine under and Schneider (75). Returned. Under seven

English pair Richard Bland (72) and Aaron Rye (73) finished the 29th run in six under with Martin Laird (70) of Scotland.

Jordan Spieth warmed up for the Masters with a five-under 67 to elevate himself to five-under for the tournament, equaling Robert McIntyre after closing in on Scott 69.

Woods to call Augusta National late

Tiger Woods will make a “game-time” decision that he will return to his long-awaited action at The Masters, his first major appearance since a car-threatening car crash last February.

Woods has not attended any top-level events since playing at the Augusta Nationals in November 2020, the former No. 1 in the world unable to compete on the PGA Tour since a serious car-threatening injury in a serious car accident last February.

The 15-time main champion made an impressive return to the PNC Championship with his son Charlie in December but was still undecided on the return date when discussing his future at Genesis Invitational in February, saying he “didn’t know” when he would compete next.

Tiger Woods practices at the Augusta National on Sunday before the Masters

Woods sparked speculation about a major comeback as he went to a practice round last August, just days after footage of him playing at his medal-winning golf club surfaced on social media.

On Sunday he continued to practice in Augusta and tweeted: “It will be decided during the game whether I will compete.”

Woods is scheduled to hold a press conference at 11 a.m. Augusta National on Tuesday (4pm BST) when the five-time Masters champion is ready to reveal more about his fitness and whether he still plans to compete.

When is the Masters live on Sky Sports?

When does Masters coverage start? What additional feeds are available? How can I follow the action from Augusta National? Our guide to watching the first men’s major of the year live at Sky Sports Golf.

Monday, April 4th

1700-1900 – Live range!

1900-2200 – Live from Masters

Tuesday 5 April

1400-2200 – Live from The Masters

Wednesday 7 April

1400-1900 – Live from The Masters

1900-2230 – The Masters: Par-3 Competition Live!

Thursday 6 April

1400-1930 – Featured Group Live!

1930-0030 – Masters: First Day Live!

Red Button (Exact Time TBC) – 1330 Range, 1430 Holes 4-6, 1545 Amen Corner, 1645 Holes 15-16, 1830 Featured Group

Friday, April 8th

1400-1930 – Featured Group Live!

1930-0030 – Masters: Second Day Live!

Red Button (Exact Time TBC) – 1330 Range, 1430 Holes 4-6, 1545 Amen Corner, 1645 Holes 15-16, 1830 Featured Group

Saturday 9 April

0900-1200 – Masters Breakfast Live!

1500-1930 – Masters Build Up Live!

1930-0030 – Masters: Day 3 Live!

Red Button (Real Time TBC) – 1515 Featured Group, 1530 Holes 4-6, 1600 On Range, 1645 Amen Corner, 1730 Holes 15-16

Sunday, April 10

0900-1200 – Masters Breakfast Live!

1500-1830 – Masters Build Up Live!

1830-0030 – Masters: Day Four Live!

Red Button (Real Time TBC) – 1515 Featured Group, 1530 Holes 4-6, 1600 On Range, 1645 Amen Corner, 1730 Holes 15-16

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