There’s a lot on the line Sunday at the Valero Texas Open.
Patrick Rodgers, who has held a 54-hole lead three times previously in his PGA Tour career, has a one-shot advantage at TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course. Not only would a win Sunday for Rodgers be the first of his PGA Tour career, it would also punch his ticket to Augusta National and the Masters.
However, there are plenty of golfers chasing.
Corey Conners, who Monday qualified into the Valero in 2019 and won, is a shot back. Matt Kuchar had the round of the day until a late mishap, but he’s also playing for a ticket to the Masters and is solo third. And the veteran, Padraig Harrington, is lurking.
Valero: Photos | Sunday tee times
Here are takeaways from the third round of the Valero Texas Open.
A special Sunday on tap for Patrick Rodgers
In college, Patrick Rodgers won 11 times. That’s tied with some guy named Tiger Woods and Maverick McNealy for most in a career at Stanford. Yet, he hasn’t been able to find the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour.
He has three runner-up finishes, and he also lost in a playoff in 2018 to Charles Howell II at the RSM Classic. But in 234 events, Rodgers has yet to raise a trophy at the end.
When he tees off Sunday in San Antonio, he’s again in pole position with a chance to mark a monumental victory.
Rodgers bogeyed the par-5 18th hole, but he shot 1-under 71 to maintain his second-round advantage heading to Sunday. He’s at 12 under with Conners a shot back. Rodger’s round featured three birdies and two bogeys. Two of his birdies came late at the 15th and 17th holes.
“I felt like I drove it really well to put myself in good positions to score,” Rodgers said. “I didn’t quite take advantage the way that I had in the previous rounds, a little sloppy with the wedge play, a little sloppy on the greens, but I knew there was a long way to go heading into today and part of being patient and hanging in there and giving myself a nice opportunity tomorrow.”
Rodgers knows tomorrow is bound to be nerve wracking, but he’s looking forward to the pressure.
“I think we all know what’s at stake with a win out here,” he said. “I haven’t gotten the job done in my career, but it’s quite a thrill. This is why I play, why I compete and I can’t wait to get out there tomorrow.”
Connors looking to rekindle Texas magic
Conners has plenty of good memories at TPC San Antonio. It’s where he won his only Tour title in 2019, and that coming after he Monday qualified into the event.
Although he’s in the field next week at the Masters, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to play for come Sunday.
Conners shot 3-under 69 in the third round, which included a stretch of four birdies in six holes on the back nine. Had he been able to sink a birdie putt on the 18th hole, which barely missed, that would have been five of seven holes with a birdie to close.
“I’ve been working hard over the last number of years to try to get back in the winner’s circle and give myself some opportunities and feel like this is a great opportunity here,” Conners said. “I love this golf course and feel really comfortable out here. Yeah, it’s going to be a fun battle, but I’ll be giving it my all.”
A tough finish for Kuchar
Matt Kuchar stepped on the tee of the par-5 18th hole with the best round of the course going. He was only a shot out of the lead.
By the time his putt dropped, he carded a double-bogey 7 and was four shots behind Rodgers.
Kuchar’s tee shot drifted left before bouncing into a cactus. He was forced to take an unplayable. Then his third shot ended up against a hospitality tent. After taking relief, his fourth narrowly crossed the creek meandering in front of the green. His fifth shot came up short of the cup, and with a chance to escape with a bogey, Kuchar’s putt barely missed on the left side.
Although it was a tough finish, Kuchar sits solo third at 9-under 207 heading to Sunday. He shot 3-under 69 on Saturday, but the tough finish will make it an uphill battle come Sunday.
“Yeah, this was definitely my best day ball-striking by a long shot, was playing some good golf,” Kuchar said. “This is a tough golf course, one that it’s easy to go wayward, easy to make some big numbers. It’s a course I have a huge amount of respect for. It is a tough, demanding golf course and I paid the price with a poor tee shot on the last. But all in all, listen, it was a good day of golf out there.”
If he was able to win, Kuchar would head to Augusta National, a place he has been 15 times and finished inside of the top 10 four times. If he’s not able to win Sunday, it would be his second straight season not making it to the Masters after 13 straight trips down Magnolia Lane.
Fountain of Youth
Padraig Harrington’s phone has lit up plenty during his week in San Antonio. Numerous times, he has received text messages from his fellow competitors on the PGA Tour Champions, who have encouraged him this week to play well.
And Saturday, Harrington played great. A day after shooting 1-over 73, he bounced back with a 4-under 68 and sits T-6 at 7 under heading to Sunday.
“They like to see if I can compete out here, it justifies the whole Champions Tour all the more,” Harrington said. “It was a decent day anyway. Maybe a low one tomorrow will get us in the hunt.”
Harrington began his round with 10 straight pars, then he made birdies on Nos. 11, 14, 15 and 17 to card a 32 on the back nine.
He’s knows the course will be challenging come Sunday, so the 51-year-old hoping to make a run for the old guys.
“It’s an interesting course, it can be really difficult if it’s going away from you, and if things are going for you there are a few opportunities,” Harrington said. “It’s possible to lose some ground, it’s possible to make some grounds.”
Sunday's weather forecast
According to Windy.com, winds are expected to reach 15 MPH with gusts up to 30 MPH possible. The temperature will rise to nearly 90 degrees with light rain possible in the morning.
