Location | San Antonio, Texas |
---|---|
Established | 1922, 95 years ago |
Course(s) |
TPC San Antonio, Oaks Course |
Par | 72 |
Length | 7,435 yards (6,799 m) |
Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
Format | Stroke play |
Prize fund | $6.2 million |
Month played | April |
Aggregate | 254 Tommy Armour III (2003) |
To par | −27 Mike Souchak (1955) |
Charley Hoffman |
The Valero Texas Open is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, played near San Antonio, Texas. It dates back 95 years ago to 1922, when it was first called the Texas Open; San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corporation took over naming rights in 2002. It is played at The Oaks Course at the TPC San Antonio, northeast of the city. The Valero Energy Foundation is the host organization for the Valero Texas Open.
Since 2013, the event has been managed by Greg Norman Production Company, a division of Great White Shark Enterprises. In 2003, it was the site of the 72-hole PGA Tour scoring record of 254, shot by Tommy Armour III. Many big-name players have won this tournament, including Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, and Arnold Palmer, who won it three years in a row. It has always been considered a tournament where it is relatively easy to shoot low scores. Since 1934, every tournament winner has finished with a score under-par.
The event has always been played in San Antonio area, and is the sixth oldest professional golf tournament worldwide, the third oldest on the PGA Tour and the longest held in the same city. From its inception until 1940, it was played at Brackenridge Park Golf Course, with the exception of 1927–1928, when it was played at Willow Springs Golf Course; additionally, after the event left Brackenridge Park GC it was played at Willow Springs GC from 1941–1949. In 1950 and 1951 it was played at both Brackenridge Park GC and Ft. Sam Houston Golf Course; afterwards it stayed at Brackenridge Park GC, with the exception of 1956 and 1960, when it was played at Ft. Sam Houston GC.
From 1961–1966 it was played at Oak Hills Country Club, and then from 1967–1970 it was at Pecan Valley Golf Club. From 1972–1976 it was played at Woodlake Golf Club before returning to Oak Hills CC from 1977–1994. From 1995 to 2009 it was played at the Resort Course at La Cantera Golf Club. In 2010, it was moved to its present site at TPC San Antonio in the affluent Cibolo Canyon community.