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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2015
14 of The World’s Top 30 Coming to Valero Texas Open, Including World Golf Championship Winner Dustin Johnson
Nation’s Top-Ranked Junior Golfer Sam Burns Accepts Sponsor Exemption
SAN ANTONIO, TX – Tournament officials announced today more commitments from players who are currently ranked among the top 30 in the world, including some of golf’s hottest players on the PGA TOUR, the European Tour and in U.S. Junior golf as San Antonio prepares to host the 2015 Valero Texas Open, scheduled for March 26-29 at the AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio and the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa.
Dustin Johnson (No. 7) and Hideki Matsuyama (No. 15) are two additional top-ranked players who have announced their intention to compete. Last month, the tournament announced 12 players in this category. With the addition of two more, the Valero Texas Open is poised to have its strongest field in recent years.
“We could not be more thrilled with the players who are committing for this year’s tournament,” said Larson Segerdahl, Executive Director of the Valero Texas Open. “This community can look forward to a great week and an outstanding competition.”
Here are the 14 players among the top 30 in the world who are currently scheduled to compete: No. 6 Jim Furyk, No. 7 Dustin Johnson, No. 10 Jordan Spieth, No. 12 Martin Kaymer, No. 13 Jimmy Walker, No. 14 Matt Kuchar, No. 15 Hideki Matsuyama, No. 17 Billy Horschel, No. 21 Phil Mickelson, No. 22 Graeme McDowell, No. 24 Chris Kirk, No. 26 Zach Johnson, No. 27 Kevin Na and No. 29 Ryan Palmer.
On Sunday Johnson came from five strokes back to win the World Golf Championships—Cadillac Championship. It is Johnson’s ninth PGA TOUR victory. The South Carolina native will be returning to San Antonio for the first time since 2009. He played here three times with his best finish a tie for 15th in 2008.
Matsuyama, the top-ranked Japanese player in the world, will be making his first start in the Valero Texas Open and only second appearance in Texas. Last year, he finished second at the Crown Plaza Invitational at Colonial in Fort Worth.
Davis Love III, recently named captain for the United States’ Ryder Cup team, also committed this week. Love has won 20 times on the PGA TOUR and is one of numerous major championship winners in the field.
Tournament officials are also excited about the participation of amateur Sam Burns, who earned a sponsor exemption to compete in his first professional tournament by winning the Junior PGA Championship this past July. Burns is the nation’s top-ranked junior golfer who is already committed to play at LSU next year. The 18-year-old from Shreveport, LA was the 2014 AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year.
Another sponsor exemption accepted this week was by European Tour star Branden Grace, who is currently ranked 42nd in the world. Grace has won six times on the European Tour. The South African’s most recent victories were this year at the Qatar Masters and Alfred Dunhill Cup.
Other players who have won during the 2014-2015 PGA TOUR season who are now committed are Sangmoon Bae (Frys.com Open), Charley Hoffman (OHL Classic at Mayakoba), James Hahn (Northern Trust Open) and Alex Cejka (Puerto Rico Open).
A group of players with victories over the last two seasons are also in the field and includes: Scott Brown, Ken Duke, Harris English, Derek Ernst, Matt Every, Lucas Glover, Chesson Hadley, Brian Harman, Matt Jones, John Merrick, Seung-Yul Noh, D.A. Points, John Senden, Scott Stallings, Michael Thompson, Brendon Todd, Nick Watney, Boo Weekley and Mark Wilson.
Past champions in the field: Steven Bowditch (2014), Martin Laird (2013), Ben Curtis (2012), Brendan Steele (2011), Zach Johnson (2008, 2009) and Justin Leonard (2007, 2001, 2000).
Players have until Friday, March 20 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to commit to the Valero Texas Open. Also, the Valero Texas Open is the last opportunity for players to receive an invitation to compete in the Masters Tournament through the top-50 in the world ranking category. The winner of the Valero Texas Open, if not otherwise eligible, will receive an invitation to the Masters Tournament.
Tickets are currently on sale. Please visit ValeroTexasOpen.com for all details.
ABOUT VALERO
Valero Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries (collectively, Valero), is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products, and sells its products primarily in the United States (U.S.), Canada, the United Kingdom (U.K.), Ireland and Latin America. Valero owns 15 petroleum refineries located in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.2 million barrels per day. Valero is a joint venture member in Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC, which owns two renewable diesel plants located in the U.S. Gulf Coast region with a combined production capacity of approximately 1.2 billion gallons per year, and Valero owns 12 ethanol plants located in the U.S. Mid-Continent region with a combined production capacity of approximately 1.6 billion gallons per year. Valero manages its operations through its Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol segments. Please visit investorvalero.com for more information.
ABOUT VALERO IN THE COMMUNITY
Valero Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries (collectively, Valero), and the Valero Energy Foundation are committed to improving the quality of life in communities where Valero has major operations. In 2023, Valero, its employees and the foundation collectively generated more than $77 million in charitable support through direct/in-kind donations, fundraising and volunteerism. Valero employees logged more than 127,000 volunteer hours in 2023 for hundreds of projects in their communities. Valero provides funding to a variety of nonprofit agencies for programs and services supporting education, basic needs, health care and civic initiatives. Through the overwhelming support of sponsors, the foundation’s signature programs, the Valero Texas Open and Benefit for Children, generated more than $23 million raised in 2023 for charities across the United States.
ABOUT THE VALERO TEXAS OPEN
The Valero Texas Open is the sixth-oldest professional tournament in golf worldwide, the third-oldest on the PGA TOUR and the longest held in the same city. In 2022, the tournament celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Its list of champions includes some of the greatest names in golf history: Walter Hagen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Lee Trevino, Nick Price, Justin Leonard, Zach Johnson, Adam Scott, Jimmy Walker, Jordan Spieth and 2019, 2023 champion Corey Conners to name a few.
Since Valero became title sponsor in 2002, the tournament has become a leader in charitable fundraising among PGA TOUR events. The Valero Texas Open, together with its Benefit for Children and Champions fore Charity initiatives, has contributed more than $232 million to hundreds of worthy charities since inception. Please visit www.ValeroTexasOpen.com for more information.
Media Contacts
Stephanie Sage
Valero Texas Open
Director, Marketing & Community Relations
210.345.3839 office
Lee Patterson
Valero Texas Open
Director, Media Relations
704.913.1088 mobile
