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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2015
Field E-Notes for March 23, 2015
World Rankings: There are 11 of the top 25 in the world and 13 of the top 30 coming to the Valero Texas Open this week. Here is the current list of the top-ranked players in the field: Jordan Spieth (6), Jim Furyk (7), Dustin Johnson (9), Martin Kaymer (12), Jimmy Walker (13), Matt Kuchar (14), Billy Horschel (18), Phil Mickelson (21), Kevin Na (22), Graeme McDowell (23), Zach Johnson (24), Chris Kirk (26) and Ryan Palmer (30).
Texans In the Field: Currently there are 20 players in the field who reside in the state of Texas—Cameron Beckman, Steven Bowditch, Chad Campbell, K.J. Choi, Martin Flores, J.J. Henry, John Huh, Colt Knost, Danny Lee, Justin Leonard, Carlos Ortiz, Ryan Palmer, John Peterson, Ryan Polzin, Jordan Spieth, Shawn Stefani, Chris Stroud, Brian Stuard, Jhonattan Vegas and Jimmy Walker.
A VTO Fact: In 2007, the Valero Texas Open was Dustin Johnson’s first career start on the PGA TOUR. In fact, it was the only event he played that year. At that time, the tournament was held in October and Johnson received a sponsor exemption. He missed the cut but just over a month later earned his TOUR card at the National Qualifying Tournament. Johnson came back to San Antonio in 2008, finished T15 and was T24 in 2009. This will be his first appearance in the tournament since.
Coming to San Antonio Hot: Matt Every, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational yesterday, means that all four winners in the past three weeks will be here—Dustin Johnson (WGC-Cadillac), Alex Cejka (Puerto Rico), Jordan Spieth (Valspar) and Every. Also, Matt Jones, Kevin Na, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Jason Kokrak and Zach Johnson all finished in the top ten on Sunday and will be in San Antonio this week.
Masters competitors: There are currently 27 players in the Valero Texas Open field who are scheduled to compete in the Masters Tournament in a few weeks. The VTO is the last chance for players to get into the top 50 on the Official World Golf Rankings, one of the categories for a Masters invite. The winner of the VTO, if he has not already qualified for the Masters, will receive an invitation.
International Flavor: There are 20 different countries represented in the field of 144 players this week. Here they are: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Colombia, England, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Republic of Korea, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, USA, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
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
