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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2015

Phil Mickelson Returning To San Antonio; Jordan Spieth One Of 12 Top-30 Ranked Players Committed

U.S. Open Champion Martin Kaymer Leads Group of 12 Major Championship Winners Currently in the Field

SAN ANTONIO, TX – In conjunction with its annual Media Day this afternoon, tournament officials announced more player commitments including the return of Phil Mickelson, Texan Jordan Spieth, Jason Dufner, who last competed in San Antonio in 2008, and a first-time appearance by reigning U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer for 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.

Mickelson will be making his second consecutive start in San Antonio. Last year, the World Golf Hall of Fame member, made the cut on the number after making birdie on his final hole. However, during Saturday’s third round he had to withdraw after playing his 11th hole with a pulled oblique muscle.

“We are excited Phil is coming back to compete against what is quickly becoming one of the strongest fields in recent years,” said the tournament’s Executive Director Larson Segerdahl. “With the addition of Jordan, Martin and several other current TOUR champions there is a nice mix of players who have been here before and players who are coming for the first time. This is an exciting time for the tournament and the San Antonio community.”

Spieth, a Dallas resident, will be making his fourth consecutive start in the Valero Texas Open. The 2013 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year finished 10th here last year and is currently ranked No. 9 in the world.

Kaymer, who won the U.S. Open in Pinehurst last year with a dominating performance, comes to the Valero Texas Open for the first time in his career. The German star also won the 2014 PLAYERS and 2010 PGA Championship and is currently one of four players in the field with multiple major championship wins, including Retief Goosen, Padraig Harrington and Mickelson.

Earlier this month, the tournament announced commitments from Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar, Texan Jimmy Walker, reigning FedEx Cup champion Billy Horschel, first-timer Graeme McDowell and past champions Zach Johnson, Steven Bowditch, Martin Laird, Ben Curtis, Brendan Steele and Justin Leonard.

In all, there are 12 players in the field who are major champions: Ben Curtis (British Open), Jason Dufner (PGA Championship), Jim Furyk (U.S. Open), Retief Goosen (U.S. Open twice), Padraig Harrington (British Open twice, PGA Championship), Zach Johnson (Masters), Martin Kaymer (PGA Championship, U.S. Open), Justin Leonard (British Open), Graeme McDowell (U.S. Open), Phil Mickelson (three Masters, PGA Championship, British Open), Geoff Ogilvy (U.S. Open) and Mike Weir (Masters).

Tournament officials also announced commitments from two players who have had successful runs of late. Ryan Palmer, who has reached his highest world ranking at No. 28 will be competing in his 12th Valero Texas Open since his rookie year in 2004. Palmer has two top ten finishes in last four starts, including a T2 in Phoenix. Shane Lowry will be competing for the second time since 2013 and is currently ranked 42nd in the world. Lowry is a two-time winner on the European Tour and has accumulated numerous top ten finishes last year, including a 9th in the British Open. He will play in his first Masters Tournament, two weeks after the Valero Texas Open.

Here are the 12 players among the top 30 in the world who are currently scheduled to compete: No.7 Jim Furyk, No. 9 Jordan Spieth, No. 10 Martin Kaymer, No.11 Matt Kuchar, No. 13 Jimmy Walker, No. 18 Billy Horschel, No. 19 Phil Mickelson, No. 21 Graeme McDowell, No. 22 Chris Kirk, No. 23 Zach Johnson, No. 28 Ryan Palmer and No. 30 Kevin Na.

Players have until Friday, March 20 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to commit to the Valero Texas Open.

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.

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Phil Mickelson

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