Latest News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2016
Jimmy Walker Set To Defend Title – Numerous Top Ranked Players Already Committed
Current Open Champion & Two-Time Valero Texas Open Winner Zach Johnson Returning to San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO, TX – In conjunction with its annual Media Day this morning, tournament officials announced some early player commitments including the return of last year’s champion Jimmy Walker for the 2016 Valero Texas Open, scheduled for April 21-24 at the AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio.
Walker, who lives in nearby Boerne, became the fourth San Antonio-area resident to win the Valero Texas Open when he prevailed by four strokes over Jordan Spieth in his victory here last year. Walker was one of only four players in the field to post four sub-par rounds and at the time became the first multiple winner for the TOUR’s 2014-2015 season, having successfully defended his Sony Open in Hawaii title a few months earlier. By season’s end, Walker advanced to the FedExCup Playoffs for a sixth consecutive season and was ranked 16th in the FedExCup standings.
“Jimmy has been a great champion for us throughout the year and we are excited to have him come back and defend his title,” said the tournament’s Executive Director Larson Segerdahl. “He and his wife Erin are great ambassadors for the San Antonio area and for the game of golf. We could not have been prouder to have him as our champion this year and consider him a member of the Valero Texas Open family.”
Walker will have some of the world’s top ranked players, fellow Valero Texas Open champions and some major championship winners to compete against in what is the third oldest PGA TOUR event on the schedule.
Currently, including Walker at No. 24, there are nine players in the field who are ranked among the top 25 in the world—(No. 9) Dustin Johnson, (No. 10) Patrick Reed, (No. 12) Branden Grace, (No. 14) Hideki Matsuyama, (No. 17) Brandt Snedeker, (No. 19) Brooks Koepka, (No. 20) Zach Johnson and (No. 23) J.B. Holmes.
Johnson, the 2008 and 2009 Valero Texas Open champion and winner of last year’s Open Championship, is one of six past champions returning, including Walker (2015), Steven Bowditch (2014), Ben Curtis (2012), Brendan Steele (2011), Zach Johnson (2008, 2009) and Justin Leonard (2000, 2001, 2007).
In all, there are six players currently in the field who are major champions and include: Ben Curtis (The Open Championship), Lucas Glover (U.S. Open), Retief Goosen (U.S. Open twice), Padraig Harrington (The Open Championship twice, PGA Championship), Zach Johnson (Masters, The Open Championship), Justin Leonard (The Open Championship).
Tournament officials also announced a commitment from Billy Horschel, the 2014 FedExCup champion and three-time TOUR winner. Bryson DeChambeau, who in 2015 became the fifth American golfer to win the NCAA Championship and the U.S. Amateur Championship while attending Southern Methodist University, has accepted a sponsor invitation to play as he tries to earn his PGA TOUR playing privileges this season. The Valero Texas Open is slated to be his second start as a professional.
The Valero Texas Open is also proud to continue its relationship with the PGA of America and has extended an invitation to Brad Dalke, winner of the 2015 Junior PGA Championship. Dalke, a freshman at Oklahoma, had an outstanding junior career that included four-time AJGA First-Team All-American honors and he was a member of the 2014 USA Junior Ryder Cup team.
Players have until Friday, April 15 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to commit to the Valero Texas Open. They can withdraw from the tournament at any time.
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
