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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2018
Kevin Chappell Set To Defend Title; Reigning Masters Champion Sergio Garcia Returns
Early Commitments Include Past Champions, Major Champions, FedExCup Champions All Preparing To Compete In San Antonio’s PGA TOUR Event
SAN ANTONIO, TX – 2017 champion Kevin Chappell returned to San Antonio today to participate in the Valero Texas Open’s annual Media Day and is among a list of early player commitments announced by tournament officials for the 2018 Valero Texas Open, scheduled for April 19-22 at TPC San Antonio’s AT&T Oaks Course.
Sergio Garcia, the 2017 Masters champion and currently ranked 11th in the world, has committed and will be making his first start in the Valero Texas Open since 2010. The Spaniard has won ten times on the PGA TOUR and 36 times worldwide. Garcia has played on eight European Ryder Cup teams since 1999 and has rarely fallen out of the top 15 in the world since 2000.
Chappell, currently ranked World No. 36, is one of seven champions of the past decade committed to the third oldest PGA TOUR event on the schedule.
Among them is World No. 23 Charley Hoffman (2016), 2016 PGA Champion Jimmy Walker (2015), Steven Bowditch (2014), Martin Laird (2013), Brendan Steele (2011) and two-time major champion Zach Johnson (2008, 2009).
The tournament has also received commitments from World No.17 and Olympic bronze medalist Matt Kuchar; World No. 21 Brian Harman; 2017 U.S. Ryder Cup captain, past FedExCup champion and major champion Jim Furyk; 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell; two-time major champions Martin Kaymer and Retief Goosen; 2009 Open Championship winner Stewart Cink; FedExCup champions Billy Horschel and Brandt Snedeker as well as five-time PGA TOUR winner Ryan Moore and four-time PGA TOUR winners J.B. Holmes and Camilo Villegas.
Chappell sank an eight-foot birdie putt in front of a huge crowd on the final hole Sunday for a one-stroke victory over 2017 U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka, who was warming up on the range for a possible playoff. It was Chappell’s first PGA TOUR victory. Chappell finished tied for fourth in the 2016 tournament and now has three top-five finishes, including a runner-up in 2011, in his eight starts in San Antonio.
“Prior to coming to San Antonio last year, Kevin had finished in a tie for 7th at the Masters and certainly was playing some great golf. His dramatic finish here marked the second consecutive year we had the winning putt occur on the final hole, adding more lore to our historic event,” Executive Director Larson Segerdahl said. “We look forward to seeing Kevin defend his title against the likes of Sergio Garcia, Matt Kuchar and other top PGA TOUR players this April.”
Joaquin Niemann, the top-ranked amateur player in the world, has accepted a sponsor exemption to play in the tournament. Niemann, a 19-year-old from Chile, will turn pro after this year’s Masters, where he earned an exemption for winning the Latin American Amateur Championship last month.
“We are excited to have this incredible young talent in our field this year,” Segerdahl said. “We have always prided ourselves on providing opportunities to promising young players and we look forward to seeing Joaquin use his start in the Valero Texas Open as a stepping stone to earning his PGA TOUR card.”
This initial collection of players has accumulated eleven major championships and 106 PGA TOUR wins.
Players have until Friday, April 13 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
