2016 Valero Texas Open Discussion

[iacas]

So, Jordan Spieth is skipping it, and the field isn't the strongest two weeks after the most recent major… so who wins?

PGA Tour pros have a pretty compressed summer of majors, what with the Olympics crowding things.

[newtogolf]

This could be the week Bryson gets his first Tour win.  

[iacas]

20 minutes ago, newtogolf said:

This could be the week Bryson gets his first Tour win.  

Has anyone figured out how much he has to win to earn his card? Or does he just have to finish in the top 100-ish?

[krupa]

8 minutes ago, iacas said:

Has anyone figured out how much he has to win to earn his card? Or does he just have to finish in the top 100-ish?

According to the Golf Channel (http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/dechambeau-finishes-t-4-pro-debut/)

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To earn a full card for next season, he'll need to equal the points or earnings of No. 125 on the season-long standings, which last season meant a cutoff of 458 points or $747,899 in earnings.

If he misses that, 361 FedEx Cup points gets him unlimited sponsor exemptions.

 

As for the tournament, I'm going to go with Matt Kuchar.  No particular reason except that I like his sketcher commercials and if the OWGR #1 can start the day T1 and end with a round of 79, any reason is as good as any other.

[Rainmaker]

I'll say Luke Donald takes it.  He's arriving with some momentum.  I may go on Thursday if the weather is decent.    

[rehmwa]

Luke needs a win.

[pumaAttack]

Phil is gonna take this one.

[nevets88]

4 hours ago, iacas said:

Has anyone figured out how much he has to win to earn his card? Or does he just have to finish in the top 100-ish?

I posted this in reddit. So ~335 to be exempt, 500 points to winner of Valero. Not sure of exact money, but if he wins he'll definitely get his card. 2nd place, awfully close. But now that I look at it again, $750K to be exempt? Is that on the low side?

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So because he placed well, he has 123 Fedex points and earned $259K. He has sponsors exemptions to four upcoming tournaments regardless of how many points he has (max 7) plus he is able to play The Memorial and Quicken loans because is the Am Champ.

In those 7 + 2 + 1 (10) tournaments (he's popular, so he'll probably get 3 more sponsors exemptions and his top ten got him one more tournament), he needs 238 more points to earn temporary status to play more tournaments this year to earn more points/money to earn exempt status for next year. He needs around 335 more points or around $490K more in earnings to be exempt next year.

So basically he needs two more top tens in those ten tournaments to play more tournaments. In those remaining tournaments, one more top ten to be exempt next year.

In short, he keeps up this level of play, he should earn his card for next year. Winning is not the easiest option. It's easiest to understand, but winning is hard. 3 more top tens, or 6, 7, 8 top 20s to play next year, is much easier.
 

[Howling Coyote]

Spieth is a no show?  The defending champ is Jimmy Walker.  Some have suggested Charlie Hoffman, but Charlie doesn't have that closer ability.  He gets hot then quickly wilts.

I am going with Billy Horschel.  He finished 3rd and I think his time has come.

[Natural Patrick]

Patrick Reed

[Rainmaker]

Stuart Appleby making a Thursday charge! 

Coincidentally - I just got an email from the Horseshoe Bay Resort - this year's Shootout at Horse Shoe Bay will feature Stuart Appleby vs Jason Kokrak. 

Kokrak is currently T60 - 5 shots behind Appleby. Is this setting up a battle that will spill over into Horse Shoe Bay?!? 

 

 

[boogielicious]

Maybe it's because I was home sick yesterday, but did anyone else find the coverage yesterday really dull?

[Rainmaker]

11 hours ago, boogielicious said:

Maybe it's because I was home sick yesterday, but did anyone else find the coverage yesterday really dull?

Ha, yes. .it kills me to say this as a local . but the Valero is possibly the worst tournament on the tour. 

CBSSports said about The Texas Open:

"Everything is bigger in Texas except this tournament. "

http://www.cbssports.com/golf/eye-on-golf/24936562/ranking-the-2015-pga-tour-events-from-1-40

[Chilli Dipper]

It doesn't help that the tournament went from being the lowest-scoring event on tour when it was held at La Cantera, to the highest-scoring event when it moved to the TPC a few years ago.

[Buckeyebowman]

On 4/19/2016 at 0:42 PM, nevets88 said:

I posted this in reddit. So ~335 to be exempt, 500 points to winner of Valero. Not sure of exact money, but if he wins he'll definitely get his card. 2nd place, awfully close. But now that I look at it again, $750K to be exempt? Is that on the low side?

Despite the megabucks flowing on the PGA Tour these days, the money falls off precipitously on the "just trying to get (or keep) my card" end of things. Not that $750K is all that bad! It is the gross, however, but also does not take into account sponsorship $. The clubs, balls, bag, clothing and hat money! Some top of the line guys are making $3K a week for wearing a hat! Hell! Send me one! I'll wear it 24/7! But, then, no one would care.

Did anyone beside me catch the bit on a recent golf telecast that Nicklaus' first pro winnings were for $33.33! Even back then that wouldn't get you very far.

[nevets88]

Hold your nose for this stinker, holy bad. Is that Charlie Hoffman? Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. We've been there.

 

[Rainmaker]

As I watch that replay of Charlie's duff . .I realize . .I actually have not been there.  Look at that ball flight - low slice.  I have hit a lot of misses but I've never hit that one. 

[b101]

Meh... This just isn't a very good tournament, is it? Would be happy with either Reed or Donald, but for the most part, I just don't care.

At least the Players' isn't far away...