Texas Open provides chance for Tour Card hopefuls
IN: News | US PGA | Valero Texas Open (2005) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 21 Sep 2005
With twenty four of the leading players on the USPGA Tour occupied elsewhere this week in Virginia, the Valero Texas Open provides yet another late season opportunity for those outside of that elite group to either consolidate their place on the PGA Tour money list or to advance their cause towards saving their card.
The tournament is played over the Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish designed Resort Course at the La Cantera Golf Club in San Antonio where it has been held since 1995. The defending champion is Bart Bryant who, after 187 starts on the PGA Tour, finally broke through for his win here last year by three shots over Patrick Sheehan. Bryant stepped up to yet another level in 2005 by winning the Memorial tournament.
The course has seen some low scoring over the years more especially in 2003 when Tommy Armour won by seven shots after recording a four round total of 254 or twenty six under.
The field this year, as has been the case in several occasions in recent years, is depleted in strength because of its clash with the now annual Ryder or Presidents Cups.
Jerry Kelly has played well on one or two occasions here and his form prior to his withdrawal at last week's 84 Lumber Classic was very good. He suffered from dizziness then so if he has fully recovered, he can be a chance this week. He does tend to tease a lot in terms of winning but if he puts himself in a position often enough he might just win again before too long.
Vaughn Taylor is playing very well in recent weeks and finished strongly over the weekend here last year for 22nd.
Chad Campbell has shown in recent weeks that another PGA Tour victory is not far away. He has played well enough on the two occasions he has been to this event for him to be considered as a genuine chance here.
Having come to terms with some personal issues of late, Stephen Ames seems to be back close to where we know he can be with a good finish in Canada. He finished 8th here several years ago in one of only two times in the event and if it was to get windy here, that will be of no concern to Ames.
Steve Elkington has rushed back from London and the World Match Play where he was narrowly beaten by the eventual winner Michael Campbell in round two. His runner up placing at the PGA Championship a few weeks ago highlights just where he is at with his game and he will no doubt be keen to win here to perhaps prove to some that he should have been in Virginia this week. He has played well here on occasions including two top tens at this venue.
Rod Pampling played well last week in Pennsylvania, a late double bogey costing him a top five finish. He has played here on two occasions and has made the cut both times. Six top tens in 2005 has him heading for yet another good season and this may provide the opportunity for his second PGA Tour win. He is now Texas based and likes playing on Bermuda greens.
Bo Van Pelt has not starred here in his three times to the event. There have been enough good signs about his recent form to suggest he could go close to a win.
Pat Perez has made a lot of cuts lately and with a 6th placing at the PGA and 5th at the Western Open then he should be considered. Not always the most predictable of players he does have a 5th placing here in 2002 to indicate his liking for the course.
Jeff Brehaut is a much better player now than he was when 8th here in 1999. Several recent top tens highlight just how good a player Brehaut has become.
Carlos Franco appears to be getting back to the form that has seen him win four times on the USPGA Tour. His second place last week was very impressive.
J.L. Lewis often seems to find a way to play well here and despite his less than impressive recent form, he might just do so again.
Ryan Moore's appearance here will create much interest. He is destined for great things in the professional arena and showed when second in Canada that he has the right stuff to do achieve such.
For several of the Australasians other than Pampling and Elkington mentioned above, this is an important week. Aaron Baddeley, John Senden and Craig Perks have their 2006 cards safely in keeping but for the likes of Paul Gow, Brendan Jones, Scott Hend, Gavin Coles, Bradley Hughes, Michael Long and Euan Walters they must take advantage of weeks such as these if they are to return to the USPGA Tour in 2006 without returning to Tour School.
Photo - Anthony Powter
