SAN ANTONIO — Organizers of the Valero Texas Open can’t be thrilled with the fate of the top players who’ve traveled to the Alamo City over the last few years, each hoping to fine-tune their game before the Masters.
In 2022, Rory McIlroy came to TPC San Antonio, hoping to break his Augusta drought. He left early after missing the cut.
This year, Tyrrell Hatton tried the same move, saying on Tuesday that he’s been pleased with the beginning of his season, but still felt adding this tournament might be the springboard to better results at the year’s first major.
Unfortunately, Hatton’s game plan worked about as well as McIlroy’s did the year before.
The Brit had six bogeys in a sloppy second-round 75 and was the biggest name sent packing from the tournament, one that saw some players finish their second round Saturday because of inclement weather early in the week.
The cutline is the top 65 players plus those tied at the end of that group, and the number settled at even par. Here’s a look at the biggest names who fell on the wrong side of the cutlist after two rounds at the Oaks Course:
Tyrrell Hatton stands on the ninth green during the second round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
There is some consolation in all this for Hatton, who shot a solid 70 in the first round before falling apart in his second round. A year ago, after struggling at San Antonio, McIlroy went on to finish second at the Masters behind Scottie Scheffler, his best finish to date.
Considering that Hatton has played poorly at Augusta, he’d love to have a similar finish next week.
But the bad news is that Hatton’s issue in Georgia has been his putter, and that failed him this week in San Antonio.
Adam Schenk of the United States plays his shot from the first tee during the second round of the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio on March 31, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)
After a runner-up showing at the Valspar, this felt like a major step backward for Schenk, who came into this event 32nd in the FedEx Cup standings.
Schenk also struggled with his putter at the Greg Norman-designed course, with the prime example coming on No. 5 during his opening round. Schenk putted off the green and took a double bogey on the par-4, putting him behind the 8-ball.
Cameron Champ of the United States follows his shot from the second tee during the second round of the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio on March 31, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)
Talk about a wild finish. On the short par-4 17th hole Champ pulled his drive left and took a penalty, leading to a quadruple bogey. He gave it the ol’ college try on the final hole, however, reaching the green in two and dropping a 9-foot eagle putt to get to 2 over for the tournament.
Still, with Augusta on the horizon, Champ can’t be thrilled with his consecutive 73s.
Cam Davis of Australia lines up a shot on the sixth hole during the second round of the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio on March 31, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
We’ll try to spin this positively: we give credit to Davis for not withdrawing from the field after his opening round and sticking through a second.
Davis was awful on his first 18, using a pair of doubles and a pair of bogeys to finish the front with a 41. He didn’t fare much better on the back, dropping strokes on four holes in a five-hole stretch to finish the day with an 80.
Give him credit, though, he caught fire during his second round and posted a 66.
Jim Herman plays his shot from the first tee during the weather-delayed conclusion of the first round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
Herman’s inclusion on this list shows you the depth of field, but the three-time PGA Tour winner never really got rolling in San Antonio, missing more than half the fairways and failing to make up for it with his putter.
Herman opened with a 74 and finished his second round with an even-par 72 to bow out quietly.
Stewart Cink plays a shot on the first hole during the first round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
This marks five straight missed cuts for Cink, who has posted a higher score in the second round of each start. The eight-time PGA Tour winner had a great moment near the end of his round, though, as he rolled one up tight on the par-3 seventh hole and tapped in the five-footer for birdie.
Ryan Palmer lines up a putt on the sixth green during the first round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
It’s been an up-and-down year for Palmer, but he typically shines in his home state of Texas, posting four top-10 finishes at the Valero in a dozen starts.
He failed when it mattered most this week, however, posting a 39 on the back nine of his second round to drop on the wrong side of the cutline.
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