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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2017
Charley Hoffman Set To Defend Title; Numerous TOUR Stars Already Committed
Current PGA Championship Winner, 2015 Valero Texas Open Champion & Local Hero Jimmy Walker To Compete In San Antonio’s Historical PGA TOUR Event
SAN ANTONIO, TX – Tournament officials announced at the event’s annual Media Day this afternoon some early player commitments including the return of last year’s champion Charley Hoffman, for the 2017 Valero Texas Open, scheduled for April 20-23 at TPC San Antonio’s AT&T Oaks Course.
Hoffman made a ten-foot birdie putt on his 72nd hole Sunday to hold off San Antonio native Patrick Reed for a one-stroke victory. In his 11th consecutive start at the Valero Texas Open, Hoffman captured his fourth PGA TOUR victory. Hoffman has never missed a cut in the tournament, has five top-ten finishes and has only finished outside the top-15 one time in San Antonio.
“Charley’s dramatic victory on the final hole, after starting the day two strokes back, was another thrilling moment in Valero Texas Open history,” said the tournament’s Executive Director Larson Segerdahl. “It was so rewarding to see his consistency in this tournament finally payoff with a victory.”
Hoffman is one of eight champions of the past decade committed to the third oldest PGA TOUR event on the schedule.
Among them is World No. 21 Jimmy Walker, the reigning PGA Championship winner, who won the 2015 Valero Texas Open. The Boerne, TX resident’s victory at the PGA Championship was his sixth career victory and marked four consecutive years he has recorded at least one victory during a season.
Other champions joining Hoffman and Walker in the field are Justin Leonard (2000, 2001 and 2007), Zach Johnson (2008, 2009), Brendan Steele (2011), who is currently 5th in the FedExCup standings, Ben Curtis (2012), Martin Laird (2013), who is currently 20th in the FedExCup standings and Steven Bowditch (2014).
The tournament has also received commitments from World No. 18 Branden Grace, a seven-time winner on the European Tour who won the RBC Heritage on the PGA TOUR last year, as well as Northern Ireland’s 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell. In addition, World No. 31 J.B. Holmes and 2014 FedExCup champion Billy Horschel and the dynamic European team Ryder Cup competitor Ian Poulter on the list of early commitments.
Beau Hossler, a 21-year-old, who turned professional after his junior year at the University of Texas, has accepted a sponsor exemption from tournament officials. Last year, Hossler was ranked No.2 in the world among amateurs. As a 17-year-old he qualified for a second straight year to compete in the 2012 U.S. Open, held the lead after the second round and finished tied for 29th.
This initial collection of players has accumulated six major championships and 58 PGA TOUR wins.
Players have until Friday, April 14 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
