Latest News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2019
World No. 11 Tony Finau, Local Sensations Cameron Champ, Abraham Ancer and FedExCup Champion Billy Horschel Latest Player Commitments
SAN ANTONIO, TX – Valero Texas Open officials announced today a foursome of early player commitments from some of the top players on the PGA TOUR.
The 2019 edition of the Valero Texas Open, which is scheduled for April 4-7 at TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course, will be the first of a 10-year contract extension between the PGA TOUR and Valero Energy Corporation; a deal which repositions the tournament in a coveted slot on the TOUR schedule the week preceding The Masters.
Earlier, organizers announced player commitments from World No. 14 Rickie Fowler as well as past Valero Texas Open champions Andrew Landry (2018), Kevin Chappell (2017), Jimmy Walker (2015), Martin Laird (2013) and Brendan Steele (2011).
Tony Finau will be competing in the Valero Texas Open for the first time since finishing tied for third in the 2017 event. The 29-year-old performed well in 2018, finishing among the top ten 11 times, including the Masters, U.S. Open and Open Championship and was a captain’s pick for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Finau, a 2016 TOUR winner, also finished second earlier this season at the WGC—HSBC Championship.
Cameron Champ, who lives in San Antonio and practices at the TPC San Antonio facility, won the Sanderson Farms Championship earlier this season at the age of 23 and followed that victory with two more top ten finishes. The rookie sensation currently leads the TOUR in driving distance averaging 319.9 yards per drive, just ahead of Finau’s 318 yards per drive average.
Abraham Ancer, also a San Antonio resident, is the highest ranked Mexican player in the world at the 58th spot and recently won the 2018 Emirates Australian Open. He has already recorded a pair of top ten finishes on TOUR after recording five during last season and finishing 60th on the FedExCup standings.
Billy Horschel, ranked 38th in the world, is a five-time winner on TOUR and won the season-long FedExCup in 2014. He has twice finished third at the Valero Texas Open—in 2013 and 2015.
Players have until Friday, March 29 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to commit to the Valero Texas Open. They can withdraw from the tournament at any time.
Earlier announcements regarding the Valero Texas Open, which has made a tremendous impact on the San Antonio community since the 1920s, and its various tournament week activities include:
GEORGE W. BUSH, 43RD PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As part of its annual military appreciation platform, the Valero Texas Open will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Night to Honor Our Heroes, which will feature special guest, George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States. The gala event, which has become a cornerstone of the Valero Texas Open tournament week, will be held Friday, April 5, and will host more than 1,000 guests including members of our U.S. Armed Forces and other dignitaries as the tournament pays tribute to the men and women who serve and have served our country. To learn how you can be a part of this special evening, visit www.ValeroTexasOpen.com/nhoh/.
TANJI PATTON TO SERVE AS KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR WOMEN’S DAY: On Tuesday, April 2, more than 300 women will participate in the 7th annual Valero Texas Open Women’s Day event at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa and TPC San Antonio. Tournament officials are excited to announce that Tanji Patton, Emmy award winning journalist and Host/Executive Producer of the television series, “Good Taste with Tanji” will serve as the event’s Keynote Speaker. Patton, has captivated television audiences for years as she features food and wine that showcases top chefs, restaurants and winemakers throughout Texas. For more information on table sponsorships and individual tickets for this event please visit www.ValeroTexasOpen.com/womens-day/.
DASH TO THE VTO: The 3rd annual Dash to the VTO presented by Humana Military will be held on Saturday, March 30 and will include a 5k and one-mile run/walk race around TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course. It’s a chance for participants to get a sneak peek at the tournament layout prior to the PGA TOUR competition beginning later that week. A fun event for the whole family, this race will also help raise funds and awareness for the Valero Texas Open’s Birdies for Charity fundraising campaign. Race registration is open starting today. Visit www.ValeroTexasOpen.com/dashtothevto/ for more details or to register.
TICKETS: All tickets, General Admission and Hospitality options, for the 2019 Valero Texas Open are officially on sale starting today through Ticketmaster.
| • | LIVE ULTRA AT THE U – We are excited to once again partner with local colleges and universities on our 16th tee hospitality venue in which proceeds will support those participating institutions. Thanks to the support of our long-time partner Michelob ULTRA, guests of the newly named Live ULTRA at The U will benefit from great new in-venue activation elements and fan enhancements that they can enjoy while watching the PGA TOUR action. Tickets to Live ULTRA at The U are now on sale for $60 per person per day. |
| • | MILITARY - As this is Military City, U.S.A., we are pleased to continue our tradition of offering complimentary admission to service men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. |
| • | FIRST RESPONDERS - We are also proud to offer all Bexar county First Responders complimentary admission as well – for the fifth year in a row |
| • | HEROES PAVILION - Both the Military and First Responders can enjoy the “Heroes Pavilion” which will be located behind the 17th green with easy access from the main spectator entrance. |
| • | Please visit www.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
