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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 18, 2020

Reigning Open Championship Winner Shane Lowry Commits to San Antonio’s Valero Texas Open

SAN ANTONIO, TX – Shane Lowry, winner of the 2019 Open Championship, officially announced today his intentions to compete in the Valero Texas Open to be held April 2-5 in San Antonio.

Lowry will be returning to the Valero Texas Open for the first time since 2015 and third time overall. He received sponsor exemptions in 2013 and 2015 when he finished tied for 15th and tied for 58th respectively.

“I am excited to return to San Antonio and once again test my game at the TPC Oaks Course,” said Lowry, currently ranked 18th in the world. “Valero gave me playing opportunities early in my career, so to be able to come back and show my support for this long-standing tournament as the Open Champion is very satisfying.”

The Irishman won the 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland by six strokes. It was his fifth career worldwide victory, which also includes wins at the 2015 World Golf Championships—Bridgestone Invitational and the 2009 Irish Open, when he was an amateur.

“Shane is not only a world-class golfer and the reigning Open Champ, he’s also a great guy with an infectious smile and a warm personality,” said Larson Segerdahl, Executive Director of the Valero Texas Open. “We couldn’t be more pleased to have Shane headed back to San Antonio this April.”

With Lowry’s commitment, and with six weeks still remaining till the player commitment deadline, there are now five players among the top 30 in the world scheduled to play. Earlier tournament officials announced World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, No. 26 Rickie Fowler, No. 29 Abraham Ancer and No. 30 Lee Westwood.

Lowry is also one of six major championship winners scheduled to play. He joins McIlroy (2011 U.S. Open, 2012 PGA Championship, 2014 Open Championship, 2014 PGA Championship), Jason Dufner (2013 PGA Championship), Graeme McDowell (2010 U.S. Open), Jimmy Walker (2016 PGA Championship), and Zach Johnson (2007 Masters, 2015 Open Championship).

The 2020 edition of the Valero Texas Open, returns to TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course for the 11th year. This will be the second year of a 10-year contract extension between the PGA TOUR and Valero Energy Corporation; a deal which positions the tournament in a coveted slot on the TOUR schedule-- the week preceding the Masters Tournament.

Corey Conners, who last year held on for a two-stroke win over 2016 VTO champion Charley Hoffman, will return to defend his title. Conners is one of eight (8) tournament champions currently committed to the third oldest PGA TOUR event on the schedule. Among them are Andrew Landry (2018), Kevin Chappell (2017), Hoffman (2016), local star and major champion Walker (2015), Martin Laird (2013), Brendan Steele (2011) and two-time major champion and two-time Valero Texas Open winner Johnson (2008 & 2009).

Players have until Friday, March 27 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to commit to the Valero Texas Open. They can withdraw from the tournament at any time.

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.

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Shane Lowry

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