Valero Texas Open 36 Hole Recap and Weekend Preview
By Ryan Andrade
Steele takes three shot lead into weekend at Valero Texas Open.
The Valero Texas Open weekend contest is taking form. Brendan Steele came out of nowhere this week and has grabbed control of the Valero Texas Open leaderboard through 36 holes.
After impressive 8-under par 64 on Thursday, Steele did exactly what he needed to do on Friday. He came out and shot a very solid 2-under par 70 to take a 3 shot lead over three players.
Steele is doing what you have to do to have success on this difficult track at the TPC San Antonio. He is keeping the ball in play off the tee and hitting a good amount of greens. Steele is also an above average player off the tee in terms of distance, which will always help but especially on a long course like this one.
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The real reason Brenda Steele is leading, however, is the work he is doing with his flat stick. He has gained a whopping 2.7 strokes with the putter this week. He’s well above the tour average of just under zero. He has been able to give himself makable birdie putts and then been able to cash in on those 15 footers. That’s why he has a three shot lead right now. Only question is if he can continue to make those mid-range putts when the pressure intensifies on the weekend.
In the group of chasers just 3 back are Scott Langley, Stuart Appleby, and Charley Hoffman. The one in this group that really stands out, however, is Hoffman. Nobody has played this course better the last few years than the 39 year-old PGA TOUR veteran.
Charley Hoffman: 37-under at @TPCSanAntonio since 2010 in @valerotxopen, 21 shots better than anyone else in that span
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 21, 2016
Hoffman has become known for always starting fast, but not being able to continue that play on the weekends. It usually comes down to the putter with Hoffman. If he can make a few more putts to keep the momentum going, then this might just be his week.
In a large group at 6-under-par for the tournament sits Patrick Reed. It has been a very solid year for Patrick Reed, as evidence by his 7 top-tens already and his 15th ranking in the FedEx Cup standings. He is still looking for his first win since the 2015 Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Maui. Reed is too talented of a player to have not won since then. With the current leaderboard, I want to see Reed play like the top player he is. He is such a good all around ball striker, but he is outside the top 100 on the year in strokes gained putting.
Other notables in the field include Brandt Snedeker, who sits five shots back at 5-under-par.
Phil Mickelson has missed his second consecutive cut this week. Mickelson, however, continues to lead the PGA TOUR in scoring average.
The TPC San Antonio in 2015 was the most difficult course on the PGA TOUR outside of the majors. That has not been the case in 2016 as the players have been taking advantage of the softer conditions. Trouble is still lurking all around this course, and Brenda Steele will have to battle knowing he has a big lead heading into the weekend. Saturday is going to be a beautiful day for golf and Sunday will likely be even better.
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