2022 Valero Texas Open: Top 10 power rankings at TPC San Antonio
Rory McIlroy has fluctuated between choosing to play the week before a major and not. Given how the Masters weighs on him more than the rest of the majors since it’s the last leg of what he needs for the career Grand Slam, maybe it’s best to be occupied before shipping off to Augusta National.
So, he’s making his Valero Texas Open debut. The list of PGA Tour events he’s never played is mighty small. This will be his first time playing the week before the Masters since 2014.
“I think part of the reason I want to play in Texas leading into Augusta (this year) is because all I’m doing is focusing on getting my game ready to go to not just play Augusta,” McIlroy was quoted by Sports Illustrated. “It would be great to go to Texas and have a chance to win the golf tournament and that would be cool too. But it’s just a way for me to get my mind away, get out of thinking so much about the future and focus a little bit more on the present. I think by playing the week before that helps me do that.”
McIlroy should be well-rested for the 2022 Valero Texas Open
The Northern Irishman eschewed last week’s WGC-Dell Match Play, so he should be well-rested and ready to go.
His last start produced T-33rd at the Players Championship. That was McIlroy’s seventh made cut in a row, though it snapped a streak of nine straight top-20s counting limited field events.
He last won in the fall at the CJ Cup.
The 32-year-old has only 16 measured rounds on the PGA Tour this season, disqualifying him from statistical ranks. Nonetheless, he’s driving the ball well, as evidenced by an average of .903 strokes gained off the tee, which would rank second only behind Jon Rahm (1.299).
McIlroy is also gaining strokes in the other categories. He’s got the ball striking to thrive here and is strong enough to play from the sometimes penal TPC San Antonio rough.
McIlroy has done a lot in his career. He’s won three majors and picked up trophies around the world. Oddly enough, none of his 20 PGA Tour career wins have come in the Lone Star State. He’ll have a chance to change that here in San Antonio.