2023 Valero Texas Open: Top 10 Power Rankings at TPC San Antonio
Chris Kirk didn’t have his best stuff at last week’s WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play going 0-2-1 in group play, but he’s been awfully good lately in stroke play.
Plus. he’s got a stellar history at the Valero Texas Open.
Starting with recent form, Kirk won his fifth PGA Tour event and first since 2015 a month ago at the Honda Classic.
He’s already up to three top-threes this season with a solo third at the Sony Open in Hawaii and T-3rd at The American Express. The next step is for Kirk to perform like this at designated events, but you can still do well for yourself cleaning up at the lower-tier events.
Kirk is making his ninth trip to the Oaks course. He’s made seven cuts with three top-10s and a T-13th at TPC San Antonio.
The high water mark for the Georgia Bulldog was when he battled back for T-6th in 2021 (72-72-67-68). Kirk took T-35th (70-72-69-72) last year.
The 37-year-old leads the PGA Tour this season in approaches from 125-150 yards (18’10”). He’s 33rd in strokes gained per round on approach (.467) and 26th in SG around-the-green (.328).
As long as the driver cooperates this week, there’s a chance he could win two events in a season for the second time in his career (2013-14).
Next. These latest comments by Rory McIlroy will delight fans. dark
The Woodstock, Georgia, native is competing in his home state at the Masters next week for the first time since 2016.
He no longer is coming to the Texas Open needing to win to get to Augusta National. I see a freed-up Kirk playing well this week in prep for his return down Magnolia Lane.