Valero Texas Open 2016

Valero Texas Open Champion 2016, Charley Hoffman

The PGA Tour moved to the Valero Texas open, staged at the TPC San Antonio, which saw Charley Hoffman claim his 4^th career win. The course itself has some pedigree when it comes to the history of its design. The complex offers two courses, one designed by Pete Dye and the other by Greg Norman, with Norman being the designer for the course that hosted this week’s event. The course boasts narrow, tree-lined fairways and is the more challenging of the two course on the site of the country club.

The tournament has a rich history on the PGA Tour having been a feature for many years, in the past the tournament has attracted many top players. Last year’s saw Jimmy Walker get the win to runner up Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy finished in the same vain the year before. This week was no different with a strong field of players taking the trip to Texas. The likes of Phil Mickelson, Jimmy Walker and Patrick Reed were amongst the marquee names that always help to attract a lively crowd.

The four days play had several lead changed and a different overnight leader nearly every day, but on the last day it was clear it was between Reed and Hoffman. With Patrick reed having missed a couple of short putts on 16 and 17 Hoffman looked like he could well of been pipped at the post by Reed but he had other ideas. After Reed knocked in his birdie putt in on the last hole, both players were tied at -11. Hoffman was standing over a 9 foot putt for birdie, and ultimately the win. Having rolled the putt in beautifully, and expressing his pure elation at winning his 4^th tour victory, Hoffman was positively ecstatic on the 72^nd hole.

Hoffman's reaction after the putt rolled in

After the win Hoffman is quoted as saying: “I said to myself, "Let's finish this here, let's not play anymore,”. Things could have turned out so differently at this week’s event, but the putt went in and Charley Hoffman is declared as the new 2016 Valero Texas Open Champion.

This victory for Hoffman just shows that every shot counts, with the last 19/24 PGA Tour events having been won by a one shot margin or via playoff. The bottle it takes to be in contention on a Sunday, in such a competitive sport such as professional golf, is just immense. The gulf that finishing first to second on the PGA Tour is huge nowadays, the winner receives higher earnings, more FedEx Cup points, the two-year exemption, Masters Invitation and, of course, the attention and admiration that comes with being that week’s winner. What a week of golf to show the importance of every shot on the course. 

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About Unknown

Golf enthusiast based in Scotland blogging about results, news and gossip from the PGA and European Tour. As well as blogging about my experiences from playing courses in the home of golf, Scotland, and other places around the world.