Last week, golf fans witnessed two PGA Tour events being played side by side. And now, following the intensely close WGC-Match Play and the drama-filled Corales Puntacana Championship, the Tour heads to San Antonio for the Valero Texas Open. The event will be the final stop on the Tour before the year’s first major championship. And with its highly competitive field and high stakes, it promises certain excitement for the viewers.
The field and format of the Valero Texas Open
Similar to the majority of the Tour events, the Texas Open too will be played over 72 holes. Over the four-day stretch that begins on Thursday this week, the 144-player field will battle it out to take home a win and the perks that go with it. Since it is also the last stop before the Masters, it serves as the final try for professionals to get onto the Augusta field by increasing their ranking.
Unfortunately, not all the golfers will make it to Sunday to compete in the final round. A cut is made after 36 holes at the event. That means that only the top 65 Tour players and ties will go on to play in the final two rounds of the Open. TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course in Texas will host the 24th PGA Tour event of 2023’s 40+ event season.
Rickie Fowler takes the course this week in a final attempt to win himself a spot at Augusta. Joining him is also J.J. Spaun, who won the event last year and is undoubtedly looking to defend the title. But with the likes of world No. 17, Tyrell Hatton, it will certainly be no cakewalk. 2021 winner, Jordan Spieth, doesn’t take to the course this weekend as he rests up for the Masters next month.
Total prize money and the winner’s cut
The Valero Texas Open sees a whopping purse of $8.9 million. Of that huge prize money, the winner will take home $1,602,000, which is in line with the 18% payout as per the PGA Tour’s prize money distribution chart. Moreover, all the players who play all four rounds of the event will get a piece of the purse!
Besides the huge check, the winner also has a few other perks in store for him at the event. He will receive 500 FedEx Cup points and 34 OWGR points, based on the strength of the field. Additionally, the victor will earn himself a 2-year exemption on the PGA Tour, as well as an exemption into the 2024 Tournament of Champions.
Prize money breakdown
Below is the total prize money breakdown for each individual golfer:
| Position | Money |
| 1 | $1,602,000 |
| 2 | $970,100 |
| 3 | $614,100 |
| 4 | $436,100 |
| 5 | $364,900 |
| 6 | $322,625 |
| 7 | $300,375 |
| 8 | $278,125 |
| 9 | $260,325 |
| 10 | $242,525 |
| 11 | $224,725 |
| 12 | $206,925 |
| 13 | $189,125 |
| 14 | $171,325 |
| 15 | $162,425 |
| 16 | $153,525 |
| 17 | $144,625 |
| 18 | $135,725 |
| 19 | $126,825 |
| 20 | $117,925 |
| 21 | $109,025 |
| 22 | $100,125 |
| 23 | $93,005 |
| 24 | $85,885 |
| 25 | $78,765 |
| 26 | $71,645 |
| 27 | $68,975 |
| 28 | $66,305 |
| 29 | $63,635 |
| 30 | $60,965 |
| 31 | $58,295 |
| 32 | $55,625 |
| 33 | $52,955 |
| 34 | $50,730 |
| 35 | $48,505 |
| 36 | $46,280 |
| 37 | $44,055 |
| 38 | $42,275 |
| 39 | $40,495 |
| 40 | $38,715 |
| 41 | $36,935 |
| 42 | $35,155 |
| 43 | $33,375 |
| 44 | $31,595 |
| 45 | $29,815 |
| 46 | $28,035 |
| 47 | $26,255 |
| 48 | $24,831 |
| 49 | $23,585 |
| 50 | $22,873 |
| 51 | $22,339 |
| 52 | $21,805 |
| 53 | $21,449 |
| 54 | $21,093 |
| 55 | $20,915 |
| 56 | $20,737 |
| 57 | $20,559 |
| 58 | $20,381 |
| 59 | $20,203 |
| 60 | $20,025 |
| 61 | $19,847 |
| 62 | $19,669 |
| 63 | $19,491 |
| 64 | $19,313 |
| 65 | $19,135 |
Who do you think will grab the trophy this weekend? And will we see a few more Masters invites thanks to the event? Let us know in the comments below.
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