GolfSpy_KFT Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 Who does everyone like for the Valero Texas Open? I would be lying if I said I wasn't pulling STRONGLY for Rickie Fowler to top the leaderboard as I would love to see him play in the Master's next weekend. He's been in great form this year and it's nice to see him return to a high level of play. Should be a fun lead up to the Master's next weekend and major season officially getting under way! cnosil and Rickp 2 Quote Driver: GT3 9|Tour AD-UB 6S (testing in progress) Fairways: GT2 15 & 18|Tour AD-UB 7S (testing in progress) | Aerojet Max 7|Kai'Li White 70X Hybrid: King TEC 3H|MCA MMT 85g Stiff Irons: Aerojet 6-GW|KBS $-taper Lite Stiff Wedges: Vokey SM10 52.12F|56.12D|True Temper Vokey Wedge Flex Putter: Super Select Newport 2.0 Ball: Tour & ProV1 #LeftyGang Titleist GT Long Game Test (Link Here) Cobra 50th Anniversary Member Special Challenge (link here) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnosil Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 I don’t really pull for specific golfers. Rickie would be a good person to see win. GolfSpy_KFT and Rickp 2 Quote Driver: G400 Max 9* w/ KBS Tour Driven Fairway: Paradym AI Smoke Max HL 16.5* w/MCA TENSEI AV Series Blue Hybrids: 915H 21* w/KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid Prototype 915H 24* w/KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid Prototype Irons: TR20V 6-11 w/Vizard TR20-85 Graphite Wedge: 54/12D, 60/8M w/Accra iWedge 90 Graphite Putter: Render w/VA Composites Baddazz Backup Putters: Sacks Parente MC 3 Stripe, Milled Collection RSX 2 Member: MGS Hitsquad since 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splatt Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 G’day Golfers, The Masters is nearly here, the pros can almost smell Scheffler’s menu but, before we get there there’s still one more tournament to play. It may not be a designated event, but some intriguing storylines could play out here at this sleeper tournament. For most, it’s a final opportunity to qualify for The Masters and make that famous drive down Magnolia Lane. The Valero Texas Open doesn’t pack the same punch as it will most years as a lot of the stars will move straight to The Masters next week, normally some of them would use this event, even if already qualified, to keep their skills and swing sharpened ahead of the seasons first major, but after already playing in quite a few designated events, a lot of them have chosen to skip this event. The Valero Texas Open is held at TPC San Antonio, a 7,438 yard par-72 course featuring the standard 10 par-4s, four par-5s, and four par-3s. Standard doesn’t mean boring, but it can mean LOOONG and also interesting. TPC San Antonio is constantly ranked in the top 10 longest courses on tour and is unique with the par-3 16th being one of the rare holes in the world with a bunker in the middle of the green; if you’re wrong sided I’m not sure what the etiquette is on chipping on the green (I would definitely create a green-keeper maddening divot) To finish the 18 holes after the bunker-green par 3 there is a driveable par 4 on the 17th and an always entertaining risk/reward par 5 on the 18th. There’s a couple of exciting storylines that could emerge this week which I will be keeping a close eye on. 1. Can a first-timer win? Of the last 11 years of the Valero Texas Open, it has been the first-ever Tour win for 5 golfers, including last year's winner J.J Spaun, 2019’s Corey Conners, 2018’s Andrew Landry, 2017’s Kevin Chappell, and 2011’s Brendan Steele. 2. Last Chance to play Augusta next week There’s a whole list of names teeing it up this week that are yet to qualify for The Masters that will be giving it one last shot this weekend. For most, only a win will suffice. Field Highlights This week I’m going to concentrate on golfers not yet qualified for The Masters teeing it up for their last chance. · Rickie Fowler – BDR himself (I’ll let you figure out the acronym). Rickie is on somewhat of a return to form. He’s been working hard on his swing and he’s put together an impressive resume of results already this season. Some highlights: T-6 Fortinet Championship, T-2 ZOZO Championship, T-10 WM Phoenix Open, T-11 Farmers Insurance Open, and a T-13 at The Players. Is he back? I’d love him to be, but the jury is still out for me. But, if he wins the Valero Texas Championship and plays The Masters next week then I’ll be convicting him guilty of Return-To-Form. Currently ranked 59th in the world, he’s not too far from auto-qualifying for The Masters (maybe next year if his form continues), but a win is needed here if he’s to fly to Augusta next week. · Matt Wallace – A recent winner on the PGA Tour with a win last week on the Corales Puntacana Championship, but it wasn’t enough to qualify as it was held on the same week as the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Wallace missed 5 cuts in a row earlier this season (admittedly he did play some DP World Tour events in between), but you could definitely argue he has hit some recent form with a win last week and a T-7 the week before. Back-to-back wins are a hard feat to achieve on the PGA Tour, especially with a Masters invite on the table, so the biggest of good luck to him. · J.J. Spaun – To say he’s got an uphill battle is an understatement. At any tournament, defending your title is a rare thing but, JJ Spaun will need to defend his Valero Texas Open Championship title to gain entry to The Masters. What an accomplishment that would be. J.J. is high on my list of players I will be cheering for this weekend. He’s had a good, not great, 2023 season so far this year with 14 events played, 10 cuts made, 2 top-10’s, and 7 top-25’s. What makes me for J.J. is his missed cuts have all come at big events with high pressure: Farmers Insurance, WM Phoenix Open, Arnold Palmer Invitational, and The Players. Let’s hope he can keep his nerve and get himself a spot next week. · Matt Kuchar – KUUUUUUUCH. Not the strongest season for Kuch, hence not already having a ticket to pass through the gates at Augusta next week. He’s played 11 events and missed 4 cuts, but his recent forms lend, even more, worries for Kuch. These are his last 6 events heading into the Valero Texas Open: WGC Match-play – T-9, The Players – MC, The Honda Classic – MC, The Genesis Invitational – solo-8, WM Phoenix Open – T32. My hopes are not high for Kuch. Akshay Bhatia – Bhatia is fast becoming a favourite of mine on Tour. He’s the proud owner of a silky smooth swing and 5 cuts made out of 6 starts this year on the PGA Tour. He’s had a runner-up finish at the Puerto Rico Open and a T-24 last week at the Corales to name a few of his recent achievements. It’s more of a gut feeling with Bhatia that he has a lot more to give than he is currently giving us. This is a bit of a later post than normal from me, so far I’ve had these posted before the first round started but I’m currently watching the first round start while finishing this off. Unfortunately, I had work commitments this week which meant tonight was the first time I had to sit down and put this together. My boss will be getting a strongly worded email regarding the importance of the My Golf Spy forum. Golfers, that’s it from me. May your picks make the cut, and bring on The Masters next week. GolfSpy_APH and GolfSpy_KFT 2 Quote Driver: Speedzone 9.5 degree (love this club) Hybrid - RadSpeed 3 Hyrbid Irons - VGI02 5I to SW - 2024 MGS test Wedges - Hi-Toe 58 degree Putter - - MEZZ.1 MAX - 2023 MGS TEST Ball - E6 (stands for 3-putt apparently) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnosil Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 5 minutes ago, Splatt said: I’m currently watching the first round start while finishing this off. Hasn’t been much golf yet; in another fog delay and they are showing the 2022 event Splatt and GolfSpy_KFT 2 Quote Driver: G400 Max 9* w/ KBS Tour Driven Fairway: Paradym AI Smoke Max HL 16.5* w/MCA TENSEI AV Series Blue Hybrids: 915H 21* w/KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid Prototype 915H 24* w/KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid Prototype Irons: TR20V 6-11 w/Vizard TR20-85 Graphite Wedge: 54/12D, 60/8M w/Accra iWedge 90 Graphite Putter: Render w/VA Composites Baddazz Backup Putters: Sacks Parente MC 3 Stripe, Milled Collection RSX 2 Member: MGS Hitsquad since 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splatt Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 Yeah they got like half a hole in or something haha GolfSpy_KFT and cnosil 2 Quote Driver: Speedzone 9.5 degree (love this club) Hybrid - RadSpeed 3 Hyrbid Irons - VGI02 5I to SW - 2024 MGS test Wedges - Hi-Toe 58 degree Putter - - MEZZ.1 MAX - 2023 MGS TEST Ball - E6 (stands for 3-putt apparently) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolfSpy_APH Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 All I know is I want Fowler to win... nothing else matters! GolfSpy_KFT, celtics33fire23, Splatt and 2 others 5 Quote as of Oct 5, 2024 (Past WITB) Driver: GT2 with Graphite Design AD CQ - check out the Driver Shootout! Wood: GT2 with Graphite Design AD CQ shaft (still love my Cobra F7's) Irons: T Series - T200 5 Iron T150 6-9 Iron Wedge: Toura Golf - A Spec 53,57 or SM10 45,49,53,57 degree wedges Putter: LINK! Full putter shootout incoming Balls: Vice Pro Plus Drip (Blue/Orange) Golf Bag: Ghost Anyday 5.0 Golf bag - Maverick colorway with MGS Logo Other: Vortex Anarch Rangefinder, searching for electric cart, Red Rooster The Root Glove and more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richk9holes Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 My pick for this is Matsuyama running away from the field, so long as he doesn't aggravate his multiple injuries. I don't think he'd be in the field if he wasn't ready for a serious tune-up. Withdrawing from the match-play was an abundance of caution, imo, especially considering the grueling nature of the format. GolfSpy_KFT and Splatt 2 Quote Finding a way to turn birdies into bogeys since 1992. #TeamChunks '23 Forum Tester: Elixir Golf Ball WITB:TS2 10.5° @ 11.25° Tensei blue AV 55 R graph•917f2 15° @ 16.5° Diamana blue x5ct dialed 70 R graph•Stealth 22° Ventus red 6 (non-velo) R graph• 699u 2i 17° tgi 70 R graph•24° Tour v 90 black pvd R steel•699 6i-PW Tour 110 black pvd R steel• SM8 50°/08° @ 52°/10° SM8 stock steel• Jaws Full Toe 56°/12° DG Spinner TI steel • c series DW 2.0 slant neck stock steel•Phantom 2 gps•Tour v3 rangefinder•Elixir golf ball• Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splatt Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 4 minutes ago, richk9holes said: My pick for this is Matsuyama running away from the field, so long as he doesn't aggravate his multiple injuries. I don't think he'd be in the field if he wasn't ready for a serious tune-up. Withdrawing from the match-play was an abundance of caution, imo, especially considering the grueling nature of the format. Fingers crossed he doesn't aggrevate anything. I'd be taking it easy if I were him richk9holes 1 Quote Driver: Speedzone 9.5 degree (love this club) Hybrid - RadSpeed 3 Hyrbid Irons - VGI02 5I to SW - 2024 MGS test Wedges - Hi-Toe 58 degree Putter - - MEZZ.1 MAX - 2023 MGS TEST Ball - E6 (stands for 3-putt apparently) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Stanek Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 1 hour ago, GolfSpy_APH said: All I know is I want Fowler to win... nothing else matters! Yeah I am with you on that one! He is right there....feel like he is ready for something big!! GolfSpy_APH and GolfSpy_KFT 2 Quote Lee Stanek Driver: SIM2 Max 9* 3,9 Woods: S2H2 Big Bertha 4-9i,PW,SW S2H2 GW MG3 52* LW Adams GT2 Undercut 60* Putter: Scotty Cameron Caliente Ball: Play either ProV1 or Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolfSpy_KFT Posted March 30, 2023 Author Share Posted March 30, 2023 8 minutes ago, Lee Stanek said: Yeah I am with you on that one! He is right there....feel like he is ready for something big!! It's been awesome to see him rejuvenated this year. Not easy to come back from a big slump and struggles that he dealt with! GolfSpy_APH 1 Quote Driver: GT3 9|Tour AD-UB 6S (testing in progress) Fairways: GT2 15 & 18|Tour AD-UB 7S (testing in progress) | Aerojet Max 7|Kai'Li White 70X Hybrid: King TEC 3H|MCA MMT 85g Stiff Irons: Aerojet 6-GW|KBS $-taper Lite Stiff Wedges: Vokey SM10 52.12F|56.12D|True Temper Vokey Wedge Flex Putter: Super Select Newport 2.0 Ball: Tour & ProV1 #LeftyGang Titleist GT Long Game Test (Link Here) Cobra 50th Anniversary Member Special Challenge (link here) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickp Posted March 31, 2023 Share Posted March 31, 2023 I’m definitely rooting for Rickie so he can go to the Masters. Good kid who has had his struggles but working hard to get back to the top. Go Rickie!! GolfSpy_KFT 1 Quote Rick Left Hand, Driver; PXG 0311XF Cypher 50 gr Senior 5 wood; Ping 425, Senior Shaft 55 gr 7 wood; Ping 425, Senior Shaft 55 gr 5 hybrid; Cally Steelhead, Hazardous R2 Irons; Mizuno JPX 923HM 7-GW Recoil 460 F2 Wedges; Titleist S9 54*, Mizuno SW 56* Putter; Waaay too many to list Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splatt Posted March 31, 2023 Share Posted March 31, 2023 Tough day out there today, most hovering between +1 and -2. Except, Patrick Rodgers and Eric Cole who both shot -5 today. GolfSpy_KFT 1 Quote Driver: Speedzone 9.5 degree (love this club) Hybrid - RadSpeed 3 Hyrbid Irons - VGI02 5I to SW - 2024 MGS test Wedges - Hi-Toe 58 degree Putter - - MEZZ.1 MAX - 2023 MGS TEST Ball - E6 (stands for 3-putt apparently) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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