Grace up in San Antonio
Friendly course is pleasant surprise for early players
The usually rugged TPC San Antonio was vulnerable at Thursday’s outset of the Valero Texas Open, with overcast skies, little wind and soft greens a pleasing trio for players in the morning wave.
The pleasant conditions didn’t last long. And they aren’t expected to return for the rest of the tournament.
“The ball was pretty easy to control,” said Patrick Reed, who finished runner-up to Charley Hoffman last year, after shooting 3-under-par 69. “The only thing is, there’s still a little bit of mud getting on the golf balls. But the good thing, I only had one, two mud balls, which I was able to kind of control, and really the two mud balls I had were actually two of my better shots of the day.
“As the sun is out like it is now, it will bake out (the course) and get warmer and firmer and faster as the week goes on.”
As Reed said, the sun rolled in around noon, turning the course’s difficulty up a notch. And plenty of wind is expected to blow into the area, which could bring the course’s teeth into play.
No one took advantage of the ideal conditions more than Branden Grace, who set the pace with a 66 that included seven birdies. He led Will MacKenzie, Stewart Cink and John Huh by one. In a large group at 68 were Brian Gay, Brooks Koepka and Graeme McDowell. Among those joining Reed at 69 were Kevin Chappell, Geoff Ogilvy and Jamie Lovemark.
“I think I missed four greens the whole day and only one fairway. Ball-striking is definitely on today. I gave myself some nice chances out there,” Grace said. “It’s nice to make seven birdies. That’s the one round I was waiting for. You know, I’ve been shooting the 69s and 70s but not getting that one low round. “This is nice to finally get it.” Grace, who reached a careerhigh ranking of No. 10 in the world last year, has fallen to No. 21.
But he likes where his game is at and where it is heading. Two weeks ago, he made the cut in the Masters for the second time in his career and finished in a tie for 27th.
Last week in the RBC Heritage, where he was defending champion, he closed with a 68 to finish in a tie for 11th.
“I felt my game is coming on from Augusta. I made the cut which, for me, was a big thing. I had a good week,” Grace said. “I played well the whole of last week, didn’t make the putts when I needed to, but the game is progressing nicely, and I do like this place.
“That’s why I’m back here. I played well here in the past. So, hopefully I can get a few better this time around.”
Reed, who bogeyed two of his last three holes, said his game was trending in the right direction, too.
In his last 14 starts worldwide, he had two top-10s, as he battled health problems and equipment issues. Those, he said, have passed.
“The game feels good,” he said. “Need to keep on plugging along and make some more birdies. Anytime you come out here you start out shooting in the 60s in any tournament you start at, you got to be happy. But I need to take positives from today and kind of forget the last three holes.
“All in all, it was a really solid day. Lot better than it’s been so far this year. I felt coming into this week that I got the equipment where I needed to and felt like the game was going in the right direction. My wife and I drew a line after last event and said, ‘All right, first quarter is over, let’s go and get started and this is a great way to start.’ Felt like I finally had control of the golf ball, had control of what I was trying to do, and that’s all I can ask for.”