The VTO’s closing hole will make you work for it.
SAN ANTONIO — The Valero Texas Open starts early Thursday morning at TPC San Antonio, but it’s Sunday at the 18th where fans will wanna be positioned more than any other hole any day of the week. And it may be one of the more underappreciated closing holes in professional golf. It’s Pebble Beach, TPC Sawgrass or Augusta National, of course, but it certainly can hold its own!
The par-five 18th hole stretches 591 yards, playing uphill with Texas winds more often than not including water right down the middle of the fairway with deep sand bunkers on either side of the fairway and green.
Sounds challenging, right?
Well whoever conquers the 18th on Sunday, and all four days, for the VTO title will have earned it.
“Rewards a good shot if you go for it,” said defending champ Akshay Bhatia. “And if you don’t you can easily walk off with a six or seven.”
Tournament Executive Director Larson Segerdahl told us the event, more often than not, always comes down to what happens on the Sunday 18th.
“We’ve seen birdies to win on the hole,” Segerdahl said.
Bhatia said the tight leaderboards seemingly year and year out create great Sunday drama on the course’s final hole.
“It is a visually intimidating hole, but also if you play it the right way and the smart way you can easily play it to two under for the week,” Said Bhatia.
San Antonio and Alamo Heights graduate Mac Meissner loves the 18th.
“I’m a huge fan of golf architecture,” Meissner said. “That’s about as good as it gets in terms of the risk you take on if you’re willing to take on the green.”
Depending on the wind direction, you can take full advantage of the green pin location or also get yourself in trouble if you make the wrong play.
“It’s a really good test, especially when the wind blows,” said Meissner. “It is gonna be a fun week.”
Round on tee times start early Monday morning, with feature groups throughout the day that feature Jordan Spieth, Max Homa, Rickie Fowler, Tommy Fleetwood, Keegan Bradley and many many more.