Mark Hubbard Shoots 7-Under 65 to Lead Weather-Delayed Valero Texas Open

Mark Hubbard holds a one-shot lead at the Valero Texas Open after recording six birdies over his final eight holes for a round of 65.

SAN ANTONIO -- Mark Hubbard carded a 7-under 65 on the Oaks course at TPC San Antonio to take a one-shot lead during the opening round of the Valero Texas Open. Hubbard secured his position at the top of the leaderboard by converting six birdies across his final eight holes before play was suspended due to darkness. His finishing sequence included a 25-foot birdie putt and two additional birdies from within 6 feet. On the par-5 14th, Hubbard recorded an up-and-down for his fourth consecutive birdie, followed later by a 6-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th. To finish his round at the par-5 18th, he struck a fairway metal from the rough over a creek, pitching to 3 feet to break out of a six-way tie for the lead.

Tony Finau sits one stroke back after posting a 6-under 66, a round highlighted by a 40-foot eagle putt on the 14th hole. Finau, currently ranked No. 107 in the world, is seeking a victory to qualify for the Masters for the first time since 2017. His day began with a 7-foot par save on the 10th hole and a tap-in par on the 11th after a chip shot. Joining Finau at 66 are Andrew Putnam, Steven Fisk, Davis Thompson, and Robert MacIntyre. MacIntyre, the only player in the second-place group already eligible for next week's trip to Augusta National, closed his round with back-to-back birdies.

Scoring Conditions and Weather Delays

Dangerous weather in the San Antonio area delayed the start of the Valero Texas Open by approximately 90 minutes on Thursday morning. The resulting rain softened the greens and fairways, prompting officials to implement preferred lies. These benign conditions, characterized by minimal wind, allowed a large group of players to post scores of 67. This 5-under-par contingent includes Ludvig Åberg, Maverick McNealy, and Tommy Fleetwood, all of whom are already in the Masters field.

Due to the initial storm delay, 24 players were unable to finish their opening rounds on Thursday and must return to the course Friday morning. Despite this, tournament officials do not expect the delay to impact the scheduled timing of the second round. Will Zalatoris is among those chasing the leaders after recording eight birdies during his round. Zalatoris, who is playing 10 months after undergoing back reconstruction surgery, suffered two late bogeys but remains in contention as he attempts to play his way back into form following three total back surgeries.

Smotherman’s Hole-in-One and Personal Milestone

Austin Smotherman sits two shots off Hubbard’s lead after carding a 4-under 68. Smotherman’s round was highlighted by a hole-in-one on the 220-yard 13th hole, which he struck with a 6-iron. His performance on the course followed a significant personal event earlier in the week. On Monday night at approximately 9:30 p.m., Smotherman’s wife went into labor in Dallas. Because no flights were available and a four-hour drive would have only placed him near Waco at the time of delivery, Smotherman watched the birth of his third daughter, Grace Elizabeth, via FaceTime from his hotel room at 11:30 p.m.

Spieth Struggles with Late Bogeys

Jordan Spieth finished his opening round with a 1-under 71 after a difficult conclusion on the 18th green. Spieth was positioned for a birdie-birdie finish but missed a 7-foot birdie attempt on the final hole. He subsequently missed a 30-inch comeback putt for par, resulting in a closing bogey. This follows a recent trend for Spieth, who previously struggled with late dropped shots at both The Players Championship and the Valspar Championship.

The TPC San Antonio course provided scoring opportunities for those looking to secure the final invitation to the Masters. While players like Fleetwood and Åberg are using the week as a tune-up, the majority of the leaderboard consists of golfers who must win the Valero Texas Open to earn a tee time at Augusta National next week. Hubbard’s aggressive play at the 18th, where he took on the winding creek to set up his final 3-foot birdie, established the benchmark for the field heading into the completion of the first round.