Jordan Spieth Shines at Valero Texas Open, Tied for Fourth Place

San Antonio, Texas — Jordan Spieth, the 2021 champion of the Valero Texas Open, showcased his skill in front of a home crowd on Thursday, firing a 5-under 67 during the first round. The Dallas resident currently sits tied for fourth place, trailing leaders Sam Ryder, Keith Mitchell, and Brian Harman.

Spieth, a former University of Texas standout and three-time major winner, expressed satisfaction with his performance at the TPC San Antonio Oaks Course. “This is a hard golf course, and we’ve got good conditions, so it was nice to take advantage of that,” he said. “I think this was maybe the easiest that we see it for the week.”

The golfer faced just one bogey, coming on the par-4 first hole. After turning at 1-under 35, Spieth secured four birdies on the back nine. “I thought it was really solid,” he noted after the round.

Thursday’s round marked the tenth anniversary of Spieth’s remarkable 2015 season, where he claimed five tournament victories, including the U.S. Open and the Masters, at the young age of 21. Although he struggled in succeeding years, including an 83-start victory drought, he returned to form with a win at the Valero in 2021, adding to his 12 PGA Tour titles.

“It’s been a journey,” Spieth stated. “I feel grateful.” This season marks his seventh start since returning from wrist surgery. His best performance thus far was a T4 finish at the WM Phoenix Open in February. Spieth has missed only one cut this year at The Genesis Invitational, setting him up for a promising run into the upcoming Masters.

“I improved a lot, week to week, in what I needed to do in some of my scoring clubs and approach play, which is important going into next week obviously,” he remarked. He emphasized the need to refine his short game to continue his upward trajectory.

Leading the charge was Sam Ryder, who secured first-round honors with a stunning 9-under 63. Ryder, initially uncertain about his neck’s condition prior to the tournament, demonstrated resilience and skill. “I was just trying to get a feel for how I could swing,” he explained. “I think it helped me stay within myself today. I was just happy to be playing.”

Keith Mitchell closely followed with a bogey-free 64, which included a spectacular eagle on the par-5 eighth hole. Mitchell, who has been seeking more solid finishes, expressed hope for continued improvement throughout the week. “My game’s been trending,” he noted. “I’d like to put some solid rounds together.”

Brian Harman, the former British Open champion, remained competitive with a 66. Meanwhile, defending champion Akshay Bhatia struggled with a 2-over 74, along with notable players like world No. 5 Ludvig Åberg and Max Homa, who faced challenges in their performances.

As the Valero Texas Open heads into the next rounds, the stakes remain high for players looking to secure their position ahead of the Masters.