SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Robert MacIntyre included the Valero Texas Open in his schedule this year to ensure he was prepared for the Masters. On Friday, he demonstrated precisely that readiness, achieving an 8-under 64 propelled by four birdies across his final five holes, securing a four-stroke advantage ahead of his Ryder Cup colleague, Ludvig Aberg.
MacIntyre expressed confidence in his swing from the outset, capitalizing on the back nine, where he executed a hybrid shot that landed within 8 feet of the hole for an eagle on the par-5 14th.
His strong conclusion to the round proved decisive, as all four of the Scottish golfer’s birdies were secured from distances of 10 feet or less.
Playing alongside Aberg, whose score of 67 featured an eagle on the par-4 sixth by sinking a wedge shot from 120 yards. The sole setback for the Swedish player occurred on his last hole, the ninth, when he failed to hit the fairway and subsequently required three putts from 100 feet.
MacIntyre’s total stood at 14-under par with a score of 130.
“I skipped this event last year, heading directly to Augusta. This year, I made a change for precisely that purpose,” MacIntyre commented. “My aim was to be keen – or keener – heading into Augusta.”
For numerous other players, the Texas Open represents their final opportunity to qualify for the Masters by winning, although MacIntyre’s performance is currently diminishing those prospects somewhat.
Tony Finau, a consistent Masters participant since 2017, found himself a single shot off the lead at the start of the second round but incurred three bogeys within his initial six holes. He then mounted a comeback to finish with a 69, highlighted by a 35-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th. This placed him five strokes adrift, a position shared with Kevin Roy, Bud Cauley, and Thorbjorn Olesen.
“Securing an eagle on the final hole felt good,” Finau stated. “I executed an excellent drive, my second shot drifted slightly, but I was fortunate, cleared the water, and managed to sink the putt. Occasionally, these minor fortunate turns are essential for contending at the top of the scoreboard.”
Mark Hubbard, who initially held the lead after 18 holes with a score of 65, subsequently recorded a 77, barely making the cut at 2-under 142. His standing shifted from a one-stroke lead to a 12-stroke deficit.
Aberg mentioned that he has put behind him the challenging back nine that proved detrimental at The Players Championship a fortnight prior. He now has a fresh opportunity over the concluding 36 holes at TPC San Antonio, and that remained his primary focus.
“I’m feeling excellent. I believe my golf game has been strong,” Aberg commented. “In my view, golf revolves around positioning oneself to contend for tournament victories. I haven’t consistently achieved that over the past year or so, but I’m beginning to see that materialize now, which is quite gratifying. Therefore, I’m eager for another attempt this week.”
MacIntyre is attempting to become the third consecutive left-handed golfer to claim victory at the Texas Open, succeeding Brian Harman’s win last year and Akshay Bhatia’s triumph in 2024.
