SAN ANTONIO – Despite concerns about his neck, Sam Ryder delivered an impressive performance at the Valero Texas Open on Thursday. He carded a 9-under 63, propelled by an exceptionally low 21 putts, giving him a one-stroke advantage over Keith Mitchell.
Ryder`s putting was the highlight of his round, as he needed only one putt on 11 of his final 12 holes. Seven of these were for birdies, including a strong finish with birdies on the last three holes. He sank a 25-foot putt on the 16th, followed by a 12-footer on the 17th, and then chipped his approach shot to within a foot on the par-5 18th.
“I was simply trying to find a comfortable swing,” Ryder explained. He had to skip Wednesday`s pro-am due to neck discomfort. “I believe it helped me focus and stay composed today. I was just happy to be able to play.”
Mitchell, playing in the morning, also had a strong round, posting a bogey-free 64. His round featured a remarkable 3-wood shot from 286 yards on the par-5 eighth hole, which landed just 3 feet from the pin for an easy eagle.
Brian Harman, a former Open Championship winner, shot a 66.
Jordan Spieth was among a group at 67. His round included an adventurous shot on the 17th where his drive landed near a rock. Despite the challenging lie, he made solid contact, hit the ball to 12 feet, and made the birdie putt.
Ryder, who has consistently made cuts this year, rested on Wednesday due to his neck issue. He arrived at the course shortly before his tee time on Thursday to assess his ability to play.
A victory for Ryder this week could secure him a spot in the Masters next week, a tournament he has yet to participate in.
“I thought any score under par would be decent out here,” Ryder commented. “I didn`t plan to be overly aggressive; I just focused on playing steadily, hitting fairways and greens.”
Mitchell, who is not currently qualified for the Masters and hasn`t won on the PGA Tour in six years, is hoping to maintain his strong start. This is his third time this year opening a tournament with a score of 65 or better. He aims to sustain this form throughout the tournament.
“My game has been improving,” Mitchell said. “I need to put together consistent rounds. Hopefully, this is the week. I feel my initial rounds have shown my game is in good shape, and I`m aiming to build on that this week.”
Regarding his eagle, Mitchell attributed it to a combination of skill and luck.
“I thought if I hit it well, it would reach the front of the green and roll down the slope,” Mitchell explained. “That pin position is challenging even with a wedge, and around the green. So, the fact it stopped where it did – I won`t say it was accidental, as that`s where I aimed – but it was fortunate it ended up so close.”
Harman is looking to break a streak of 15 tournaments without a top-10 finish. He has only achieved two top-10s since his Open Championship victory in 2023 and is in danger of dropping out of the world`s top 50.
“On my good days, I play well enough to win, but my bad days haven`t been great,” Harman acknowledged. “You have to find a way to manage those days, and usually, my strength is grinding it out and finding a way to get it done.”
Meanwhile, Max Homa is trying to avoid another missed cut. He recently announced a split with his caddie, Joe Greiner, following a change of swing coach last fall.