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Pictured: Look familiar? A Lim Kim tees off the 17th hole at Seville G&CC in Gilbert, Arizona, where the Ford Championship's par-3 designed by Gary Panks looks suspiciously similar to another 17th hole of note.
CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES
COVER PHOTO BY JOE SCARNICI, GETTY IMAGES
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Mikki Fallon
Texans are a prideful people, and we hold ourselves and our state in very high esteem. I say “we” because I am half Texan, with five generations of cowboys – and cowgirls – on my mother’s side, and even a Texas Ranger in the family tree.
And I mean a real Texas Ranger, in one Captain James B. Gillett, and not some ballplayer.
So, it stands to reason that I hold a certain affection for this part of the PGA Tour schedule, which boasts a pair of tournaments in the Lone Star State: the past week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open and this week’s Valero Texas Open.
The year in professional golf may start with the Hawaii, California and Florida swings, but what we have now is the Texas Two-Step.
I also enjoy the Masters connection, not only for these tournaments being lead-ins to the year’s first major but also because of the Texas-size presence that Texans have at Augusta National.
For starters, I like the history of both events. The tournament that Valero Energy Corp. sponsors in San Antonio, where the company is headquartered, was first played in 1922, when it was simply called the Texas Open. And the one in Houston made its debut in 1946.
Then, there are the people who have won those tourneys, beginning with Byron Nelson in Houston the first year it was played and including two-time champion Arnold Palmer as well as Curtis Strange and Vijay Singh, who were each three-time victors. Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples and Adam Scott also prevailed in Houston.
As for Valero, its roster of past winners is just as heady and features Walter Hagen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead (twice), Arnold Palmer (three times), Ben Crenshaw (twice), Lee Trevino, Justin Leonard (thrice) and Jordan Spieth.
Then, there are the host cities themselves, which also happen to be the two largest in Texas by population, with Houston No. 1 and San Antonio second. And the fact that the venues for both events – the Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio for the Valero and the Memorial Park Golf Course for Houston, are open to the public.
I also enjoy the Masters connection, not only for these tournaments being lead-ins to the year’s first major but also because of the Texas-size presence that Texans have at Augusta National. In fact, no state has enjoyed as much success there, with 10 Lone Star State men winning the Masters a total of 15 times. The first to do so was Lord Byron himself, who took the first of his two titles in 1937, and the last Scottie Scheffler in 2022. In between, the golf world watched Hogan, Jimmy Demaret, Jackie Burke Jr., Ralph Guldahl, Charles Coody, Crenshaw, Patrick Reed and Spieth slip on green jackets after triumphing there.
Want another Masters connection? Consider that it was a Texan, in Hogan, who came up with the idea in 1952 for the Champions Dinner and as the defending champion hosted the first one, and that his fellow Lone Star Stater Crenshaw presides over that affair today (having inherited the role from Nelson).
I love when the tour swings through Texas.
John Steinbreder
Top: Vintage postcard, 1950s.
FOUND IMAGE HOLDINGS, CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES
The R&A
The R&A has launched One Club, an evolution of its direct-to-consumer membership initiative designed to transform how fans and golfers around the world experience the sport year-round.
One Club is free to join and provides members with a comprehensive array of year-round benefits, rewards, exclusive content and unique access to the Open Championship, AIG Women's Open and other prestigious R&A championships. This includes the launch of a new global streaming service, R&A TV, powered by Endeavor Streaming.
It also will offer fans money-can’t-buy experiences and access to premium coaching and playing opportunities, allowing avid golfers and fans to take their passion for the sport to the next level. Members can interact directly through the platform by providing user-generated content and sharing their own stories and experiences of golf.
Mastercard is the exclusive presenting partner of One Club, continuing its commitment to delivering value for fans and providing experiences that bring them closer to the game of golf.
“We want golf to be more accessible and appealing for people of all ages and backgrounds, said Neil Armit, the R&A’s chief commercial officer. “One Club helps to achieve this by bringing fans and golfers closer to the sport they love, whether that is through the excitement and drama of our major championships or the enjoyment they derive from playing the sport year-round.
“We are working closely with Mastercard and other partners to provide them with compelling reasons to immerse themselves in the sport by offering a unique collection of benefits and rewards that enhance their experience of golf and make them feel more connected to it. We believe that this is crucial to inspiring broader interest in the sport and fueling future growth.”
Key membership features of One Club include:
Exclusive live and non-live golf coverage on R&A TV: The new streaming service allows members to watch coverage of R&A championships each year, including the Open Championship and AIG Women’s Open, as well as original golf-lifestyle content. Members will enjoy enhanced viewing features including multi-view and live event replays to experience more golf content than ever before.
Original golf lifestyle content: Popular YouTuber Rick Shiels and media personality Tisha Alyn will feature in exclusive new video content, inspiring and entertaining members through their own experiences of golf.
Golf coaching network: Top coaches such as Phil Kenyon, Bob Rotella, Alex Elliott and Hannah Davies will feature in video content offering members advice, tips and experience to benefit all aspects of their own game.
Rewards and experiences: From tee-time giveaways to VIP hospitality packages and professional player meet-and-greets, members can enter for a chance to win money-can’t-buy prizes and unique golf experiences year-round. Discounts on travel, equipment, merchandise and more are also available.
Competitive events: Using partner apps and connected devices, members can enter virtual global challenges, earn Golf It! tee times, receive pro lessons and even qualify for real-life playing opportunities at select R&A host venues.
Enhanced ticketing opportunities: Members can enjoy exclusive early access to purchase tickets and premium experiences to the Open Championship, AIG Women's Open and other top R&A events.
“I am deeply honoured to be partnering with the R&A, one of the most prestigious institutions at the forefront of golf,” Tisha Alyn said. “I am excited to join as a One Club partner and contribute to their impactful initiatives to grow the game on a global scale. I can’t wait to bring the energy at the Open and AIG Women’s Open.”
A new One Club website has been launched and is now available to sign up for free. For more information and a full listing of launch partners and benefits, click HERE.
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The R&A
Women's No. 1 Nelly Korda wins three in a row while men's No. 1 Scottie Scheffler fell one shot short.
Christian Petersen, Getty Images
Nelly Korda is on a roll.
Starting the day two strokes off the lead, Korda sprinted to a bogey-free 7-under 65 on Sunday and then watched her 20-under 268 total hold up to win the LPGA’s Ford Championship at Seville Golf and Country Club in Gilbert, Arizona.
It was her third consecutive victory this year and solidified her world No. 1 ranking.
“I knew that I had to shoot a low one to be in contention,” Korda said. “I played really smart golf out there today.”
Korda earned $337,500 from the $2.25 million purse. She is the first LPGA player to win three consecutive starts since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016.
On a weekend when the No. 1 players in the men’s and women’s games were competing with chances to win their respective third consecutive titles, Korda came through as PGA Tour counterpart Scottie Scheffler came up one stroke short at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
"It’s hard to be at 100 percent, especially after a win. To get three in a row, that’s just a dream come true."
Nelly Korda
Hira Naveed, a 26-year-old rookie from Australia who played college golf at Pepperdine, finished two strokes behind as runner-up at 18-under after a closing 66. She missed the cut in her only previous start this season, one week earlier at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship.
American Lexi Thompson, seeking her first victory in five years, shared third place at 17-under with Swedes Frida Kinhult and Maya Stark, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and South Korea’s Mi Hyang Lee.
At only 25, Korda, a two-time major champion, posted her 11th career victory. She won the LPGA Drive On Championship in January in her hometown of Bradenton, Florida, and then claimed the Fir Hills Seri Pak title in California one week before the Ford event. She skipped the LPGA’s recent three-stop Asia Swing, giving her a seven-week break.
Nancy Lopez (1978) and Annika Sörenstam (2004-05) share the record for most consecutive victories on the LPGA, with five. Next up for Korda will be the T-Mobile Match Play, which begins Wednesday at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.
“This week, I was a little bit more relaxed. It’s hard to be at 100 percent, especially after a win. To get three in a row, that’s just a dream come true.”
Steve Harmon
