Texas – Ultra Golfing

2THUMB Putting Grip Ambassador, Matt Wallace, finishes T2 at the Valero Texas Open

admin — Sun, 03 May 2026 21:51:57 +0000

Novi, MI – 2THUMB putting grip ambassador, Matt Wallace fired a final round 68 to take the lead at 16-under-par on Sunday at the Valero Texas Open. Wallace then had to wait several hours in the clubhouse, while watching a dozen other contenders on the leaderboard, grind out the finishing holes. Conditions were wet, cold and windy at TPC San Antonio due to storms that blew through the area on Saturday causing the third round to be suspended and completed early Sunday morning.

Despite a marathon day, it was U.S. Open Champion, J.J. Spaun, who survived the weather delays and secured the win and his second Texas Open title (2022 & 2026). Spaun hit two remarkable tee shots down the stretch, setting up a birdie on the par-3 16^th hole, followed by an eagle on the drivable par-4, 304-yard 17^th hole, resulting in a 5-under 67 and the one-shot victory. Wallace finished T2 along with Michael Kim and Robert MacIntyre.

Wallace, from Watford, England, turned pro in 2012 and has six titles to his name across the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR. For Wallace, a victory would have secured him a spot in the 2026 Masters this week.

“I’ve played better the last few weeks than the results have shown. Mentally, I was very good this week,” said Wallace after his final round. “Patience is the worst word in golf, but you need a lot of it. I had patience this week and it paid dividends.”

Wallace uses 2THUMB’s Snug Tour 33 putting grip. He interlocks his fingers, so his palms are facing opposing each other, and as he grips the putter, he places his thumbs alongside one another. Known as the prayer grip, it allows Wallace’s shoulders to hang level, which promotes a pendulum putting motion. It also creates a triangle between his shoulders and hands, which makes it easier to rock back and forth.

A second 2THUMB player and winner of the 2018 Barracuda Championship, finished tied for fifth alongside Ludvig Auberg. The American PGA Tour player who turned pro in 2011, uses the 2THUMB STP 27.

2Thumb putting grips are approved by the USGA and R&A. They are an incredibly versatile grip that

accommodates a variety of putting grip styles, from Conventional, Claw, Left hand low, Prayer, etc.

For more information, go to www.usa.twothumbgrip.com. Photo: European Tour.

About 2THUMB GRIPS

2THUMB was founded in the U.K. in 2004 and has had great success on the DP World and PGA Tours. Former Super Stroke owner, Darin Dingman, launched 2THUMB Grips North America in 2022, based in Novi, Michigan. Dingman oversees product design, marketing, operations, and sales. 2THUMB grips come in six different models. Most models offer different cross-section dimensions and length options bringing the total to 18 available grips. For product questions, samples and ordering, please contact 2THUMB at 877-999-0829.

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Winner’s Bag J.J. Spaun golf equipment golf equipment Texas Open WITB

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:44:47 +0000

A complete list of the golf equipment J.J. Spaun used to win the PGA Tour’s 2026 Valero Texas Open

A complete list of the golf equipment J.J. Spaun used to win the PGA Tour’s 2026 Valero Texas Open:

DRIVER: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees), with Fujikura Ventus Black Velocore+ 6X shaft

FAIRWAY WOODS: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees), with Mitsubishi Diamana PD 70 TX shaft, (21 degrees), with Mitsubishi Diamana PD 80 TX shaft

IRONS: Srixon ZXi5 (4), ZXi7 (5-PW), with True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100 shafts

WEDGES: Cleveland RTX ZipCore (50 degrees), RTZ (54 degrees), RTX 6 (60 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts

PUTTER: L.A.B. DF3

BALL: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

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J.J. Spaun breaks slump, wins Valero Texas Open ahead of Masters

admin — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 02:39:50 +0000

J.J. Spaun had a dream season in 2025. But for the first few months of his follow-up campaign, things looked more like a nightmare.

Through seven starts entering this week, Spaun had made just three cuts, with a T24 finish standing as his high-water mark. His strokes-gained metrics had declined across the board, and his putting was so poor that he ranked among the 10 worst on Tour.

At TPC San Antonio, none of that mattered.

Spaun, playing this week as a final tune-up before the Masters, fired a final-round 67 to win the Valero Texas Open by one shot over Matt Wallace, Michael Kim and Robert MacIntyre. The victory marked Spaun’s second at the Texas Open (he also won in 2022) and the third of his PGA Tour career.

“I haven’t been in the form I wanted based on last season,” Spaun said. “It means a lot to come back and win here at a place that’s been so good to me.”

Returning to a course filled with positive memories proved to be the spark he needed. At the Players, Spaun recorded his best finish of the season to that point with a T24. He missed the cut the following week at the Valspar, but a return to the familiar setting of the Texas Hill Country seemed to bring something out of him.

After opening with back-to-back rounds of 69, Spaun surged over the weekend in soggy conditions. With play suspended midway through his third round on Saturday, he returned early Sunday morning to complete a six-under 66, putting himself firmly in contention. When the final round began, he kept the momentum rolling, carding four birdies and an eagle en route to a five-under 67 to claim the clubhouse lead. When none of the contenders on the course could track him down, the burden of his nightmare start had finally been lifted.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself at the start of the year, and a lot of expectations,” Spaun said. “It’s the complete opposite of the mantra I had all year last year that really helped me, so I tried to get back to that. Went into the last few weeks starting at The Players just trying to be freed up and put less pressure on myself. It’s been trying, but sticking to that mantra has really helped me.”

With the win, Spaun earns a custom pair of cowboy boots and a $1.76 million paycheck. More importantly, he heads to Augusta for the Masters in his best form of the season — and you can’t put a price tag on that.

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2026 Valero Texas Open Sunday TV coverage

admin — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 02:28:49 +0000

The third round of the 2026 Valero Texas Open resumes underway Sunday morning at TPC San Antonio, with the final round being played later in the day. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the tournament on Sunday, including full Valero Texas Open TV coverage, streaming details and tee times.

How to watch Valero Texas Open on Sunday

When play was suspended Saturday afternoon at TPC San Antonio, two familiar names sat atop the leaderboard: Robery MacIntrye and Ludvig Aberg. The duo were key pieces for the victorious European side at last fall’s Ryder Cup, and in the last tuneup before the Masters, they are sitting 1-2 on the leaderboard.

MacIntyre, the 29-year-old from Scotland, sits alone in first place at 15 under through six holes of his third round, while Aberg is another two strokes behind. The two men will return to TPC San Antonio Sunday morning with a long day of golf ahead and both seeking their first victories of the 2026 campaign.

You can watch the completion of the third round of the Valero Texas Open via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide exclusive streaming coverage starting at 8:45 a.m. ET, as well as featured group and featured hole coverage all round long.

The final round will begin after third-round play is completed, and you can watch on TV via Golf Channel from 1-2:30 p.m. ET. CBS will provide TV coverage for the remainder of the final round from 2:30-6 p.m. ET.

Below you will find everything you need to know to watch the 2026 Valero Texas Open on Sunday.

Get ESPN+

With an ESPN+ subscription, you gain access to PGA Tour Live, where you can stream the best PGA Tour events live from wherever you want.

How to watch on TV Sunday

Golf Channel will carry final-round TV coverage of the 2026 Valero Texas Open from 1-2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

How to stream online Sunday

You can stream the third and fourth rounds of the 2026 Valero Texas Open via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, which will offer streaming coverage starting at 8:45 a.m. ET on Sunday in addition to featured group and hole coverage.

2026 Valero Texas Open final-round tee times (ET)

Final-round tee times will be available after the completion of the third round on Sunday morning.

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New Titleist drivers debuting at 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open

admin — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:57:56 +0000

While the brand is not providing details, Titleist is making its next-generation drivers available to pros for the first time this week.

Historically, Titleist has introduced new metalwoods and irons to the PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour and LPGA Tour in May or June, but the timeline in 2026 has moved up. The yet-to-be-released GTS2, GTS3 and GTS4 drivers are expected to appear this week.

While Titleist has not released official details about the clubs, based on past product cycles and what can be seen so far, there are some things we know and others we can reasonably infer.

Start with the name: GTS. In 2018, Titleist launched the TS Series, which stood for “Titleist Speed.” The TSi and TSR lines followed before the GT drivers debuted in 2024. GT stands for “Generational Technology,” a reference to the matrix polymer crown introduced in that line. Adding an “S” to GT suggests Titleist may be emphasizing speed within the GT platform.

Titleist GTS2

Drivers with a “2” designation have historically prioritized stability, as seen with the GT2. The images show two weights in the GTS2: an 11-gram weight positioned toward the front of the sole and another weight in the back.

That marks a shift from previous “2” models, which typically featured a single rear weight designed to pull the center of gravity (CG) back to increase stability. The GT2, for example, came standard with a 9-gram back weight. With two weights, the GTS2 could give players and fitters more control over stability, launch angle and spin.

Drivers in this category have traditionally been 460 cubic centimeters in volume, and there is no indication the GTS2 will be smaller. It also appears to feature Titleist’s SureFit adjustable hosel.

Titleist GTS3

Drivers with a “3” designation, like the GT3, have been built to offer left-to-right adjustability. The GTS3 appears to follow that pattern, with a five-position movable weight in the forward section of the sole. The GT3 came standard with an 8-gram weight in that track.

What’s new is what appears to be an additional weight in the back of the head, similar to the GTS2. That could provide added control over launch and spin while also increasing stability and moment of inertia (MOI).

Titleist GTS4

Drivers with a “4” designation, such as the GT4, have traditionally been the low-spin options in the lineup. The GTS4 appears to maintain a forward-and-back weighting structure, but introduces a new wrinkle: the front sole weight seems to be adjustable across five positions to create neutral, draw or fade bias, similar to the GTS3.

The GT4 featured an 11-gram and 3-gram weight to fine-tune launch and spin. The GTS4 appears to build on that concept by adding directional adjustability.

Titleist has not announced when the drivers will arrive in retail stores or what the suggested retail price will be.

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What is a Texas Scramble in golf? Rules & how to play

admin — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 19:22:07 +0000

Golf can be played in a variety of formats, and one of the most popular of those is a Texas Scramble – a rewarding approach to team-based golf that’s favoured by players of all skill levels.

A Texas Scramble is a fast-paced, team-oriented way to play golf, ideal for various occasions, from charity golf days and corporate tournaments to casual weekend outings with friends.

But what is a Texas Scramble? In this guide to Texas Scramble golf, we’ll explain what it is, the rules, how to play it, and look at the origins of its intriguing name.

What is a Texas Scramble?

Texas Scramble is a team-based golf format usually played by groups of two, three, or four players.

Rather than playing with individual scores, each team works together in a Texas Scramble to achieve the best possible score on each hole. All the players in a team tee off, and then the team chooses the single best shot. From there, everyone plays their next shot from that chosen location, and again, the best shot amongst them is chosen. This continues until the ball is holed, with the team recording only the single best shots as the team score for that hole.

A Texas Scramble is a format that allows for a strategic and collaborative experience. It takes the pressure off individual players, which is why it’s popular for occasions like friendly competitions, amateur events, and charity days.

How to play a Texas Scramble

One of the best aspects of a Texas Scramble is that it’s easy to play. All you need to do is:

Form teams: Texas Scramble teams are usually made up of four players, but there’s no reason you can’t play with two or three, or even more than four, as long as everyone involved agrees.
Tee off: On each hole, every team member will hit their drives.
Choose the best shot: The team then selects the best-positioned ball after everyone has taken their initial drive.
Play from the chosen position: All the team members place their ball within one club’s length (but no nearer to the hole) of the selected shot and then take turns to play their next stroke.
Repeat until the ball is holed: You continue selecting the best shot and playing from a club’s length of that location, until the first team member sinks their ball.
Record the score: If the team collectively took four strokes to complete the hole, you record your score as four, rather than counting each individual stroke (so not a score of 16 if you had a team of four players each taking four strokes).
Move on to the next hole: Repeat the above process until you’ve finished your round.
Total and compare your scores: Once your team has a total score for your round, you can compare against other teams to see who got the lowest total and is the winner.

What are the rules of a Texas Scramble?

The rules of Texas Scramble are pretty simple to master and are usually reasonably flexible, too. The most important ones to be aware of are:

Drive contribution: Often, every member of a team is required to contribute a set number of tee shots during a round, commonly at least three or four per player.
Best shot choice: When it comes to choosing the best shot each time, you can either take a quick vote as a team or pick one team member to be the captain and have them make the decision.
Ball placement: When placing your ball after the team selects the best shot, you must stay within one club’s length of the chosen ball, but you can’t move closer to the hole. Your ball must remain in the same condition as the chosen one, such as in the rough, on the fairway, or in a bunker.
Order of play: Once a ball is selected as the best shot, the order in which players play the next shot is up to the team. It can be a strategic choice, especially as you get closer to the green.
Putting: On the green, all players usually putt from the same spot until the ball is holed.

As you can see, there’s scope for flexibility in the rules of a Texas Scramble. What’s most important, though, is that the precise version of each rule is agreed upon beforehand and clearly communicated to everyone involved, so that each team plays by the same set of Texas Scramble rules.

Why is it called a Texas Scramble?

The format was actually called “Captain’s Choice” originally, as the captain of the team was the one who most often chose the best shot.

Whilst there’s no agreed-upon explanation as to how and why this format got a name change to Texas Scramble, it’s generally thought that it became popular in Texas from the 1930s to the 1950s thanks to its casual, player-friendly nature. The word “scramble” reflects the non-traditional, more relaxed style of play.

Though often shortened simply to just Scramble, the “Texas” in Texas Scramble helps differentiate it from other team formats, like Florida Scramble or Las Vegas Scramble, which each have their own variations and rules.

If you’re looking to brush up on your overall golf vocabulary, check out our essential guide to golf slang.

What are the origins of Texas Scramble?

Just as with its name, the exact origins of the Texas Scramble aren’t clear. We know it existed as “Captain’s Choice” from at least the early 1900s, but it became popular in Texas in the first half of the 20th century. It’s thought that it first became widely played thanks to the rise of amateur and corporate golf events, where organisers wanted a format that was inclusive, fast-paced, and suitable for players with varying skill levels.

Texas Scramble spread quickly across the US and internationally from the 1950s onwards, and today, it is a staple format for more relaxed golf competitions. Of course, there are a variety of other golf team formats that can be played, too, including the popular Foursomes and Greensomes.

What are the benefits of playing Texas Scramble?

Texas Scramble golf has various benefits, especially for team play and less competitive settings.

A focus on teamwork and camaraderie: Texas Scramble golf introduces a strong team element to play, with the final team score based on the group’s combined effort.
A fast pace of play: Because only the best shot is played each time, rounds are often quicker than individual stroke play, especially useful in large field events.
It’s inclusive for all skill levels: New golfers can enjoy the game without the pressure of having individual scores and can rely on stronger players, especially during tougher shots.
It rewards strategy and decision-making: Texas Scramble involves more than just good shots; it requires strategic thinking. Choosing which ball to play, who tees off when, and how to approach each hole becomes a team effort.
It’s less punitive: Because the worst shots are usually ignored, the Texas Scramble golf format is more forgiving. This keeps frustration low and enjoyment high, particularly for more casual players.

Whatever format of golf you’re playing, accidents can happen out on the course. That’s why you may want to consider protecting yourself and your gear with specialist golf insurance before your next round.

With Golf Care, policies include Equipment Cover up to £7,500, Public Liability of up to £10m, and Personal Accident Cover up to £50,000. Get a quote online today.

Please note the information provided on this page should not be taken as advice and has been written as a matter of opinion. For more on insurance cover and policy wording, see our homepage.

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