Connors, Taylor amongst leaders at foggy Valero Texas Open... full scoreboard

 PGA Tour: Valero Texas Open leaderboard here.

If you've seen the highlights it was a foggy, rainy morning in old San Antonio, site of this version of the Valero Texas Open. As such round 1 was not completed, with players returning this (Friday) morning early to finish.

I had a look at the weather forecast for today and there is no fog or rain, partly sunny hot 22*c/ 32*c without much wind. 

For all the scoring click above.

Canadians:

Nick Taylor -3 69 T7 was atop the leaderboard with 4 birdies, 1 bogey in his first 6 holes beginning on the 10th. Another at the 2nd to -4, but a late birdie on the7th for the 69

" It was a long delay, but I got off to a good start with that long putt on the 10th. The rain was on and off. I hit it nice for the last 12 or 13, didn't score as well but all in all a pretty good start"

Corey Connors T7 -3 got his career started with his 1st win here 2018/19. He only played 9 holes in -3, no bogeys and returns early this morning to play the back nine.

Taylor Pendrith  T128 +4 played his front 9  +2 38 and the horn blew to suspend play after he made a double on the par 5 14th with a drive OB and a 3 putt. 

Michael Gligic T137 +6  his woes this year continue, 6 bogey's and a double with 3 birdies for +6 78.

With the rain and mist softening the course on Thursday, and not much wind today I would expect scoring to be low.

The leader -5 thru 9 holes American Justin Lower. There are four in the clubhouse with -4 68 including veterans  Paddy Harrington and smilin' Matt Kuchar.

Note:

LPGA Tour: IOA Implant LA Open leaderboard  here 

Maude Aimee Leblanc T4 -4 67, Maddie Szerky T135 +7 78 

Leader, Korean Mi Hyang Lee -6 65.

Bryan Angus

"Papa's got a brand new bag" Aaron Cockerill signs with wealth managemenr Richardson Wealth

James Brown had a big hit in 1965.."Come here sister, papa's in the swing, He ain't no drag, papas got a brand new bag"

Stony Mountain's Aaron Cockerill could well be singing it to himself today.

First endorsement deals with Private Pension Partners, Cardinal Sport, Princess Auto ,Trans Canada Brewing, then Titleist, and Footjoy were followed with another multi year deal as a brand ambassador with Toronto based Levelwear for pants, shirts and outerwear in January.

Yesterday Canadian wealth management company Richardson Wealth have announced they will be sponsoring Aaron, and we will see him with his brand new bag when he returns to play ISPS Handa in japan April 20 -23. (see picture on his twitter @A_Cockerill )

We are thrilled to support Aaron and we love his story of pursuing a dream, working hard and preparing to compete on the world stage said Mike Ankers of Richardson's.

Those who follow me here will remember how we held our  collective breath at the end of the 2022 season in the Middle East when Aaron finally nailed down his 2023 DP World Tour card by finishing 107th in the Race to Dubai.

That is well down the rankings, but crucially he is rewarded with full status, having already played in 2 lucrative Rolex Series events earlier this season. 

Being able to play on a world stage regularly, has attracted a company like Richardson Wealth to help spread their gospel around the world. 

In golfing terms the $450,000 that he made last year is not a lot, but for us mere mortals and for Aaron, Chelsea and new daughter Addison it gave them some security, which has now been greatly enhanced by yesterday's announcement. 

"Playing professional golf at this level is impossible without fantastic partners and I'm very honoured to add Richardson Wealth as one of  mine"

Bryan Angus

TEE TIMES for Valero Texas Open including 4 Canadians

 PGA Tour : Valero Texas Open here 

There are four Canadians in the field at the Valero Texas Open and I'm not sure what the sponsors are saying in private but with MLB opening this weekend and only 2 of the top 30 players #17 Tyrrell Hatton and #21 Hideki Matsuyama showing up, they are another example of what I call the designated event sandwich

After the $20,000,000 Dell Technologies Match Play, and prior to the Masters next week that had a 2022 purse $15,000,000 and is bound to increase for 2023, this week is worth $8.9m with $1.6 to the winner and a possible last spot at the Masters. That's why Rickie Fowler is in the field as he has not qualified with his ranking #59.

A whack of DP World Tour players who are eligible or are in the Masters field are playing in fact Tyrrell Hatton is the bookies favourite although he didn't win a match last week.

Andrew Putnam and JJ Spaun went undefeated in their groups last week so are in form  if you are laying a bet or two.

Canadians:

9.14 10th  Nick Taylor, Sepp Straka, Andrew Putnam

1009 10th  Michael Gligic, Carl Yuan, Nicolai Hojgaard

1.25  1st    Taylor Pendrith, Dylan Wu, Ryan Fox

2,20 1st     Corey Connors (winner 2018-19), Charlie Hoffman, Si Woo Kim

Mike Weir, Corey Connors, Adam Svensson Mac Hughes are all in the 89 man field for the Masters.

note: Corey so far this year:: SG Putting 151st, Driving accuracy 100th (59.15%) has been his problem.

Bryan Angus

Monday Wrap...Other Tours/results including Canadians

 I have posted articles on the Dell Technologies Match Play, the Corales Puntacana Championship and the DP World Tour Jonsson Workwear Open

Below are the other tours, results including Canadian scores.

LPGA Tour ; Drive On Championship final results here

Maddie Szeryk (Golf Canada/Bernard Brault File Photo)

Maddie Szeryk had her best PGA Tour result T7 67 65 71 69 -16.

Maude Aimee Leblanc T48 69 72 70 67 -10

Winner : after a playoff with Georgina Hall, Celine Boutier 69 66 65 68 -20 won on the 1st hole.

Epson Tour : IOA Championship final results here

Selina Costabile T9 67 70 73 -6,   Sarah Eve Rheaume T49 73 71 73 +1 

Winner: Miranda Wang from China 69 65 70 -12

PGA Tour Champions : Galleri Classic final results  here.

Mike Weir T26 70 68 73 -5   Stephen Ames T62  77 73 69 +3

Winner : wire to wire for David Toms 65 70 64 -16 $330,000

Korn Ferry Tour: Club Car Championship final results 

Roger Sloane T31 72 64 71 73 -8  Ben Silverman T48  69 72 71 70 -6

Winner : David Skinns 67 68 68 68 -17   $180,000

PGA Tour Latinoamerica : Roberto de Vincenzo Memorial 100 years results here 

Max Sekulic T4 68 66 69 69 -12   Stuart Macdonald T16 68 71 70 68 -7  Myles Creighton T22 68 71 72 68 -5

Winner : Chandler Blanchet 65 68 68 66 -17  $31,500

Canadians this week March 30 - April 2

PGA Tour:Valero Texas Open,Corey Connors, Michael Gligic, Taylor Pendrith, Nick Taylor

Korn Ferry Tour : Astara Chile Classic,  Roger Sloane, Richard Jung

LPGA Tour : DIO Implant LA Open,  Maddie Szeryk, Maude Aimee Leblanc

Epson Tour : Casino Del Sol Golf,  Selina Costabile, Alena Sharp 

PGA Tour Champions, DP World Tour are off

Bryan Angus 

Matt Wallace wins 1st PGA Tour title Corales Puntacana Championship.. final results

 PGA Tour : Corales Puntacana Championship.. final results here.

Matt Wallace produced a stunning back-nine birdie blitz to hold off the challenge of fellow Hero Cup star Nicolai Højgaard and win his first PGA TOUR title at the Corales Puntacana Championship.

The Englishman made four birdies in a row from the 13th to sign for a closing 66 and finish at 19 under, a shot clear of Dane Højgaard, who enjoyed his best finish on the PGA TOUR to date.

Wallace who won $684,000 ended a near five-year wait for a victory in the Dominican Republic, having claimed his fourth and most recent DP World Tour title at the 2018 Made in Denmark.

That win was part of a meteoric rise starting in early 2016, as he claimed six Alps Tour wins - five of them coming in a row - to graduate onto the European Challenge Tour, where he won the co-sanctioned 2017 Open de Portugal to make it onto the DP World Tour.

In his first full season on Tour he won three times and reached 23rd in the Official World Golf Ranking in the summer of 2019 but earlier this year dropped out of the top 200 for the first time since the week before his victory in Portugal.

A top ten at last week's Valspar Championship suggested a return to his best was on the cards and he is now back in the winner's circle and eyeing a Ryder Cup debut in September.

"It will be really nice to take a trophy home," he said. "I haven't been able to do that for five years and I've been wanting to do it for a long time. I get to celebrate with my family and friends and my loved ones and stuff. It's crazy, it hasn't even sunk in yet. That will be great.

"I'm getting grey hairs now all the stress I put myself under in golf. Everyone knows I'm a feisty character but that got me through that today.

"I was calm, felt I was determined, I felt like I had it in me all week. I really felt like I was playing some really good stuff and I felt like I was going to be up there at the end of the week no matter what.

"Didn't get off to the start I wanted today, but Sam [Wallace’s caddie] was brilliant and we just were so positive. Then the way I finished was exactly how I feel like I can play golf. That was awesome, down those final few holes was brilliant and I'm really proud of myself to get through that."

Wallace had led after 36 holes but was one back heading into the final day and bogeyed the second to leave himself with more work to do.

Birdies on the third, fourth and seventh then kept him in contention as he turned in 34 and his big back nine left him in the clubhouse with a two-shot lead and a nervous wait.

Højgaard birdied the 17th to make it all to play for coming down the last but could only par the 18th and it was Wallace left holding the trophy.

"Him and his brother Rasmus, you guys are going to be hearing about them for a long, long time," Wallace said as he tipped the Højgaard twins for Major wins.

"For him to come here and deliver like that having a chance on 18, those guys are seriously going to be impressive.

"I'd like to caddie for him when I stop playing because those guys are going to make a lot of money and win a lot of tournaments."

Wallace gave Højgaard a hug as he was giving his own reactions and the 22-year-old found it hard to hide his disappointment at a second-placed finish.

"It's very disappointing," he said. "I had a lot of chances on the back nine today to put some pressure on him, so I've got a feeling I'm really disappointed right now.

"Obviously in a short period of time I'll be happy with where I'm at, but you play to win and it's tough coming up one short."

Canadians : Michael Gligic T68 +2 71 73 74 72  Taylor Pendrith T70 +3 77 66 76 72

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus edit

Prize Money at Dell Technologies Match Play

 Here is what they were all playing for last week at the Dell Technologies Match Play courtesy BetMGM

POSITION	PLAYER (ODDS TO WIN)	FEDEXCUP POINTS	EARNINGS
1	Sam Burns (+3500)	550.000	$3,500,000.00
2	Cameron Young (+3300)	315.000	$2,200,000.00
3	Rory McIlroy (+1400)	200.000	$1,420,000.00
4	Scottie Scheffler (+800)	140.000	$1,145,000.00
T5	Jason Day (+3300)	101.000	$645,000.00
T5	Mackenzie Hughes (+15000)	101.000	$645,000.00
T5	Kurt Kitayama (+8000)	101.000	$645,000.00
T5	Xander Schauffele (+2200)	101.000	$645,000.00
T9	Patrick Cantlay (+1600)	68.250	$365,000.00
T9	Lucas Herbert (+15000)	68.250	$365,000.00
T9	Max Homa (+2000)	68.250	$365,000.00
T9	Billy Horschel (+8000)	68.250	$365,000.00
T9	Matt Kuchar (+8000)	68.250	$365,000.00
T9	J.T. Poston (+12500)	68.250	$365,000.00
T9	Andrew Putnam (+12500)	68.250	$365,000.00
T9	J.J. Spaun (+12500)	68.250	$365,000.00
T17	Tony Finau (+2200)	46.176	$219,909.10
T17	Corey Conners (+5500)	46.176	$219,909.09
T17	Cam Davis (+12500)	46.176	$219,909.09
T17	Ryan Fox (+10000)	n/a (non-member)	$219,909.09
T17	Rickie Fowler (+5000)	46.176	$219,909.09
T17	Brian Harman (+8000)	46.176	$219,909.09
T17	Russell Henley (+6600)	46.176	$219,909.09
T17	Sungjae Im (+3300)	46.176	$219,909.09
T17	Si Woo Kim (+6600)	46.176	$219,909.09
T17	Adrian Meronk (+12500)	n/a (non-member)	$219,909.09
T17	Taylor Montgomery (+8000)	46.176	$219,909.09
T28	Keegan Bradley (+5500)	33.433	$166,000.00
T28	Collin Morikawa (+2200)	33.433	$166,000.00
T28	Davis Riley (+10000)	33.433	$166,000.00
T31	Matt Fitzpatrick (+4000)	17.729	$113,761.91
T31	Viktor Hovland (+2200)	17.729	$113,761.91
T31	Tom Kim (+4500)	17.729	$113,761.91
T31	Shane Lowry (+5000)	17.729	$113,761.91
T31	Hideki Matsuyama (+5000)	17.729	$113,761.91
T31	Seamus Power (+8000)	17.729	$113,761.91
T31	Jon Rahm (+1100)	17.729	$113,761.91
T31	Adam Scott (+10000)	17.729	$113,761.91
T31	Jordan Spieth (+2500)	17.729	$113,761.91
T31	Sahith Theegala (+6600)	17.729	$113,761.91
T31	Harris English (+10000)	17.729	$113,761.90
T31	Ben Griffin (+12500)	17.729	$113,761.90
T31	Adam Hadwin (+8000)	17.729	$113,761.90
T31	Kevin Kisner (+12500)	17.729	$113,761.90
T31	Min Woo Lee (+8000)	n/a (non-member)	$113,761.90
T31	Victor Perez (+12500)	n/a (non-member)	$113,761.90
T31	Scott Stallings (+17500)	17.729	$113,761.90
T31	Justin Suh (+10000)	17.729	$113,761.90
T31	Nick Taylor (+12500)	17.729	$113,761.90
T31	Davis Thompson (+20000)	17.729	$113,761.90
T31	Aaron Wise (+10000)	17.729	$113,761.90
T52	Tommy Fleetwood (+4500)	7.094	$74,957.15
T52	Chris Kirk (+6600)	7.094	$74,857.15
T52	Denny McCarthy (+6600)	7.094	$74,857.14
T52	Maverick McNealy (+10000)	7.094	$74,857.14
T52	Keith Mitchell (+5000)	7.094	$74,857.14
T52	Alex Noren (+8000)	7.094	$74,857.14
T52	Adam Svensson (+125000)	7.094	$74,857.14
T59	Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+12500)	5.327	$67,500.00
T59	Tyrrell Hatton (+2500)	5.327	$67,500.00
T59	Tom Hoge (+6600)	5.327	$67,500.00
T59	K.H. Lee (+12500)	5.327	$67,500.00
T59	Sepp Straka (+15000)	5.327	$67,500.00
T59	Will Zalatoris (+3300)	5.327	$67,500.00