Local knowledge: 2013 Valero Texas Open

Local knowledge: 2013 Valero Texas Open











PGA.COM April 5, 2013 4:32 PM


Before all eyes turn to Augusta National and next week's first major of 2013, the Masters, players get one more tune up at this week's Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio.


A solid, international-field including the likes of Rory McIlroy,Charl Schwartzel, Ian Poulter and Retief Goosen are all in the Lone Star State this week.

Priot to the tournament teeing off on Thursday morning, we had a chance to catch up with TPC San Antonio Senior General Manager and PGA Director of Golf Jimmy Terry for a little Q&A.

Terry talked about the tournament's fourth new date in four years, defending champ Ben Curtis and explained why the San Antonio area is among the friendliest you'll find anywhere.

PGA.com: As always, we appreciate you joining us here, Jimmy. First off, you have a new tournament date. Typically after the year's first major, you're now one week before the Masters. How do the folks in San Antonio feel about the new position on the schedule?

Terry:This is our fourth year to host the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio and we have had a different date each year. So moving into a new slot is something we are accustomed to. Moving one week before the Masters is exciting for all of us. Golfers in San Antonio and around the country really start paying attention to golf around the first week of April and hosting the Valero Texas Open that very week will be an opportunity to showcase our club and resort to millions of golfers.

The date also is helping with the strength of the field. Ian Poulter, Padraig Harrington, Jim Furyk, David Toms and Charl Schwartzel are just some of the players coming to TPC San Antonio for the first time.

PGA.com: Can you talk a little about your defending champion Ben Curtis? He truly is one of the PGA Tour's good guys. A former Open champion, Ben's win in San Antonio last year was more than 2,000 days after his last victory.

Terry:We are very proud to have Ben Curtis as our defending champion. His win last year was exciting and the putt he made on No. 17 for par in the final round shows what a gutsy player he is. Even though he had not posted a victory in a long time, he showed what a truly quality player he is with a steady performance in the final round in tough, windy conditions. After his win, he continued on to a complete a great season winning almost $2.5 million for the year. In addition to his win in San Antonio, he finished tied for 2nd at THE PLAYERS, tied for fifth at the Wells Fargo Championship, and tied for 11th at the PGA Championship.

PGA.com: For friends of ours who want to travel to San Antonio and are looking for things to do after playing some great golf, can you offer up a few can't-miss places in the area? We've heard a lot about the Riverwalk.

Terry:San Antonio is one of the most friendly and inviting cities in America and has a bit of everything for everyone who visits. The Riverwalk is world renowned for food and fun. My favorite spot to dine on the Riverwalk is Bourdro's. I like the uniqueness of Ocho and the Pearl Brewery area has recently opened some of the best restaurants in the city.

San Antonio has great hot spots like the Hard Rock Cafe, Cowboys Dancehall and you should try the new PHX Lounge, a concept by former UT and NFL player Priest Holmes. If you like history, you must spend some time at The Alamo and in Mission District. Family fun can include Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Sea World and a great water park called Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels. For a little hill country beauty, take a short drive north of San Antonio to The Texas Wine Trail which features about 20 wineries.

I would be remiss if I did not mention our own property. It is a must for stay and play! TPC San Antonio and the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa form one of the most exciting new destinations in America. Once you pull into our drive you will not want to leave.

PGA.com: What's your favorite restaurant in the area? If we go there, what are we ordering?

Terry:How did you know I love food? I have a lot of favorites, many of which are small neighborhood places. Some of my favorites around town are the puffy tacos at La Hacienda, the Quatro Carni Pizza at Trilogy Bistro, and the freshly prepared tableside guacamole at Boudro's. For a great burger you can try Longhorn Cafe, BigZ, Chester's or Chris Madrid's, you won't be sorry with any of these choices.

On property at the JW Marriott San Antonio, you need to try the Bison Meatloaf and Braised Short Rib in Cibolo Moon and you must try the Axis Venison Loin and the 40-day dry aged NY strip in 18 Oaks at the TPC Clubhouse.

PGA.com: Final question for you Jimmy. What has been the highlight of your career as a PGA Professional?

Terry:Wow that is a tough one. Being elected to membership more than 25 years ago was very special to me. As has been the opportunity to serve my Association as a Section Officer and Board Member. Being a PGA Professional has allowed me to experience so much joy. I believe the greatest highlight has been the blessing of becoming friends with so many of my fellow professionals. Not only is golf a game of a lifetime, but the friendships you make through the game and through our Association last as well.

Park leads LPGA Nabisco Championship by one shot

Park leads LPGA Nabisco Championship by one shot










John Reger, The Sports Xchange April 5, 2013 9:30 PMThe SportsXchange



RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. -- Inbee Park shot the best round of the day, a 5-under par 67, to take a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Kraft Nabisco Championship on Friday. Park, from South Korea, is at 7-under 137.

Second-year pro, Lizette Salas is one stroke behind after posting a second-round 68. Caroline Hedwall of Sweden and Giulia Sergas of Italy are third at two strokes behind.

Park had a 3-under 33 on the front nine, while Salas, playing in the group in front posted a 1-under 35.

Salas heated up on the back nine, making three birdies and almost chipping in on the 17th for another.

The most impressive hole, though, was 18. Salas got into the nearly 5-inch high rough on her second shot. Instead of trying to go for the green on the par-5 finishing hole and safely advanced the ball out, she hit a wedge to 6 feet and made the par-saving putt.

Park kept up her impressive round making three consecutive birdies starting at No. 11 when she hit a sand wedge to 2 feet and made the putt. She then hit 9-iron approach shots on the next two holes to 8 feet and made both of the putts.

The only mistake of the day was on No. 15 when she made her lone bogey of the round, second of the tournament.

Park noticed the wind picked up on the hole that she bogeyed and said that it affected her play the rest of the round.

If the wind bothered Salas, she didn't admit it, though her statistics might have said otherwise. In the second round, Salas hit fewer fairways, 11 to 8, and fewer greens, 13 to 12.

Putting though continued to be a strength for Salas. It was her second consecutive round of 30 putts or less.

Park improved greatly on her first-round 70. In the second round she had 10 of 14 fairways hit, three more than Thursday and had 15 greens in regulation as opposed to 11.

NOTES: One of the biggest turnarounds was Louise Friberg. The Swedish golfer who is at the end of a five-year exemption, shot a first round 71 to get to a tie for 17. She shot a second-round 80 and missed the cut by two. ... Despite a shaky putter, Michelle Wie will be playing this weekend. Wie had 31 and 30 putts and missed a two-footer for par in the second round. ... Jodi Ewart Shadoff played so well in the second round that her husband Adam was going to surprise her and fly out to see her play. However, he ruined the surprise when he posted on Twitter he was at the Houston Airport en route to Palm Springs.

Quality putting gives Park one-stroke lead at LPGA Nabisco

Quality putting gives Park one-stroke lead at LPGA Nabisco










John Reger, The Sports Xchange April 5, 2013 10:20 PMThe SportsXchange


RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. -- Inbee Park shot the best round of the day, a 5-under par 67, to take a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Kraft Nabisco Championship on Friday. Park, from South Korea, is at 7-under 137.


Second-year pro, Lizette Salas is one stroke behind after posting a second-round 68. Caroline Hedwall of Sweden and Giulia Sergas of Italy are third at two strokes behind.

Park had a 3-under 33 on the front nine, while Salas, playing in the group in front posted a 1-under 35.

"I putted really good out there," Park said. "Especially on the back nine."

Salas heated up on the back nine, making three birdies and almost chipping in on the 17th for another.

"I took advantage of each putt I had," Salas said.

The most impressive hole, though, was 18. Salas got into the nearly 5-inch high rough on her second shot. Instead of trying to go for the green on the par-5 finishing hole and safely advanced the ball out, she hit a wedge to 6 feet and made the par-saving putt.

"In the past, I would have gone for it," Salas said. "I'm comfortable in my short game and I'm not a long hitter so I have to make it up some way, so I've been working hard on that."

It is part of a strategy Salas worked on in the offseason. She changed coaches and worked on thinking better around the golf course.

"I've been working on that with my instructor and making those bad rounds even par or better. I had a not very good round (Thursday), but it was minus 2. I'm keeping it simple and he's been a great help."

Park kept up her impressive round making three consecutive birdies starting at No. 11 when she hit a sand wedge to 2 feet and made the putt. She then hit 9-iron approach shots on the next two holes to 8 feet and made both of the putts.

"I think I'm good at judging the speed and the breaking of the greens," Park said.

The only mistake of the day was on No. 15 when she made her lone bogey of the round, second of the tournament.

Park noticed the wind picked up on the hole that she bogeyed and said that it affected her play the rest of the round.

"When the wind picked up it was tough out there," Park said. "The last four holes I made all pars and I'm really happy with that."

If the wind bothered Salas, she didn't admit it, though her statistics might have said otherwise. In the second round, Salas hit fewer fairways, 11 to 8, and fewer greens, 13 to 12.

Putting, though, continued to be a strength for Salas. It was her second consecutive round of 30 putts or less.

"I've worked really hard on minimizing my mistakes," Salas said. "I've minimized them to where I can still hit the green and not be in trouble."

Park improved greatly on her first-round 70. In the second round she had 10 of 14 fairways hit, three more than Thursday and had 15 greens in regulation as opposed to 11.

Park has two top 10s at this event and is confident she has enough experience to win at Mission Hills.

"I think it's good to be ahead because you're in better position than anybody else for the weekend," Park said.

NOTES: One of the biggest turnarounds was Louise Friberg. The Swedish golfer who is at the end of a five-year exemption, shot a first round 71 to get to a tie for 17. She shot a second-round 80 and missed the cut by two. ... Despite a shaky putter, Michelle Wie will be playing this weekend. Wie had 31 and 30 putts and missed a two-footer for par in the second round. ... Jodi Ewart Shadoff played so well in the second round that her husband Adam was going to surprise her and fly out to see her play. However, he ruined the surprise when he posted on Twitter he was at the Houston Airport en route to Palm Springs.