The 2026 Valero Texas Open starts Thursday at TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course in Texas. Rickie Fowler tees off at 9:06 a.m. ET with Tommy Fleetwood and Hideki Matsuyama in a featured group. A victory would end Fowler’s nearly three-year win drought and earn him a Masters invitation.
Rickie Fowler enters the event focused on securing his seventh PGA Tour win. Such a result would also qualify him for the Masters, his first appearance since 2024 after a strong start to the season. Many players in the field share the goal of punching their ticket to Augusta National through success here. Fowler’s group begins from Tee No. 10 at 9:06 a.m. ET. Other notable groupings include Ludvig Åberg, Robert MacIntyre and Jordan Spieth at 2:06 p.m. ET from Tee No. 1, as well as Maverick McNealy, Tony Finau and Max Homa at 9:18 a.m. ET from Tee No. 10. Early action starts at 8:30 a.m. ET from both Tee No. 1 and Tee No. 10, featuring players like Lanto Griffin, Kevin Streelman and Will Zalatoris. Coverage of Thursday’s first round airs on Golf Channel from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ offers early streaming from 8:15 a.m. ET, including featured groups. Tee times run through 3:30 p.m. ET, setting the stage for four days of competition on the Oaks Course.