SAN ANTONIO - J.J. Spaun finished two strokes ahead of Matt Jones and Matt Kuchar to claim his first PGA Tour victory in his 147th start at the age of 31 years, 7 months, 14 days.

In doing so, Spaun moved to No. 10 in the FedEx Cup standings and earned a spot for the first time in the Masters Tournament scheduled for this weekend. Spaun was the first winner to overcome a double bogey on the first hole of a final round since Tiger Woods at the 2008 U.S. Open. He became the ninth first-time winner of the season and was the sixth player to record his first Tour title at the Valero Texas Open since it moved to TPC San Antonio in 2010 (fourth out of the last five).

Defending champion Jordan Spieth turned-in his best round of the week, a 5-under (67), but finished T-35.

Zach Johnson remains the last player to successfully defend a title at the Valero Texas Open (2009).

Valero Texas Open | Final Leaderboard

J.J. Spaun 67-70-69-69—275 (-13)

Matt Jones 68-75-68-66—277 (-11)

Matt Kuchar 67-69-72-69—277 (-11)

Adam Hadwin 70-70-71-67—278 (-10)

Troy Merritt 69-71-69-69—278 (-10)

Charles Howell III 70-67-72-69—278 (-10)

Beau Hossler 73-66-67-72—278 (-10)

Final Leaderboard: (link)

PGA TOUR @PGATOUR

His first win in his 147th start on TOUR also came with a first-time trip to Augusta this week for @JJSpaun 🏆

April 4th 2022

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This Week: The Masters

PGA Tour Brunch will post a preview at 12:00pm Noon (ET) on Wednesday.

This Week: The Masters - Tournament site (link)

First Look at The Masters (PGATourCom)

Inside the Field at The Masters (PGATourCom)

What They’re Saying:

J.J. Spaun Earns First Tour Victory (PGATourCom)

J.J. Spaun Takes Texas (ESPN/Associated Press)

Spaun Punches Masters Ticket with Victory in Texas (Golf Week/USA Today)

Golf Industry and Sporting Goods News:

Winner’s Bag: What Was In J.J. Spaun’s Golf Bag? (Golf Week/USA Today)

How Much Money was Won at the Valero Texas Open? (Golf Week/USA Today)

25th Anniversary of Tiger’s Historic Win, Players Reflect (Golf Week/USA Today)

After Masters Win, Matsuyama the Face of Golf in Japan (TheMastersCom)

On This Day in Golf History:

April 4, 1952 - The first Master’s Champions dinner is held at Augusta National Golf Club, hosted by defending champion Ben Hogan. The dinner, held on the Friday night midway through the tournament, featured nine Masters Champions - Horton Smith, Gene Saracen, Byron Nelson, Henry Picard, Jimmy Demeret, Craig Wood, Claude Harmon, Sam Snead and Hogan. Augusta National Chairman Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts joined the group. The concept was thought-up by Hogan, who ironically, was one of the most anti-social personalities of golf.- Courtesy of Randy Walker, Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE

Parting Putt:

“Oh, my goodness.”

Aside from the 1980 USA Men’s Olympic ice hockey team Miracle on Ice, and Secretariat’s run at The Belmont, this just might be the (3rd) greatest moment in sports during our lifetimes;

PGA TOUR @PGATOUR

Opening Masters week with an all-time Tiger moment ⚡️

April 4th 2022

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