On April 4th, 2026, we recap Rounds 1 and 2 of the Valero Texas Open, where Robert MacIntyre seized a commanding lead and Hideki Matsuyama delivered a masterclass albatross.

VALERO TEXAS OPEN LEADERBOARD

• Robert MacIntyre fired rounds of 66 and 64 to reach 14-under, taking the outright lead at TPC San Antonio with a new Titleist TRS driver and a clutch eagle on the 14th hole.
• Tony Finau sits at 9-under after a 41.5-foot eagle putt, looking for "four days of good golf" to punch his Masters ticket.
• Ludvig Åberg is lurking at 10-under after incredibly holing out twice from 120 yards.

HIDEKI'S MAGIC & ZALATORIS'S RETURN

• Hideki Matsuyama stunned the golf world with an incredibly rare albatross on the 14th hole, holing out from 252 yards deep in the rough in what the broadcast dubbed an "artistic masterclass."
• Will Zalatoris is maintaining 178 mph ball speed and mastering the broomstick putter after enduring daily pain.
• Zalatoris's emotional comeback from a two-year back injury is proving his incredible resilience on the course.

SPIETH'S ANTICS & CUTLINE DRAMA

• Jordan Spieth provided peak entertainment, successfully arguing to move a massive boulder with caddie Michael Greller before sinking a clutch 30-foot birdie on 16 to make the 2-under cut.
• Russell Henley holed out from a bunker to boost his cut odds to 82%, while Rickie Fowler hit a desperate 309-yard approach to fight for the weekend.
• Spieth also went viral on the "Happy Hour with Smylie" podcast with a hilarious reaction to a 2021 clip of a dad dragging a toddler.

Quick Hits

Jack Nicklaus drains a long putt during a Champion bermudagrass green-reading clinic • Kevin Roy rides a swing change and family water-park vibes to a T3 spot • Mark Hubbard shoots 65 to take the Round 1 lead following a weather delay

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