TPC San Antonio gets the dreaded PGA Tour schedule spot the week before the Masters.  The tournament has often acted a perfect preparation for many, as the first major of the season is less than two weeks away.

First thing that I want to point out is that this courses difficulty is predicated on the weather. Simply said, the windier the conditions the more difficult it will be for golfers to score. In truth, the course lacks any obstacles without the wind or the dry weather.

Many will look at 2019 and the low numbers from that weekend, but the course setup was sub-par. When you combine that with the lack of wind and a heavy rain throughout the weekend…you get perfect scoring conditions for PGA Tour players.

Long story short, this Greg Norman design that is a 7,494-yard Par 72 plays hard in the wind.  In 2017-2018 the course ranked 12th hardest on PGA Tour, and this is not surprising when you consider that most of Texas golf faces its main challenger in the wind and the weather.  The course seeks to balance tree-lined fairways with strategy.  Ironically, the course offers little in elevation changes as the blueprint for success stems from a golfer’s ability to manage the wind.

One thing to note is that a lot of Texas residents have success here. This is apparent immediately when looking at just the success of Jordan Spieth. If that stays quiet, it is a narrative that you could help you as you look at this tournament.

Hole locations are going to be key. If the tournament is set-up with positions that are difficult to take dead aim at, and it is important to consider solid putters. Yet, the Bermuda Grass is essentially dormant at this point, so your focus should be on Poa or just generally decent putters. Yet, putting does tend to get overrated here at the Valero. Just look at Conners in 2019, as he gained nearly 12 strokes on approach in his tournament championship. The key, and even in scoring conditions, is the ability to hit greens and dial in your approach and ball striking. 

Another aspect that tends to get overvalued is the ability to hit fairways. While missing a fairway is never a great thing, missing by just a shade here or there at San Antonio will not cause massive detriments to your game. Yet, any wayward shot that is basically blasted to another galaxy can almost certainly guarantee a bogey or worse.

Big hitters get a leg up on particular holes. It helps to hit the ball far regardless if you have a tail wind or a head wind. Two of the par 5’s play over 600 yards, and four of the par-4’s play over 450 yards. Having distance is certainly a benefit.

The course maintins a tight layout that typically demands strong ball striking and iron play, but we’ve seen excellent driving accuracy correlating towards success.

Architect: Greg Norman
Greens: Bermuda Grass Greens Overseeded with Poa
Greens Size: 6,400 – Average Size Greens
Stimpmeter: 11-11.5 (Average Green Speeds)
Length: 7,494- Par 72
Water Hazards: 3 Water Hazards 
Bunkers: 64+