Tour News
Players most desperate for a Masters invite at the Valero Texas Open
Two weeks remain until the Masters, and the Valero Texas Open is for some a last resort to qualifying for the field at Augusta.
At the conclusion of this week’s event, any player in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) will automatically be in the 2015 Masters. For the currently unqualified that don’t reach that mark, their only remaining chance will be to win the Shell Houston Open — a harrowing proposition to bet ones Masters’ stakes on.
There are some larger names on the outside of the top 50 right now and not yet Augusta bound. This story gives you those big names within striking distance, along with their odds of cracking the top 50 and avoiding the long-shot opportunity of winning the Shell Houston Open to get in.
Harris English: 53rd in the OWGR
It’s been an unusual season for two-time PGA Tour winner Harris English in 2015. His previous years of data point a player whose top 10s are rarely really high finishes, but this year two of his three top-10s were a T2 and a third-place showing.
The 25-year-old’s talent is undeniable and, as I outlined here, I think that along with a pretty good course fit will have him playing well at the Valero.
Based on last year’s ranking points distribution for the Valero, and using the current 2.42 points need for English to reach the top 50, the former Bulldog would need something close to a top-5 this week to be safe for the coveted top-50 spot. And a top-10 at TPC San Antonio would give him a pretty good shot, too.
Even if that is a lofty showing, I think English has a very favorable chance of sneaking into the top 50.
Matt Jones: 62nd in the OWGR
Maybe this guy is a little less desperate, because he proved last year that he can win the Shell Houston Open, but that’s unlikely considering what he had to do to pull off that victory.
His game is really good for this Oaks Course, as iron play is his worst spot (and a minimized weakness at the Valero). He’s a good driver, putter and short game player, putting him into the all-around profile that has historically performed well here. Couple that with top-15s in his last three starts, and Jones is looking really good.
That being said, he’ll need a top-3 finish this week to get to 2.42 points and a top-5 to have any shot at top 50. There’s a lot going for him this week, but I’m only lukewarm on his odds of pulling that high a finish.
Francesco Molinari: 63rd in the OWGR
The 32-year-old Italian has opted for a U.S.-centric schedule for the first time in his career in 2015, with mixed results. Molinari has made a solid 5 of 7 cuts, but only has one top-15 finish, and he dropped nine spots in the OWGR since the beginning of the year.
He has flashed some form in his last two events, and the TPC San Antonio Oaks Course is kind of a net neutral for his game.
Molinari needs the same thing as Jones, but nothing points to a big performance this week. A sixth-straight Masters start is on the line, but Molinari is pretty much toast.
Graham DeLaet: 67th in the OWGR
This Canadian is chasing his second Masters invite after last year’s debut, and he faces a problem with this TPC San Antonio Oaks Course layout. He’s an excellent driver and long hitter, both advantages at this course. But he has issues with the big miss, which is a problem at the Oaks Course. His mediocre putting and short game do not bode well for a layout that advantages both of these aspects.
He’s also in a funk of late, with consecutive missed cuts after two top-10s and five weekends in six events he finished previously in 2014-2015.
He might need to place solo second or better to get into the top 50. If Molinari is toast, DeLaet’s odds are beyond slim.
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.
In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Jason Day – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- SungJae Im – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
Pullout Albums
- Jason Day’s 1off Payntr golf shoes – 2026 The Memorial
- JT Poston’s TaylorMade Spider – 2026 The Memorial
- Cameron putter – 2026 The Memorial
- Tommy Fleetwood’s TM Spider putters – 2026 The Memorial
- New Mitsubishi Chemical 1K Pro Orange shaft – 2026 The Memorial
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
GolfWRX Tour Photographer Greg Moore was on site in Galloway, New Jersey, ahead of the ShopRite LPGA powered by Wakefern to snap some WITB photos and more.
Check out links to all the photos below!
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Mimi Rhodes – WITB – 2026 ShopRite
- Aline Krauter – WITB – 2026 ShopRite(LPGA)
- Olivia Cowan – WITB – 2026 ShopRite
- Leah John – WITB – 2026 ShopRite(LPGA)
- Melanie Green – WITB – 2026 ShopRite
- Nastasia Nadaud – WITB – 2026 ShopRite(LPGA)
- Maria Torres – WITB – 2026 ShopRite(LPGA)
- Ana Belac – WITB – 2026 ShopRite(LPGA)
- Carolina Melgrati – WITB – 2026 ShopRite(LPGA)
- Sofia Garcia – WITB – 2026 ShopRite(LPGA)
Pullout Albums
Popular Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
The famed Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, is the scene this week for the Charles Schwab Challenge, where Ludvig Aberg enters the week as the tournament favorite.
Tour Photographer Greg Moore and our traveling equipment insider, Alistair Cameron, are both on site this week in the Lone Star State. Thus far, we’ve been treated to an in-hand look at TaylorMade’s new ZT Max putter, as well as a bounty of WITBs.
Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums
- 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge – Monday #1
- 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge – Monday #2
- 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge – Monday #3
- 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge – Tuesday #1
- 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge – Tuesday #2
- 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge – Tuesday #3
- 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge – Tuesday #4
- 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge – Tuesday #5
WITB Albums
- Preston Stout – OSU Men’s golf – WITB – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Marcelo Rozo – WITB – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Charley Hoffman – WITB – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Ben Kohles – WITB – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Davis Chatfield – WITB – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Albert Hansson – WITB – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Jackson Koivun – WITB – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Cam Davis – WITB – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Keith Mitchell – WITB – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen – WITB – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Kensei Hirata – WITB – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Eric Cole – WITB – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Zecheng “Marty” Dou – WITB – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Robert MacIntyre – WITB – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Matt Kuchar – WITB – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Joe Highsmith – WITB – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Pullout Albums
- New Bettinardi covers – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- New Project X Titan Yellow shafts – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Matt Kuchar’s HitsGolf training clubs – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Erik Van Rooyen’s Callaway Apex TD Ti Fusion 3 iron(updated with additional photos) – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Robert MacIntyre’s putters – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- JJ Spaun’s newest L.A.B. Golf putter – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Odyssey Damascus Milled Jailbird Mini broomstick – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Chris Kirk’s putters – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- Rico Hoey’s Custom Odyssey S2S Tri-Hot Jailbird broomstick putter – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
- TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putters – 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge

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