TIM TEBOW - SPORTS LEGENDS NEVER DIE - STOCKS/REPORTS

[mick]

power golfers https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/power-rankings/2023/03/27/power-rankings-valero-texas-open
15

Ben Martin
Ben Martin

USA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

After a relative quiet but cautiously optimistic first quarter of the season, he’s connected with a series of strong performances that have included a T13 at Pebble Beach, a T5 at PGA National and a T8 at Corales. Currently 19th on the PGA TOUR in greens in regulation.

14

Adam Schenk
Adam Schenk

USA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

He’s done licking his wounds. Took last week off after the disappointment of finishing second at Copperhead, but the long-range trending projected something special sooner than later. He’s recorded a top 10 at TPC San Antonio (T7, 2019), so an extension of form is expected.

13

Thomas Detry
Thomas Detry

BEL
BELGIUM

Continues to hang up results worthy of Rookie of the Year votes. His T8 at Corales was his fifth top 15 and he’s 29th in the FedExCup. He led the field in the Dominican Republic in par-4 scoring while leaning on typically strong putting to cover average ball-striking.

12

Matt Wallace
Matt Wallace

ENG
ENGLAND

Sure, the 32-year-old is fresh off his PGA TOUR breakthrough victory at Corales, but he’s a seasoned veteran abroad with four titles on his native DP World Tour. He also placed T7 at Copperhead two weeks ago and third in his debut at TPC San Antonio in 2021.

11

Nicolai Hojgaard
Nicolai Hojgaard

DEN
DEN

He and Ryan Fox (below) are within reach of Special Temporary Membership, but the 22-year-old Dane has done all of his damage in just one event with a solo second at Corales that he co-led in greens in regulation. He’s been a beast in six starts all over the planet in 2023.

10

Ryan Fox
Ryan Fox

NZL
NEW ZEALAND

The 36-year-old Kiwi is headed to his first Masters, so his first appearance in the Valero Texas Open serves both as a tune-up and another opportunity to make noise on the PGA TOUR. Since landing for Bay Hill, he’s 3-for-3 with a pair of top 20s, all in tournament debuts.

9

Nick Taylor
Nick Taylor

CAN
CANADA

Slots like a reverse-splits talent on a course where he’s making his seventh appearance. His first two results were top 25s, but he’s tailed since. This season, however, his short game and putting are the best they’ve been, so the ingredients are there for a personal-best outcome.

8

Matt Kuchar
Matt Kuchar

USA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The 44-year-old isn’t so much turning back the clock as he is holding his own in a tug-of-war with Father Time. Fresh off surviving the Group Stage at the Match Play for his third top 10 of 2023. Since 2012, he’s 10-for-10 at TPC San Antonio with four top 10s among six top 15s.

7

J.J. Spaun
J.J. Spaun

USA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

As a veteran in his seventh season on TOUR, the obligations of a first-time defending champion should align with his expectations. He certainly wasn’t frazzled in his debut at the Masters (T23) after his breakthrough here last year. Fresh off a T9 at the Match Play.

6

Si Woo Kim
Si Woo Kim

KOR
SOUTH KOREA

Since 2017, he’s 5-for-5 at TPC San Antonio with a T4 (2019) the highlight among four top 25s. He’s retained momentum since taking the title at Waialae to open 2023 and ranks 20th on TOUR in the all-around. Most importantly, he’s remained healthy to stay busy.

5

Cam Davis
Cam Davis

AUS
AUSTRALIA

In hindsight, his 0-for-5 skid that spanned the Swings in the last two months promised to be a blip, but it already is. In his last two starts, he finished T6 at TPC Sawgrass and went 2-1-0 at the Match Play. His strength is tee to green and he ranked T17 in par-5 scoring.

4

Andrew Putnam
Andrew Putnam

USA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Impressive numbers this season – inside the top 40 in fairways hit, greens in regulation, Stroke Gained: Putting and adjusted scoring – but he tends to pop than sustain. The same applies at TPC San Antonio where his only top-35 finish among four paydays is a T8 in 2018.

3

Corey Conners
Corey Conners

CAN
CANADA

The 2019 breakthrough champion is the archetype for what works at TPC San Antonio. He’s 4-for-4 with a scoring average of 69.81. Entering his prime at 31 but he’s been performing like it for as long as you want to review. Still chasing his first top 10 of 2022-23, though.

2

Chris Kirk
Chris Kirk

USA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

He’s in the Masters by virtue of his victory at PGA National a month ago, but he’s been a fixture at TPC San Antonio for years. As a preeminent ball-striker, it makes sense. Since 2015, he’s 4-for-6 with three top 10s and a T13. The bonus is that he’s putting as well as he ever has.

1

Rickie Fowler
Rickie Fowler

USA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

It’s fair that the current narrative is that he’s not yet eligible for the Masters, but that it’s a narrative at all speaks to a reemergence of consistently strong form. Nine straight paydays upon arrival include six top 20s generated by a balanced attack. Two T17s at Valero.