Ryder's Putting Clinic Steals Spotlight

Sam Ryder defied physical discomfort to deliver a flawless 9-under 63, carding just 21 total putts – including one-putting 11 of his final 12 holes – to claim the Day 1 lead at the Valero Texas Open. Battling neck stiffness that nearly sidelined him, Ryder closed with three consecutive birdies, highlighted by a 25-foot bomb on No. 16 and a precision wedge to 1 foot on the par-5 18th at TPC San Antonio.

Contenders Chase Hot Start

• Keith Mitchell (-8): The morning wave leader fired a bogey-free 64, capped by a 286-yard 3-wood to 3 feet for eagle on the 8th.
• Brian Harman (-6): The Open champion showed flashes of his Royal Liverpool form with five back-nine birdies.
• Jordan Spieth (-5): Scrambled brilliantly, including a miraculous recovery from a rock-embedded lie on No. 17 to save birdie.

Masters Implications Loom Large

With Augusta National berths on the line, Ryder could play his way into the field with a victory. The 34-year-old Floridian, still seeking his first PGA Tour win, stated:

"I was just trying to put one foot in front of the next... didn't expect this kind of magic on the greens."

Mitchell, also outside the Masters field, seeks to convert his third strong opening round this season into a breakthrough performance. Meanwhile, Harman looks to reverse a 15-event top-10 drought as he fights to stay inside the OWGR top 50.

Equipment Notes

Ryder's Scotty Cameron putter proved lethal, while Mitchell's Titleist TSr3 3-wood produced the shot of the day. Spieth's Titleist Pro V1x withstood its rocky encounter on 17, showcasing tour-level durability.

Weather Watch

Friday's forecast calls for 15 mph winds, potentially shaking up the leaderboard as players adapt to firmer conditions at the Oaks Course.