Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood Shine Early at Valero Texas Open

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre sits one shot shy of the lead after the first round at the Valero Texas Open. He birdied five holes on the back nine, including the final two, to sign for six-under. Mark Hubbard holds the lead after a late surge.

Round one leaderboard

Mark Hubbard carded a 65 after birdieing six of his last eight holes. That effort left him at seven-under and atop the standings. A group at six-under contains MacIntyre and four Americans.

Tony Finau, Davis Thompson, Andrew Putnam and Steven Fisk joined MacIntyre on six-under. England’s Tommy Fleetwood fired a 67, one stroke further back. Fleetwood’s round included fellow Ryder Cup team-mate Ludvig Åberg.

Play suspended and unfinished rounds

Bad weather delayed play for 90 minutes. Darkness later halted the first round with 24 players still on course. England’s John Parry was four-under with four holes remaining when play stopped.

Marco Penge dropped two late shots and finished with a 68, leaving him four-under. Tournament officials will resume the remaining holes when conditions allow.

What is at stake

The Valero Texas Open winner receives a late invitation to The Masters next week. The Masters field includes recent major champions, past tournament winners and the top 50 in the world rankings. Many players are chasing the victory to secure that green jacket entry.

Players’ outlook

Tony Finau is among those aiming for a win to guarantee a Masters berth. He has not missed a major since the 2017 US Open. Finau said he feels close to putting together four solid rounds and wants to build on a strong start.

For ongoing coverage and analysis, follow Filmogaz.com for updates and scores from the Valero Texas Open and previews ahead of The Masters.