Mark Hubbard Clinches Late Lead at Valero Texas Open

Mark Hubbard surged late on Thursday at TPC San Antonio. The 36-year-old shot a 7-under 65 to close the opening round at the Valero Texas Open.

How the round unfolded

Hubbard began with a bogey on the par-4 fourth hole. He then went bogey-free for his final 14 holes.

He birdied six of his last eight holes. His closing stretch included a birdie on the 18th despite limited visibility.

Player comments and milestones

Hubbard said his driver finally cooperated after a prolonged struggle. He credited better ball-striking off the tee for his late run.

Filmogaz.com noted Hubbard was bidding for his sixth 18-hole lead or co-lead on tour in his 272nd career start. The update appeared on April 3, 2026.

Leaderboard and contenders

Five players trailed Hubbard by one stroke after the first round. Tony Finau, Davis Thompson, Andrew Putnam, Robert MacIntyre and Steven Fisk sat a shot back.

Pontus Nyholm, John Parry and Jeffrey Kang were at 4 under with three to four holes left to complete early Friday. They could produce a late burst to challenge Hubbard.

Notable names lurking

Other players in the mix included Tommy Fleetwood, Will Zalatoris and Ludvig Åberg. Many in that group are competing for the final spot in the 2026 Masters field.

Interruptions and schedule

Play was delayed by weather for 90 minutes on Thursday morning. First-round action was suspended just before 8 p.m. local time because of darkness.

Play will resume at 7:45 a.m. Friday. The second round will begin as scheduled later that day.

Perspectives from the field

Åberg reflected on his collapse at The Players Championship. He said losing control for roughly 25 minutes taught him to slow down and manage his game better.

Jordan Spieth said he sees no direct parallels between San Antonio and Augusta. He offered a brief assessment of his game heading into the week.

Hubbard closed with a pragmatic note. He welcomed the extra hour of rest and plans to build on his late lead with steady play.