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Eric Axley celebrates his 15-under par win at last year's Valero Texas Open. He's defending his champ status this year. |
PGA superstars like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson won't be in action when the Valero Texas Open tees off at La Cantera Golf Club on Thursday, Oct. 4, but the event won't be at a loss for some heavy hitters and former major championship winners.
Here are some of the more notable players teeing off at the Texas Open, which concludes with the crowning of the tournament champion on Sunday, Oct. 7.
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THE RUNDOWN WHAT: Valero Texas Open
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 4 through Sunday, Oct. 7
WHERE: The Resort Course at La Cantera Golf Club, 16641 La Cantera Parkway
HOW MUCH: $10-$15, free for those 17 and under or with valid military ID
INFO: golfsanantonio.org | STEPHEN AMES
AGE: 43
COLLEGE: Boca Raton
2006 TEXAS OPEN FINISH: Didn't play
CLAIM TO FAME: Ames, who holds dual citizenship in Canada and Trinidad and Tobago, placed in the top 25 at three of the four major tournaments in 2007.
ERIC AXLEY
AGE: 33
COLLEGE: East Tennessee State
2006 TEXAS OPEN FINISH: First
CLAIM TO FAME: Axley claimed his first – and only – PGA tour victory at last year's Valero Texas Open, pocketing $720,000 in the process.
RICH BEEM
AGE: 37
COLLEGE: New Mexico State
2006 TEXAS OPEN FINISH: Didn't make the cut
CLAIM TO FAME: Beem won the 2002 PGA Championship – his only major title – by one stroke over a little-known runner-up by the name of Tiger Woods.
K.J. CHOI
AGE: 37
COLLEGE: None (hails from South Korea)
2006 TEXAS OPEN FINISH: Didn't play
CLAIM TO FAME: Choi, the first Korean to ever earn his PGA tour card, placed third at the 2004 Masters.
JOHN DALY
AGE: 41
COLLEGE: Arkansas
2006 TEXAS OPEN FINISH: Didn't play
CLAIM TO FAME: In addition to being arguably the most popular professional golfer not named Tiger Woods and the winner of two major tournaments, Daly is known for his many off-the-course travails. Among them are alcoholism, chain smoking, four marriages and the revelation in his recent autobiography that Daly has racked up an estimated $50-$60 million in gambling losses.
CHARLEY HOFFMAN
AGE: 30
COLLEGE: UNLV
2006 TEXAS OPEN FINISH: Tied for eighth
CLAIM TO FAME: Hoffman earned his first career PGA Tour victory at this year's Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, a victory for which he earned $900,000.
JUSTIN LEONARD
AGE: 35
COLLEGE: Texas
2006 TEXAS OPEN FINISH: Tied for 37th
CLAIM TO FAME: Leonard, voted the most outstanding collegiate golfer in 1994, has 10 PGA Tour victories to his credit, including a three-shot victory at the 1997 British Open.
JESPER PARNEVIK
AGE: 42
COLLEGE: None (hails from Sweden)
2006 TEXAS OPEN FINISH: Tied for 30th
CLAIM TO FAME: In addition to five PGA Tour victories, Parnevik is known for his eclectic style of dress, which sometimes includes upturned bill caps, Cosby-style sweater vests and colorful pants.
COREY PAVIN
AGE: 47
COLLEGE: UCLA
2006 TEXAS OPEN FINISH: Didn't play
CLAIM TO FAME: Arguably the most decorated player at this year's Texas Open, Pavin has won 15 PGA Tour events, including his only major title — a two-shot victory over Greg Norman at the 1995 U.S. Open.
BRANDT SNEDEKER
AGE: 26
COLLEGE: Vanderbilt
2006 TEXAS OPEN FINISH: Didn't play
CLAIM TO FAME: Snedeker, a tour rookie this season, earned his first PGA Tour title at this year's Wyndham Championship and equaled a course record by shooting 61 in the first round of this year's Buick Invitational.
CLINT HALE | 210SA |
