SAN ANTONIO — Brian Harman put on an impressive display at the Valero Texas Open, expertly executing crisp iron shots and sinking eight birdie putts, all within 12 feet, which propelled him to a 6-under 66. This remarkable performance placed him four strokes ahead of his nearest competitor, Keith Mitchell, as they approached the weekend rounds.
Harman, who last held a 36-hole lead at Bay Hill a year ago, enjoyed the luxury of his largest mid-point lead since the 2023 British Open at Hoylake, where he held a five-shot advantage. Reflecting on his sizable lead and prior experiences, Harman expressed confidence, sharing, “Just know that I’ve done it before and that it is possible. Sometimes you get big leads, and I’m sure Keith will make some birdies coming in. Ultimately, it’s about staying focused and taking your time.” Harman concludes the day sitting comfortably at 12-under 132 on the TPC San Antonio course.
Meanwhile, Keith Mitchell faced a rollercoaster of a second round, resulting in an even-par 72. He made notable birdies with two successful 12-foot putts but had to overcome a setback with a bogey from a bunker on the par-3 seventh hole and finished with two pars. Keen to secure his entry into the upcoming Masters, Mitchell acknowledged, “I’m still in there. I wish I was closer to Brian, but it was good to make par on 9 to stay in the last group. Thankfully, I played great yesterday and have two more rounds.”
In contrast, Ryo Hisatsune and Matt Wallace each matched a solid 67, while Sam Ryder encountered a series of difficulties, ending a challenging day with a 74, a drop of 11 strokes from his strong opening round. Ryder’s struggle was exacerbated by neck pain, which had also caused him to miss the pro-am. Reflecting on the day, Ryder admitted, “I could make excuses, but I just didn’t play well. My neck and back are bothering me, but it’s difficult with the quick turnaround. Still, if you told me Thursday I’d be in this position come Saturday, I would’ve taken it.”
Golfer Jordan Spieth aimed to remain within striking distance of the leaders but stumbled with bogeys on his final three holes, ultimately finishing with a 73 and trailing Harman by eight shots. Similarly, Rickie Fowler kept his aspirations for the Masters alive by delivering a standout 65 to match the eight-shot deficit. After initially struggling with a 75, his immediate aim was to simply make the cut.
Tony Finau successfully made the cut with a dramatic finish. Situated just below the cut line, Finau’s fortunes shifted with a timely hole-in-one on the 16th hole, followed by two straightforward pars, ensuring his continuation into the weekend with a round of 72. Finau remarked, “I needed something in my favor. I was losing momentum and risking missing the weekend. That shot was crucial at the right time.”
Regrettably, some notable players did not advance past the cut, including the highest-ranked in the field, Ludvig Aberg at number five, along with defending champion Akshay Bhatia.