The Valero Texas Open has turned into a high-stakes Masters qualifier, with Tony Finau, Bud Cauley, Kevin Roy and Thorbjørn Olesen chasing a win and Augusta.
The Valero Texas Open isn’t just about a trophy this weekend; it’s also the final path into the 2026 Masters, and that’s raising the stakes for several contenders still hanging around the top of the leaderboard.
Robert MacIntyre took a four-shot lead into the weekend, while Ludvig Åberg sat second. Just behind them, Bud Cauley, Kevin Roy, Thorbjørn Olesen and Tony Finau remained in the mix with Augusta National still on the line.
That’s what makes this leaderboard so compelling. Finau, currently outside the Masters field, is trying to extend a major-championship streak that dates to 2018, but the only way in now is to win in San Antonio.
SB Nation reported that he reached the halfway point tied for third at 9-under, five shots behind MacIntyre, and noted he was the only player with multiple eagles through two rounds.
Roy and Cauley are chasing even bigger personal milestones.
Neither has played the Masters before, so a victory this week would send each to Augusta for the first time. Roy helped keep himself in position after a second-round 68, while Cauley made one of the biggest moves on Friday with a 7-under 65, one of the best rounds of the day.
Olesen, who last played the Masters in 2024, also surged with a 66 to stay alive heading into the weekend.
Not everyone survived the pressure. Rickie Fowler missed the cut and, with that, missed out on a second straight Masters appearance.
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Michael Thorbjornsen also failed to play his way in after falling just outside the top 50 in the world ranking cutoff last week. Sepp Straka was another notable name who headed home early, even though he had already secured his Masters spot.
So now the weekend story is pretty simple: if one of those unqualified players can chase down MacIntyre, he won’t just win the Valero Texas Open.
He’ll grab the final invitation to Augusta as well.
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