Ryder Cup Stars Fall Short As Inspired JJ Spaun Battles Rough Weather To Win Second Valero Texas Open

JJ SPAUN WINS VALERO TEXAS OPEN!

Some 30 feet stand between MacIntye and a playoff for the Valero Texas Open title.

Can he find one more moment of magic to extend the event? It doesn't really get close, and JJ Spaun has his second title at the tournament.

MACINTYRE STILL BATTLING

Robert MacIntyre's drop finds him near a cart path on a decidedly grassless part of the property. He needs an up-and-down to force a playoff with Spaun. Looks unlikely.

His third finds the green, at least, but that will take one heck of a putt to bring the leader back to the tee box.

WILD FROM MACINTYRE

MacIntyre has 323 yards to go with his second, but that is wild. It misses its target by miles and finds a muddy patch way off the fairway.

He'll get a TIO relief, so at least there's that.

All the while, JJ warms up on the range.

US OPEN REVISITED?

Shades of the US Open here. Not only do we have gloomy weather, but we have Robert MacIntyre and JJ Spaun in contention.

At the 18th, the left-handed Scot sends his tee shot down the fairway. He needs a birdie to draw level with the clubhouse leader.

Spaun's seen enough, and he heads out for some practice anticipating a playoff.

Meanwhile, Andrew Putnam finishes with a bogey for 14 under as his challenge fades late on.

BOBBY MAC IS BACK!

Just when it seemed like Robert MacIntyre is out of the running, he makes a brilliant eagle at the 17th to take him just one back of Spaun. Cut to a pensive-looking leader in the clubhouse.

TROUBLE FOR PUTNAM

Putnam finds a bunker with his third at the 18th, and that might be that for his chances.

STILL ON FOR PUTNAM

Andrew Putnam now, with his second at the par 5 18th and still in with a chance of at least catching the leader.

Remember, not only would this be his first PGA Tour win for eight years, it would also give him a Masters spot.

His second from off the fairway right is some 362 yards from the hole. It's fine, but just trickles into the left rough.

Further back, Robert MacIntyre bogeys the 16th to all but end his hopes before Hisatsune finishes on 13 under.

PUTNAM GIVING IT ONE LAST GO AT 18

One by one, the challengers to JJ Spaun are falling away, but one star still in with a chance of at least catching him is Andrew Putnam, who is at the par 5 18th needing a birdie to draw level with the clubhouse leader.

His tee shot is fine, but just misses the fairway right.

MACINTYRE STILL IN IT

Robert MacIntyre is not done yet. He rolls in a birdie at the 15th to move to 15 under, just two back of JJ Spaun.

BABY NEWS FOR SCOTTIE!

Some happy news elsewhere as Scottie Scheffler and his wife Meredith have welcomed their second son, Remy! The whole family has been at Augusta National today as Scottie played a practice round ahead of The Masters.

PUTNAM SLIPS

A costly three-putt a the 16th for Putnam sees him drop back to 15 over, and suddenly JJ Spaun's grip on proceedings seems a little tighter.

Next, Michael Kim makes a great birdie attempt from a bunker, but it misses and he's the latest out of contention.

MISJUDGEMENT FROM KIM

Michael Kim is the latest to eye a chance of joining Spaun in the lead, but, needing a birdie, his third at the par-5 sails over the green and into a bunker.

SPAUN SETS NEW CLUBHOUSE TARGET

A big moment for JJ Spaun with a short par putt to take the clubhouse lead and take Matt Wallace out of it. In it goes and he's the man to catch.

NOT TO BE FOR MACINTYRE

Back at 14, MacIntyre has a birdie chance, but it drifts right and that's a missed opportunity. He'll stay at 14 under, three back of leader JJ Spaun.

NICELY DONE FROM SPAUN

JJ Spaun hadn't really fired this season until this week, but that's all changed at TPC San Antonio. His fourth at the 18th gets within three feet and should leave a par to set the clubhouse lead at 17 under.

Behind him, the likes of Andrew Putnam and Robert MacIntyre remain in contention.

STRUGGLE FOR SPAUN AT 18

JJ Spaun's third at the 609-yard par-5 18th goes left of the green. It makes things a little interesting, for sure, although you'd still back him to make par from there. Time will tell.

STEADY FROM PUTNAM

Andrew Putnam can't be discounted just yet. He's in a tie for second with Matt Wallace and with his second at the 15th, his approach runs off the green. He should still make a par, at least.

ALL EYES ON SPAUN

An anxious observer as Spaun finishes on the par-5 18th will be Matt Wallace, who completed a round of 68 earlier. He needs an unlikely slip-up from the leader for the chance to keep his dream not just of a second PGA Tour win, but a Masters appearance, alive.

The winner of the Valero Texas Open not otherwise exempt books a place at Augusta National, but as things stand Spaun, who is already qualified, is in pole position.

SPAUN LEADS WITH EAGLE AT 17TH

At the 17th, JJ Spaun confidently rolls in his eagle putt and we have a new leader! The US Open champion is now on 17 under with Matt Wallace, in the clubhouse, one back.

KIM ON THE MARCH

Michael Kim could be the latest player to move into contention. His tee shot at the 16th, like JJ Spaun earlier, stops two or three feet from the hole.

Next, Aberg makes a bogey at the 12th to place him four back of Wallace.

SUPERB SPAUN

JJ Spaun looks the likeliest to catch Wallace at the moment. His tee shot at the 17th takes a couple of bounces before settling on the green to leave an eagle chance.

ABERG ON THE SLIDE

Not for the first time in recent week, Ludvig Aberg's challenge is beginning to unravel. His third at the par-4 12th finds the green, before the ball spins back and settles off it to leave him facing a scramble to make par.

SPAUN HITS BACK

On the 16th green, Andrew Putnam makes his par to remain on 15 under, before Spaun completes his birdie putt to join him in a tie for second.

JOY FOR JJ

In the relentless rain, JJ Spaun sends his tee shot at the par-3 16 to within three feet. He should get back to one of clubhouse leader Matt Wallace with his putt.

MISTAKES FROM CHALLENGERS

Spaun gets on the green from the bunker with his third at the 15th, but he leaves a lot to do to make his par. He can't manage it and, no sooner does he move within one of Matt Wallace, he's back to 14 under, two behind.

MacIntyre also closed the gap on the previous hole, but he too drops a shot, at the 11th, to join Spaun in a tie for third. Andrew Putnam is in solo second on 14 under.

NOT QUITE, LUDVIG

At the 11th, Aberg tries a chip-in for birdie, but it stalls a foot or so short and he'll remain on 13 under, three back of Wallace.

SPAUN IN THE SAND

Spaun finds trouble at the 15th. From a difficult lie, his second at the par-4 finds a bunker to the right of the green.

MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR PUTNAM

Another player eyeing a win is Andrew Putnam. He leaves a lengthy birdie putt at the 12th a few inches short to remain on 15 under. He hasn't won on the PGA Tour for eight years. Is this the day that changes?

RIVALS MAKING A MOVE

At the 14th, JJ Spaun makes a birdie to move to 15 under, just one back of Wallace. He won the Valero Texas Open in 2022 and is looking for his first title since the 2022 US Open.

Moments later, Robert MacIntyre also moves to 15 under with his first birdie of the day at the 10th.

WALLACE CONTENT WITH ROUND

Matt Wallace is on TV describing his round as "some of the best golf I've ever played." It's given him a chance of his first PGA Tour title since the 2023 Corales Puntacana Championship, and included this chip-in birdie that he feared was speeding several feet past.

BIG NAMES IN CONTENTION

While Wallace's 68 gives him the clubhouse lead, out on the course hoping to chase down his score are some big names, including Ryder Cup stars JJ Spaun, Robert MacIntyre and Ludvig Aberg.

Those three are in The Masters no matter what, but players still looking for that final spot include Ryo Hisatsune, Andrew Putnam and Chandler Phillips.

WALLACE IN THE HUNT

Considering the conditions, Matt Wallace's 16 under could yet prove competitive, but it could so easily have been 17 under. His delicate chip onto the green for birdie at the last didn't miss by much, although the Englishman ultimately settled for par.

He's one of several players in contention who would earn a Masters place with a win. Let's see how the next couple of hours unfolds.

WELCOME

Hello and welcome to Golf Monthly's coverage of the Valero Texas Open final round at TPC San Antonio. We've witnessed some brutal conditions for the players today, with scoring becoming increasingly difficult as the rain continues to fall.

Matt Wallace has just posted a final-round 68 to set the clubhouse lead on 16-under, but can anyone catch or even edge past him over the final nine holes? We're about to find out! Thanks for tuning in!