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The Valero Texas Open, which tees off Thursday at TPC San Antonio, occupies a unique position on the PGA Tour calendar.

For the 20-odd golfers in the field who are already invited to next week’s Masters, it’s a tune-up. For everyone else, winning in Texas is the final path to make it to Augusta National.

While the likes of Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau and Jordan Spieth may rightfully have their minds on next week, the rest of the field has to focus in on the top spot to make their Masters dream come true.

Akshay Bhatia knows the feeling. At just 22 years old last year, Bhatia led the Texas Open after each of the first three rounds. Then he went to a playoff on Sunday, defeating Denny McCarthy for the win that punched his plane ticket to Augusta.

Bhatia recommended younger players not focus too much on the objective while on the course.

“I think it depends on how you look at it,” he said. “Last year the Masters was such a long shot for me. I had my eyes set on trying to get into the U.S. Open based off of world ranking.

“… It’s something you really got to kind of keep off your mind and try to play this golf tournament and see where you end up at the end of the week.”

Bhatia and McCarthy shot 20-under-par 268 for the week last year, tying the lowest score the tournament has had since Tommy Armour III went 26 under in 2003.

“It’s kind of a tune-up week, but it’s also very cool to kind of go back-to-back,” Bhatia said. “It’s got a mix of both. Maybe I’ll feel different on Thursday when I tee it up, but for now I’m just kind of focused on trying to get prepared for this week but also learn where I’m at for next week.”

Bhatia has three top-10 finishes in his past four starts. Cantlay has a pair of top-fives this year, while Texas native Spieth will look for his second win at TPC San Antonio after capturing the 2021 title. Also competing are two-time winners Corey Conners of Canada (2019, 2023) and Zach Johnson (2008, 2009).

As far as the contingent of golfers hoping to qualify for the Masters, perhaps no one is easier to root for than Gary Woodland.

The 2019 U.S. Open champion underwent brain surgery in 2023. His T2 finish at last week’s Houston Open (behind only Min Woo Lee of Australia) was by far his best result since his return to competitive golf.

“Last week, on Sunday especially, it was the first time really probably since the U.S. Open that I was in control, complete control,” Woodland said. “I was in control of my emotions, I was in control of my thoughts, and that’s been a battle for me over the last couple years.”

Woodland said he cannot afford to look ahead to Masters qualification.

“My brain’s different, it is,” he said. “I’m still recovering, I’m still healing. I don’t have the luxury to think ahead because if I do, if I even think to the past, my brain’s going to shut down.

“… Obviously, we all want to be in the majors. I’ve been a staple in the majors really since 2011, and that’s what I’m out here to do is to play and win those tournaments, but right now I’m trying to focus and get through today.”

–Field Level Media