Tony Finau Headlines Valero Texas Open’s Last-Chance Masters Push

As Friday turned into Saturday morning, the cleanest headline belonged to Tony Finau. He finished his second round at 9-under, tied for third, five back of Robert MacIntyre at 14-under. That is a big detail because MacIntyre and second-place Ludvig Åberg at 10-under are already in the Masters field, which means Finau is not chasing some complicated qualifying math. He is chasing a win, plain and simple.

And this is what makes Finau such a natural Athlon-style weekend storyline. He is a proven name. He is a fan favorite. He is the kind of player who would instantly make next week’s Masters a little more interesting if he finds a way to finish this off. He also is not on the official Masters invitee list that was published Thursday, so there is no gray area here. Finau needs the trophy.

MacIntyre, meanwhile, deserves a nod because his 14-under start was reported as the lowest 36-hole score since the event moved to TPC San Antonio in 2010. It is a terrific performance, but from an Augusta angle, it does not change the pressure on the chasers because he is already safely in.

Hisatsune Has Real Weekend Juice

If Finau is the headline, Ryo Hisatsune is the name that gives this chase a little extra intrigue. He closed Friday at 8-under, tied for seventh, and he is also not on the Masters invitee list. That puts him in a fascinating spot. He does not bring the same name recognition as Finau or Horschel in the U.S., but he is close enough to matter and talented enough to make this uncomfortable for everybody ahead of him.

That is the fun part of this tournament every year. One big name usually grabs the attention, but there is often another player lurking just a little quieter, just a little lower on the pecking order, with a very real chance to change his spring in one afternoon. Right now, that guy looks like Hisatsune.

Horschel And Zalatoris Need A Saturday Charge

After Finau and Hisatsune, the board starts to ask tougher questions. Billy Horschel sat at 5-under, tied for 23rd, which means he is still alive but in need of a real Saturday move. He is not on the Masters list either, so his path is just as simple as Finau’s: win or watch Augusta from afar.

Will Zalatoris remains a compelling name because fans still want to believe in the comeback, but Friday made his climb much steeper. He slid to 3-under, tied for 43rd, and like Finau and Horschel, he is not on the official invitee list. He is still breathing, but the story has shifted from “great opening jolt” to “he now needs something special.”

The Chase Has Already Started To Thin Out

The other part of this story is who has already lost real ground. With Round 2 suspended and the projected cut at 2-under, the line itself became part of the drama. Sudarshan Yellamaraju was right on that number at 2-under. Tom Kim and Michael Thorbjornsen were both at even par, and Rickie Fowler was back at 1-over. For the bigger names who came to San Antonio needing something dramatic, Friday looked a lot more like survival than momentum.

Fowler and Tom Kim, notably, are not on the Masters invitee list either, which is what made this week such a last-gasp opportunity for them in the first place. But by Friday night, the Valero conversation had narrowed. Finau has put himself squarely in the center of it. Hisatsune has given himself a real chance. Horschel is still hanging around. Zalatoris still has a pulse. Beyond that, the road is getting awfully short.

And that is the cleanest way to frame this heading into the weekend. The field may have started with a handful of familiar names dreaming about a late drive down Magnolia Lane. Now it feels much tighter than that. Finau is the story. Hisatsune is the threat. Horschel and Zalatoris need a push. That is more than enough drama for the last stop before the Masters.

PGA of America Golf Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer who serves as Athlon Sports Senior Golf Writer. To stay updated on all of his latest work, sign up for his newsletter or visit his MuckRack Profile.