After a three-hour rain delay earlier in the day, the first round remains incomplete at the Valero Texas Open. Here’s how things looked when darkness halted play, as a former champ holds a two-shot lead:
Leaderboard: Brendan Steele (-8 through 13 holes), Charley Hoffman (-6), Peter Malnati (-5), Stuart Appleby (-5), Steve Flesch (-4), Patrick Reed (-4 through 13 holes), Brandt Snedeker (-4 through 14 holes)
What it means: Early-week rains softened TPC San Antonio, so it didn’t take much precipitation to grind things to a halt early in the morning. Once play resumed, Hoffman set the clubhouse lead to extend his affinity for this event. But he was passed late in the day by Steele, whose lone PGA Tour win came at this tournament in 2011.
Round of the day: Steele hasn’t cracked the top 15 since October, but he’s well on his way after his hot start in San Antonio. Beginning on the back nine, Steele birdied four of his first five holes before making the turn in 31, then added three more birdies on Nos. 1-3. In less than a full round, Steele has already matched his under-par total from five years ago, when his 8-under 280 total earned him his maiden victory.
Best of the rest: Hoffman has finished T-13 or better each of the last six years at this event, and he is well on his way to another high finish after opening with a 66. Hoffman carded seven birdies against just one bogey, closing with an 11-foot make on No. 18 to reach 6 under as he looks for his first win since the 2014 OHL Classic at Mayakoba.
Biggest disappointment: Jimmy Walker lives in nearby Boerne and won this event last year by four shots over Jordan Spieth. But a repeat seems unlikely after Walker opened with a 3-over 75 that left him 11 shots off the early pace. Walker managed only one birdie against four bogeys and now has an uphill battle simply to make the cut.
Main storyline heading into Friday: The focus will be on the players returning to complete their opening round. It’s a group that includes Steele, who will look to extend his lead, but also Phil Mickelson (1 over through 14 holes) who needs to build some momentum and Reed, a Texas native who made a late charge up the standings.
Shot of the day: Malnati hasn’t made a cut since Pebble Beach, but he seems likely to end that drought after a 67 that included an eagle on the par-4 17th after he holed his wedge approach from 94 yards.
Quote of the day: “I’ve got to put four good rounds together instead of three. You don’t win golf tournaments with three good rounds.” - Hoffman