J.J. Spaun started the day at the Valero Texas Open seven shots behind the lead and 9 holes through his third round (66). He made one birdie on the front nine of the fourth round to made the turn in 35 then fired three more, one bogey and an eagle at the par-4 17th to close with a 67 and win by one shot at 17-under.

He led the field in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (9.280).

“My strategy was to not spiral, believe it or not. Like I’ve been kind of going crazy as far as like my golf swing and how I’ve been playing. You can look at my results, I’ve missed three or four cuts this year. I’ve had some middle-of-the-pack finishes. I didn’t know how I was going to play every single week,” said Spaun.

“But going into this week I kind of accepted where my game was, if that makes any sense, and just said this is what I have and this is what I’m going to play golf with and I’m going to accept the outcome, I’m going to just try and get the ball in the hole. I obviously was the best at it this week.”

This was the American’s third PGA Tour victory in his 252nd start at the age of 35 (2022 Valero Texas Open, 2025 US Open). It is his first top-10 finish of the season (previous best finish: T24/The Players Championship).

“I was just really exhausted,” he added. “I was willing to accept a playoff, but I was hoping there wasn’t one. Just been a long day, very cold and windy conditions. Yeah, just sat around in the scoring tent and just watched play unfold.

“Once Bob made eagle, I went to the range, started getting ready physically and mentally to prepare for a playoff. That’s kind of where we saw everything kind of transpire, and here we are.”

England’s Matt Wallace made a single bogey and five birdies including three consecutively from the 15thf or a 68 and a share of second place at 16-under, his first runner-up finish on Tour (150 starts).

American Michael Kim closed with a 69 having made two bogeys and recorded the second runner-up finish of his career in 262 starts (2025 WM Phoenix Open).

36- and 54-hole leader Robert MacIntyre of Scotland made two birdies and two bogeys in the third round for a 72. He parred the front nine in the fourth round then made two birdies and two bogeys as well as an eagle at the par-4 17th for a 70 and his fourth runner-up finish.

Through thirteen events of the 2026 PGA Tour Season, only four players have successfully converted the 54- hole lead/co-lead into victory.

Aon Swing 5 and Aon Next 10

Aon Swing 5: The Valero Texas Open is the final of a four-tournament stretch for players to earn FedExCup points towards the Aon Swing 5 with entry into the next Signature Event at the RBC Heritage.

The top five players, not otherwise exempt, who earned the most FedExCup points during the Puerto Rico Open, Valspar Championship, Texas Children’s Houston Open and Valero Texas Open have qualified for the RBC Heritage.

Aon Next 10: The Aon Next 10 for the RBC Heritage will be determined by the top 10 FedExCup points earners, not already exempt, through the Masters Tournament.

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