Sam Ryder signed for a bogey-free, 9-under 63 at TPC San Antonio to take a one-shot lead at the Valero Texas Open.
“Just played a really solid round. Hit fairways out of the gates, birdied 1, birdied 2, just kind of eased into the round,” said Ryder. “Had a couple nice par saves on some tricky hole locations, tricky winds. Had a few nice stretches on the back nine, went on a couple birdie runs and took advantage of some par-5s, snuck a couple birdies in on tough par 3 holes that you don’t really expect to birdie. Yeah, all in all, it was a pretty good day.”
Ryder led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting (5.353). 63 is his lowest round of the season having previously shot 64 in round 1 of the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches where he finished T48.
The American made the cut in all nine starts this season, totaling four top-25 finishes, highlighted by a T14 at The Players Championship.
He recorded 15 one-putts, a new career best on the PGA Tour (previous: 13/R4/2020 WM Phoenix Open).
Keith Mitchell fired an eagle at the par-5 8th and closed with a bogey-free 64 to take second place at 8-under. He led the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green (5.464) and Strokes Gained: Approach the Green (4.496). In eight starts this season, he has recorded three top-25 finishes, highlighted by a T18 at last week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open.
Brian Harman made a single bogey for a 66 and lies in solo third place at 6-under.
2021 Valero Texas Open champion Jordan Spieth sits inside the top four after 18 holes for the first time since the 2023 FedEx St. Jude Championship (18-hole solo leader/finished T6). He is tied in fourth place at 5-under having made one bogey at the first hole and closed with a 5-under 67.
Tied alongside Spieth and completing the all-American top-5 is Carson Young who bogeyed the 8th and closed with a 67.
Defending champion Akshay Bhatia of the USA recorded one birdie against three bogeys for a 2-over 74 and is currently T103.
