Corey Conners Comes Back to Win in Texas & Top 6 Holds Steady Heading into the Masters

Corey Conners' second PGA Tour victory had shades of deja vu.

In 2019, the Canadian Monday qualified for the Valero Texas Open and then won to claim his first start at the Masters. Now, four years later, Conners didn't have to Monday qualify, and he already had a spot in this year's Masters, however, similar to '19, he heads to Augusta fresh off a win at TPC San Antonio.

"I had been feeling really good about my game, and looking forward to getting back here to San Antonio," Conners said after finishing at 15 under for a one-stroke victory. "When I won in 2019, it was different, a real roller-coaster final round. I dug deep on the back nine, so I tried to channel that part of it today."

Conners, 31, started the final round one back of Patrick Rodgers, the 54-hole leader. Rodgers, however, played the front nine at 2 over and was four back of Conners at the turn. He would finish solo fifth at 11 under.

"It's one of those golf courses where it doesn't take much to get pretty far off and that was my day today," Rodgers said. "Disappointing result, but I'll be back strong."

Though the 30-year-old remains winless in 235 Tour starts, the former Stanford star may find consolation by taking home $364,900 and moving up 16 spots in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings to No. 46.

Crediti foto: Getty Images

Rodgers, though, wasn't the only player to better their chances of teeing it up later this year at Marco Simone for Team USA in the Ryder Cup.

Rookie Sam Stevens followed up a T-3 at last week's Corales Puntacana Championship with his first runner-up on Tour. The 26-year-old made his second eagle of the day by driving the green on No. 17 to pull within a stroke of Conners. However, he missed an 8-footer for birdie to tie on the last. He still jumped 57 spots on the Ryder Cup points list to No. 35.

"I'm excited and I'm pleased," Stevens said afterward. "It's easy to look back and wish you had one more, but that's all right."

Meanwhile, Chris Kirk, who ended a 2,836-day winless drought at the Honda Classic in February, posted his fourth top-10 this year and rose from No. 11 to 10 on the Ryder Cup points list.

Rickie Fowler and Hayden Buckley tied for 10th with Kirk. Fowler went from No. 21 to 18 on the Ryder Cup points list with his eighth top-20 of the season, and Buckley, who finished runner-up at January's Sony Open, jumped five spots to No. 28.

Sam Ryder now sits one spot ahead of Buckley in the U.S. standings, climbing 14 spots to No. 27 with a T-3 finish — his sixth top-20 of the season. Ryder finished at 13 under with Matt Kuchar, who posted his seventh top-15 in his 11th start at TPC San Antonio. Kuchar jumped four spots to No. 22 on the U.S. Ryder Cup points list.

"I wish I made a few putts early on," Kuchar said. "It was a demanding day. I got to witness Corey Conners go around. He did not miss a shot for 18 holes, it was impressive stuff to see out there."

U.S. Team Captain Zach Johnson first announced the 2023 qualifying structure last year. Points in 2023 are awarded as follows:

- 1 point per $1,000 earned at regular PGA Tour events beginning January 1, including the Zurich Classic and WGC events, through the BMW Championship (August 20)

- 2 points per $1,000 earned for winner of the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open

- 1.5 points per $1,000 earned for all others that make the cut at the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open

- No points available at PGA Tour opposite-field events

Points qualification will conclude immediately after the second FedEx Cup Play-Off event (BMW Championship) on August 20, 2023, with the top six eligible players on the points list securing spots on the U.S. Team.

The six remaining slots on the U.S. Team will be Captain’s Selections and will be announced by Johnson following the 2023 Tour Championship.

For a full list of the Top 100 in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings, click here.