Thursday 26 March 2015 23:40, UK
Jimmy Walker will look to become the first two-time PGA Tour winner of the seaso at this week’s Valero Texas Open.
The FedEx Cup leader, who successfully defended his Sony Open title in Hawaii in January, heads in to his home event hoping to replicate the early season form which saw him post three successive top-seven finishes on the PGA Tour.
Walker will face tough competition in a strong line-up that includes fellow Texan Jordan Spieth, five-time major winner Phil Mickelson and US Open champion Martin Kaymer, with the world No 13 under no illusions how difficult a home victory will be.
"It's hard to win any week, let alone your home week, so I don't think you can really put it in perspective like that," Walker said. “"But it would definitely be a lot of fun.
“It would be fun to hear the cheers from the crowd, being from here, and having a chance to win on Sunday. I think it would be a good experience. It would be something I'm trying to do. We'll see how it goes."
World No 52 Marc Warren will look to secure his first appearance in the Masters, needing a top 20 finish at TPC San Antonio to join countrymen Stephen Gallacher, Sandy Lyle and Bradley Neil at Augusta National.
The 33-year-old can draw on previous good performances in the United States, having finished 12th and 15th in the last two US PGA Championships and 17th in the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral earlier this month.
Italy's Francesco Molinari can also qualify for the Masters this week but the world No 63 requires a top-three finish or better to stay in contention, while Australia’s Steven Bowditch will defend his title in a high-profile field.
Watch the Valero Texas Open on Thursday from 7pm live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.
