The Valero Texas Open has kicked off with a bang, and the first round has already provided plenty of excitement and surprises. Justin Lower and Akshay Bhatia have emerged as early frontrunners, with Bhatia impressively shooting a nine-under-par 63 to take the lead. Meanwhile, Brendon Todd and a group of four players are hot on their heels, setting the stage for an intense competition.

Historical data from previous events at TPC San Antonio suggests that being a frontrunner early on is crucial, making Bhatia and McIlroy’s performances particularly noteworthy. With the wind expected to pick up, the tournament is likely to see significant developments in the early stages, potentially shaking up the leaderboard even further.

As the competition progresses, the focus shifts to positioning for the weekend, with past winners typically maintaining a strong presence in the top five at the halfway mark. With this in mind, Todd, Russell Henley, and Adam Svensson are among the contenders to watch as they aim to advance in the upcoming rounds.