Valero Texas Open: Robert MacIntyre races to weekend lead after impressive Oaks Course second round
Robert MacIntyre leads the Texas Open at fourteen under par after two rounds; Aberg in second in last PGA event before the masters;watch the third round on Saturday from 1.15pm, live on Sky Sports
Friday 3 April 2026 23:02, UK
Robert MacIntyre took a commanding four-shot lead into the weekend after a brilliant second-round 64 at the Valero Texas Open.
MacIntyre got off to a fast start on the day with an eagle on the 14th, and birdied four of his last five holes to cap off a brilliant day for the Scot, who is hitting form at the right time ahead of The Masters in less than a week.
His 36-hole score of 130 is the lowest recorded since 2010, when the Texas Open moved courses to TPC San Antonio.
Ludvig Aberg leapt into second place with a 67 - including an eagle on the sixth, with afternoon starter Tommy Fleetwood looking to keep pace after dropping to seven shots off top.
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"I've been driving the ball nice... Iron play today was exceptional, I would say. Hit a pure wedge shot on 17, I thought it was absolutely dynamite there," said the world No 11 after the day's play. "I prefer playing my way in whether it's one, two, sometimes three events before a major," he said.
The winner of the Texas Open will be invited to The Masters next week, live on Sky Sports, with the rest of the field made up of former winners, major winners within the last five years and players in the Top 50 of the current world rankings.
Overnight leader Mark Hubbard fluffed his lines with a 77, including four bogeys in his last five holes to effectively end the American's hopes of winning the last tournament before Augusta.
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Fellow countryman Alex Smalley, on the other hand, rose twelve places on the leaderboard after a five-birdie 68 put him in a competitive position going into the final two days of play in San Antonio.
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