During the opening round of the 2025 Texas Open, Keith Mitchell was on track to secure the lead, but Sam Ryder surged in late Thursday at the clubhouse. Ryder recorded an impressive 9-under 63, placing him a stroke ahead of Mitchell as they head into the second round.
Ryder’s achievement is especially noteworthy considering he nearly withdrew from the competition. After straining a neck muscle on Tuesday, he opted to skip the Wednesday pro-am to rest. This choice ultimately paid off for the golfer.
“I felt something straining in my upper back and neck area while hitting some drivers. It gradually worsened, so I got treatment from my physical therapist and didn’t practice for the rest of the day. I didn’t even touch a club on Wednesday,” Ryder stated.
While Ryder and Mitchell stand out at the top, several prominent competitors are not far behind, including Jordan Spieth. The Texan made a strong return at TPC San Antonio, rebounding from an early bogey to finish 6 under par overall, posting a score of 67 and trailing the leaders by four strokes.
This marks Spieth’s highest position after the first round this season, improving from his previous T11 placement at the Cognizant Classic. Noteworthy was his remarkable putting, reminiscent of his 2015 performances, including a clutch 25-foot birdie on the 5th hole and several others in rapid succession from around the 12th to 17th holes.
“I felt really solid today,” Spieth said. “I’ve made considerable improvements week-to-week, especially in my scoring clubs and approach play, which will be crucial as I prepare for the Masters.” Spieth emphasized the need to enhance his wedges and minimize any regrettable shot choices but expressed satisfaction with his performance, given the challenging course conditions.
The Leader
1. Sam Ryder (-9): Ryder nearly gained nine strokes on the field on Thursday, with five strokes resulting from outstanding putting. He had just 21 putts overall—15 of which were one-putts—setting a new career low. Consistently making the cut in every tournament this season, Ryder aims to achieve more than just a healthy paycheck and is pushing for his first PGA Tour victory.
Other Contenders
2. Keith Mitchell (-8)
3. Brian Harman (-6)
T4. Jordan Spieth, Carson Young (-5)
T6. Tommy Fleetwood, Aldrich Potgieter, Steven Fisk, Andrew Novak (-4)
A few potential Masters players are within striking distance, including Harman, Spieth, and Fleetwood. Fleetwood, who started his round earlier on Thursday and had a high score despite excellent shots, noted the importance of combining his strong tee-to-green performance with improved putting as they both will be crucial next week at Augusta National.
“Many players in the Masters adjust their schedules around the major tournaments,” Fleetwood remarked. “While I’m here to enter a competitive mode, it’s essential to focus on this week rather than the Masters just yet, as every week is crucial for preparation.”
