Valero Texas Open 2012: Tee Times, Date and TV Schedule

You won't find Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson or Rory McIlroy on the leaderboard this week, but that should deter you from following the Valero Texas Open. The second tournament after The Masters is always a competitive one and will feature several mid-level golfers vying for a win and some momentum in the weeks leading up to the US Open.

There have been some top-notch players who have won this tournament over the past few years, such as Justin Leonard, Zach Johnson and Adam Scott, so there is no question that a win could help catapult a relative unknown to stardom. Many talented players will be looking for their first career win, but there are plenty of accomplished veterans who will attempt to stop that from happening.

Here is everything you need to know about this week's Valero Texas Open from deep in the heart of Texas in the great city of San Antonio.

Where: TPC San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas

When: Thursday, April 19 - Sunday, April 22

Golfers to Watch

Matt Kuchar

Fresh off of a spectacular showing at The Masters where he finished in a tie for third place, just two shots behind the leaders, American Matt Kuchar has to be the favorite this week. The field leaves a lot to be desired in terms of elite talent, but Kuchar seems like a major winner waiting to happen and he should continue his fine play at the Valero Texas Open.

K.J. Choi

Now matter how important the tournament is or how tough his competition is, K.J. Choi always seems to be in the mix one way or another. That wasn't true at The Masters as the Korean star struggled and failed to make the cut, but you won't often find him scuffling from one tournament to the next. Choi likely wants to put The Masters behind him, and a strong performance this week will go a long way toward doing that.

Brendan Steele

Although Brendan Steele hasn't had the greatest year thus far, he is the defending champion at the Valero Texas Open, so he bears watching. Steele has missed the cut in half of his 10 events this season, including his past three tournaments. His approach shots and putting have been pitiful, but it will be interesting to see if he can rekindle some of last year's magic.

Tee Times

Notable Groupings for Opening Two Rounds (All Times ET)

Thursday	Friday	Golfer	Golfer	Golfer
7:40 a.m.	12:40 p.m.	Johnson Wagner	K.J. Choi	Matt Kuchar
7:50 a.m.	12:50 p.m.	Charley Hoffman	Stuart Appleby	Anthony Kim
12:40 p.m.	7:40 a.m.	Kevin Na	Brendan Steele	Bud Cauley
12:50 p.m.	7:50 a.m.	Harrison Frazar	Ryan Palmer	Justin Leonard
1 p.m.	8 a.m.	Ricky Barnes	Cameron Tringale	David Hearn

Full list of the first two rounds' tee times available at PGATour.com.

Television Schedule

	Date	Time (ET)	TV
Round 1	April 19	3 - 6 p.m.	GOLF
Round 2	April 20	3 - 6 p.m.	GOLF
Round 3	April 21	3 - 6 p.m.	CBS
Round 4	April 22	3 - 6 p.m.	CBS

Prediction: Matt Kuchar

Kuchar has never quite been able to break through at a major, but his resume is an impressive won. He has three career PGA Tour victories, he has represented the United States in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup and he was the leading money winner on tour in 2010. With all of that said, he has the perfect combination of experience and skill to win the Valero Texas Open.

It's fair to say that Kuchar is probably the best current player in the tournament, and while that doesn't always lead to a win, he is playing some excellent golf right now. You never know who might rise to the occasion in a tournament like this, but the smart money is certainly on Kuchar.