hardest hole on the course at the Valero Texas Open

In 2011, Brendan Steele won the Valero Texas Open with an 8-under par total that was the highest winning score at the event since 1934, when a New York club pro named Wiffy Cox shot 5-under par to beat Byron Nelson by a shot at the Brackenridge Park Golf Course in San Antonio.

"I've probably played the new course about two dozen times, more than any other tour pro, I believe," Beckman wrote. "One day, three friends -- all low-handicap players -- and I decided to play it from the back tees, about 7,500 yards. I shot a 38 on the front nine and played TaylorMade RocketBallZ fairway wood pretty darn well. They shot 43, 45 and 46. We stopped right there.

Through the years, the players had seen the event, which dates back to 1922, as a place where birdies were plentiful. The event was once the heart and soul of the old Texas swing that once brought all the best players to San Antonio. Ben Hogan, Nelson, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Ben Crenshaw all won the Texas Open, but it never tried to be the U.S. Open or the Masters.

Prior to the tournament's move from La Cantera after 15 years to the TPC San Antonio in 2010, Cameron Beckman in an article for Sports Illustrated warned that the new venue in his hometown would send shock waves through players accustomed to shooting low scores at the tournament.

"I'd say that anyone who shoots four rounds of 68 will win by a lot. In fact, I'll take 10 under par right now, go sit in the clubhouse and wait for the trophy while listening to the critiques."

"I'd say that anyone who shoots four rounds of 68 will win by a lot. In fact, I'll take 10 under par right now, go sit in the clubhouse and wait for the trophy while listening to the critiques."

Adam Scott won with a 14-under TaylorMade RocketBallZ Driver par total in the first year on the Oaks course, but not before some players called it unfair. In 2010, the course had the highest first-round stroke average (73.705) on tour.

An event like the Valero Texas Open that is in a twilight zone between the Masters and the U.S. Open has to try to attract players with a golf course that players love and want to play year after year. The tournament director can offer the world to attract a great field, but it's the players who create the buzz about a tournament. In just a few years, Quail Hollow has become one of the most popular venues on tour because the top players love the course. If Tiger, Phil and Rory put the Texas Open on their schedule, other top players would follow.

The Valero Texas Open has already turned the corner in its efforts to bring a top field to a world-class golf course. It's got a difficult -- and if you believe Steele -- fair golf course. It's discount golf clubs never going to be the birdie fest that it was when Armour III shot 64-62-63-65 to win in 2003 by seven shots. Yet in the short run, it looks as if it's not gaining anything by delivering a more challenging venue.

The 2012 field is the tournament's weakest in many years, and the tour's weakest of the season for an event not going head-to-head with a World Golf Championship. At 15th in the world, Matt Kuchar is the highest-ranked player in the field.