Locals find continued success in Longhorn State

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Chris Condon/PGA TOUR

Dallas-native Justin Leonard has won the Valero Texas Open three times, as recently as 2007.

Everything's bigger in Texas. And this three-week swing through the Longhorn State is like a 32-ounce steak; it's one of the bigger portions of the TOUR. Two of the tournaments are the signature events for two of the greatest names in golf history and the other is one of the top producers for charity each year.

And there's something about digging their feet back on Texas soil that sometimes transforms the native sons -- and transplanted native sons -- into contenders. Whether it's San Antonio, Dallas or Fort Worth, you can bet there's going to be some special representation from the Lone Star State on the leaderboard.

Last year Zach Johnson won the Valero Texas Open for the second consecutive year and within seven months, since the event moved from the Fall Series to its current slot on the schedule in May. Johnson isn't a Texan; he's from Iowa. But shortly after his victory the Texas state legislature moved forward with its plan to annex Iowa -- as well as the Oklahoma panhandle, Kansas and Nebraska in the process.

Justin Leonard, a died-in-the-wool Texas Longhorn, has won the tournament in San Antonio three times, the latest in 2007 to conclude the resurrection of his game from obscurity. Other Texans who have won in San Antonio in recent years include Tommy Armour III, Bob Estes and Ben Crenshaw, who won it in his debut as a professional.

The HP Byron Nelson Classic is named in honor of one of the game's great gentlemen. Last year it was Rory Sabbatini, the Fort Worth resident by way of Durban, South Africa, who took home the trophy. Sabbatini carries himself with a Texas swagger that gives him the potential to be a hero (or anti-hero) in a Western movie. The fact that Sabbatini wears a belt buckle the size of LBJ's noggin endears him further to locals. He's won five times on TOUR, two of them in Texas.

Other Texans on the roll of winners in Dallas includes Billy Ray Brown, Fred Couples (when he still wore socks) and Crenshaw.

The Crowne Plaza International at Colonial is contested on one of those courses that nearly every player on the PGA TOUR loves. Ask any player about their favorite courses and you'll hear the same short list of popular sites: Riviera, Harbor Town and Colonial.

It's no wonder. Colonial is a great historic spot. It's home to Hogan's Alley. It's where the legendary Jackie Burke still holds court every day. It's a shot-maker's course which requires some thought into club selection.

Last year Wisconsin's Steve Stricker beat Tim Clark on the second hole of a playoff. (Note to the Texas legislature; if you're going all the way to Iowa, you might as well take Illinois and Wisconsin, too.) After the playoff loss, Clark would have volunteered to move to Texas, if that's what it took to finally get a win on TOUR. After winning last week's PLAYERS Championship, Clark's willingness to change his residency from Arizona is no longer under consideration.

Crenshaw, a lover of great course design, has twice placed his name on the Colonial trophy, making him three-for-three on the swing. (Alas, Crenshaw never won in Houston, so there's no "Texas Slam." ) Gentle Ben even made the cut and was in contention at Colonial when he was 54.

So who will be the Texans on the leader board this week, when the Valero Texas Open tests out the new digs at the Greg Norman-designed TPC San Antonio? No one has a track record, so this may be a week where the Texas roots really come into play.

Here's five to consider:

• Justin Leonard (Dallas): He had three straight top-25s leading into the Masters, where he missed the cut.

• Martin Flores (Dallas): He lived in San Antonio until he was a sophomore in high school, when the family moved to the Dallas area. The Nationwide graduate made the cut in his first four events, but has since missed in five of the last six.

• Bob Estes (Austin): He showed signs of turning around a mediocre season last week when he tied for 26th at THE PLAYERS.

• Chad Campbell (Colleyville): He has played well enough to make a lot of cuts, but not well enough to get in contention very often. His only top-10 came at the Sony Open in Hawaii, his first event of the year.

• Tommy Armour III (Dallas): Leads the league in the combined statistical category of performance and fun. He's also had four top 10s on the Champions Tour

And any player who wants to become a Texan can get information at the table inside the locker room. Just fill out the form (conveniently left inside your locker) and see the man with the big hat and the bigger pistol. He's there to help.