The Comfort Zone: Valero Texas Open

As if winning the World Series in 2016 wasn't enough of a challenge for the Chicago Cubs, one of manager Joe Maddon's philosophies for the team this season is to be uncomfortable. The idea is to make it top-of-mind to execute the fundamentals under duress.

Well, with a 6-7 start and a four-game losing streak entering Tuesday, you could argue that the Cubs are in a position that could be defined as uncomfortable. Sure, it's only mid-April, but the players are now answering questions as to why they're not sustaining familiar form, which means it's a potential source of distress. Hey, even the sparkle of 108 diamonds can fade quickly when the "W" isn't flying.

The Valero Texas Open assumes a similar role. Hard golf courses like TPC San Antonio's Oak Course that don't host a major, a World Golf Championship, THE PLAYERS or a FedExCup Playoffs event can be hard sells to touring professionals whose jobs are safe. Yet, every now and then, we hear a guy talk about how he doesn't like a course or that it doesn't fit his eye, but has still signed for a 65. Suddenly, a primary thought that was negative has evolved into a lesson and lode of experience (i.e. a mental challenge overcome) into which he can tap another time. It's a gift that can give again.

As we breathe away here in 2017, there isn't data on how one's comportment and maturity influences every swing and contact with the ball, so we're left measuring only frequencies, proficiencies and other plastics. However, reading between the numbers to project contenders at TPC San Antonio also will reveal which golfers accept feeling uncomfortable as a motivational tool.

Let's play ball!

TALES OF THE TAPE (PAST WINNERS)

TPC San Antonio is a bit of a riddle in that it's a tug of war on paper but a war of attrition inside the ropes. Striping it long and straight has value just about everywhere, but long and wayward works here despite nightmare experiences like Kevin Na's 16 in 2011.

Hitting greens never hurts either, of course, but avoiding squares carries more weight because of the overall difficulty. That's not only illustrated in a standard statistic like bogey avoidance, but it also allows us the chance to revisit putts per GIR, which was effectively replaced by strokes gained: putting years ago. This is due a small sample size that better reflects how the best got around the track last year. This of it as strokes saved while putting.

Finally, with four par 5s, scoring on these holes is paramount as it almost always is on a par 72 that will crown a champion who should finish double digits under par.

Golfers in this week’s field inside the top 10 in the following categories in last year’s Valero Texas Open:

* - Currently inside the top 50 on the PGA TOUR in the stat. (Golfers who haven't logged enough rounds are not tagged.)

Strokes Gained: Off-The-Tee
Rank Golfer (Tournament Finish)
1 Branden Grace (T9)
3 Billy Horschel (T4)
4 *Harold Varner III (T9)
5 Kyle Reifers (T51)
7 *Brendan Steele (T13)
8 *Charley Hoffman (Win)
9 Whee Kim (T29)
10 Kevin Chappell (T4)

Bogey Avoidance
Rank Golfer (Tournament Finish)
2 Kevin Chappell (T4)
3 Luke Donald (T13)
T4 *Zac Blair (T25)
T4 Branden Grace (T9)
T4 *Billy Horschel (T4)
T4 Peter Malnati (T13)
T4 Patrick Reed (2nd)
T4 Daniel Summerhays (T13)
T10 Aaron Baddeley (T29)
T10 Roberto Castro (T42)
T10 Charley Hoffman (Win)
T10 Michael Kim (T21)
T10 *Luke List (T29)
T10 *Tim Wilkinson (T29)

Putts per GIR
Rank Golfer (Tournament Finish)
1 Tom Hoge (T9)
2 *Charley Hoffman (Win)
3 Brian Stuard (T55)
4 Chad Collins (3rd)
7 Ricky Barnes (T4)
8 Sung Kang (T42)
10 Ryan Palmer (T4)

Par-5 Scoring
Rank Golfer (Tournament Finish)
T1 Chad Collins (3rd)
T1 Charley Hoffman (Win)
T1 Zach Johnson (T29)
4 Patrick Reed (2nd)
T5 Tom Hoge (T9)
T5 Spencer Levin (T29)
T5 Ryan Palmer (T4)
T5 *Brendan Steele (T13)
T5 Harold Varner III (T9)
 

The golfers featured below contribute to the shape of the narrative at the top of this page; that is, mostly proven professionals who don't necessarily need to appear but have time and again, many with repeated success. Superstars may be sitting this one out, but the soul of the PGA TOUR is in San Antonio.

NOTE: The groups below are comprehensive to assist in data mining. Inclusion doesn't imply endorsement in any fantasy game

HORSES FOR COURSES

Selected golfers with multiple cuts made sorted by rank on the tournament's money list.

GETTING COMFY

Sorted by best finish, selected golfers who are either finally finding form on the course or are still relatively new to the tournament but have enjoyed some success.

OTHER SIGNS OF COMFORT

Sorted by most recent top 10s, selected golfers for whom it's been a few years since their last.