Valero Texas Open has 18 holes left. Who’s got the best chance to make the Masters field?

One round is left in the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open on Sunday at the TPC San Antonio Oaks Course.

For a handful of players, that’s one round away from a possible invitation to the Masters Tournament.

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Andrew Novak is in the best position among players who need a victory to earn an invitation to the Master next week. On a windy, gloomy day in San Antonio, Novak posted one of only two scores in the 60s as he birdied five of six holes during one stretch of the back nine and shot 69 to finish alone in second at 9-under-par 207.

Also needing to win for a Masters invitation is Keith Mitchell (73), who is solo fourth at 7-under.

Andrew Novak is the pride of Wofford College

Novak is three shots behind leader Brian Harman (72). Novak bored one iron shot after another through the wind on the back to set up four birdie putts of 8 feet or less, and another of nearly 15 feet that started his run to the final group at No. 11.

Novak, one of the numerous Tour players to set up shop at St. Simons Island, Ga., is bidding to become the best player that the Wofford College golf program has ever produced. He’s only the second from that small South Carolina school to earn a PGA Tour card, following William McGirt.

McGirt still has one thing over Novak: a PGA Tour victory, at the 2016 Memorial. Novak could be come the second Wofford alum to win on the Tour, and it would have the added bonus of getting him into the Masters field.

Who else is in contention for a Masters invitation?

Sami Valimaki (70), Chad Ramey (70) and Ryo Hisatsune (73) are tied at 6-under 210 and are six shots behind Harman. Three players not yet eligible for the Masters are tied for 10th at 4-under, Francesco Molinari (72), Alejandro Tosti (71), Hendrik Norland (73) and Emiliano Grillo (74).

But it would take an extraordinary collapse by Harman, Novak, third-place Tom Hoge (68 for the only bogey-free round of the day) or Mitchell to open the door for anyone else.

How often do players win the week before to make the Masters? 

It has happened frequently since the Texas Open and Houston Open were the lead-in PGA Tour events before the Masters beginning in 2007.

Nine players have won either tournament the week before to make the Masters field since 2008, a span of 17 years (Masters finish in parentheses): 

• 2024: Akshay Bhatia, Texas Open (T35) 
• 2022: J.J. Spaun, Texas Open (T23) 
• 2019: Corey Conners, Texas Open (T40) 
• 2018: Ian Poulter, Houston Open (T44) 
• 2017: Russell Henley, Houston Open (T11) 
• 2016: Jim Herman, Houston Open (MC) 
• 2014: Matt Jones, Houston Open (MC) 
• 2013: Martin Laird, Texas Open (MC) 
• 2008: Johnson Wagner, Houston Open (T36) 

How often do players win the week before winning the Masters? 

It’s happened four times: 

• 2006: Phil Mickelson (BellSouth Classic) 
• 1988: Sandy Lyle (Greater Greensboro Open) 
• 1959: Art Wall (Azalea Open) 
• 1939: Ralph Guldahl (Greater Greensboro Open) 

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Valero Texas Open: Who’s got the best chance to make the Masters field?