A year ago, Akshay Bhatia was one of the biggest names without a spot in the field for the Masters Tournament with just a week to tee off. Bhatia solved that problem with a wire-to-wire win at the Valero Texas Open, which earned him the ticket to make his debut at Augusta National Golf Club.Undoubtable, that is one of the beauties of the Valero Texas Open. The fact that it is played a week before the Masters Tournament gives the event at the TPC San Antonio added value, as it is virtually the last chance to qualify for the season's first major.As a result, it is not surprising to see more than one big name in the field who, for one reason or another, haven't secured their spot at Augusta National. The 2025 edition is no exception, as the event has attracted an interesting group of players.The most notable case is that of 6-time PGA Tour winner Rickie Fowler, who will be at the TPC San Antonio looking to qualify for his 12th Masters appearance in the midst of one of the worst moments of his sporting career.However, Fowler and the rest of the Masters non-qualifiers will not have an easy time punching their ticket at the Texas Open. There are five members of the world's top 15 and eight of the top 25 in the field, with world No. 5 Ludvig Aberg playing the role of top-ranked golfer.What's the boldest thing that can happen in San Antonio? Let's see:1: Will Akshai Bhatia repeat as Champion?History says Akshai Bhatia has little chance of successfully defending his title in 2024. Only four players have won the Texas Open in consecutive years in its 102-year history (Bill Mehlhorn, 1928-1929, Arnold Palmer, 1960-1962, Justin Leonard, 2000-2001, and Zach Johnson, 2008-2009).It is worth noting that none of these victories came at the event's current venue, TPC San Antonio, where it has been played since 2010.However, Bhatia is in an unbeatable position to win his third PGA Tour title. The 23-year-old has three top-10 finishes in his last four tournaments, including a tie for third at his most recent start, The PLAYERS Championship.As if that weren't enough, he was in total control of the course a year ago, finishing 20-under. Only he and Corey Conners (2019) have posted that score at the Texas Open since it has been played at TPC San Antonio.2: Tommy Fleetwood finally winsPlaying a week before the Masters is a controversial decision for any top player. In the case of World No. 11 Tommy Fleetwood, there could be no better reason than the chance to finally win.The fact that Fleetwood has yet to win on the PGA Tour is a surprise in itself, given his extraordinary quality as a player. It is worth noting that the Englishman has earned more than $25 million for his efforts on the American-based circuit without a single victory.Fleetwood has five top-25 finishes in as many tournaments this season, with a tie for fifth at the Genesis Invitational as his best result. A year ago, he made his debut at TPC San Antonio and tied for 7th.3: Rickie Fowler makes the big splashFalling to 110th in the world has to be a tough pill to swallow for a player like Rickie Fowler, who not long ago was considered one of the best of his generation.Playing in the Masters could be a turning point for him, but Fowler only has one shot at it, and that is to win the Valero Texas Open.At his current level, it is hard to see the Orange Kid winning a PGA Tour title, but even stranger things have happened. The same Texas Open was the stage where Robert Gamez (2005) ended a 15-year winless streak on the PGA Tour.Fowler has had mixed results at the TPC San Antonio, with three missed cuts in five starts. All three of his finishes have been in the top 20, with a T10 in 2023 as his best result.More Golf: Watch PGA Tour Pro Tony Finau Miss a 2-Inch Putt at Houston Open