3 minute read
Following a doubles tournament at the Zurich Classic last week, the PGA Tour gets back to its bread and butter with The CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.
A 7,414-yard, par 71 course awaits some of the world's best golfers, a course that ranked 50th out of 59 in terms of difficulty during the 2022-23 PGA Tour calendar with an average score of 68.913. Over 2000 birdies were recorded at last year's tournament – one of just three courses on the entire tour to achieve that feat.
The course consists of 11 par fours, just three par fives and four par threes, with 12 400+ yard holes – which could benefit the longer drivers in the game.
Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy are among top names missing from the start list, while others will be keen to maintain their preparations for the PGA Championship in the middle of May.
Defending champion Jason Day, who is ranked 22nd in the Official Golf World Rankings, heads the field alongside world number 20 Jordan Spieth – a runner-up in 2022.
The Australian Day boasts a solid 2024 resumé with three top finishes, four top 25 finishes and eight cuts made from ten tournaments. The worry, however, is that he has just one top 20 finish in his last five tournaments.
Statistically, Day is eighth on the PGA Tour in par four scoring (3.95), 39th in birdie average (4.20) and is eighth in total driving (87) - plus he has showcased solid prior form at this course with the 2023 victory coupled with a runner-up performance in 2017.
The 2021 and 2022 winner K.H. Lee will also be on the tee, he has recorded the two best scores in the tournament's history – 25 under par in three years ago and a 26 under par effort when repeating his victory 12 months later, his two PGA Tour victories.
He has made six cuts in 11 tournaments this year with two top 10 finishes and three top 25 performances – his best showings at the Valspar Championship and Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.
He ranks 37th in scoring average (69.93) this term and is 17th in terms of one-putt percentage, with very modest stats elsewhere – but he's worth a punt in the top 20/30/40 (35/1 to win each-way to 12 place) finishers markets on a 'horses for courses basis'.
Looking to the big drivers in the field, players worth a look at are South Korea's Byeong Hun An, China's Carl Yuan, Chinese Taipei's Kevin Yu and Germany's Stephan Jaeger.
Jaeger, particularly, looks an interesting prospect – he's 28th in shots gained off the tee (0.377), 22nd in total driving (112), 22nd in drive distance (308.2) and boasts a better drive accuracy than those touted above.
He also boasts middling stats in approach play and above average statistics on the green. He also ranks 23rd in scoring average, 25th on par fours, 18th in birdie average and 15th in shots gained total.
With one victory, two other top 10s and five top 25 finishes in the 2024 season to date across 11 tournaments, he's certainly a worthy candidate for victory. He is 25/1 to win the tournament each way to 12 places.
Best Bets
K.H.Lee to finish Top 20
Stephan Jaeger to finish Top 20
