With the second major of the season, the US PGA Championship just a few weeks away, some of the PGA Tour’s best players will be looking for the perfect preparation by heading to Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
The Byron Nelson is one of the most prestigious championships on the PGA Tour and all the way back to the 1940’s. With a list of winner’s which includes Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia, it is one of the most special tournaments that can be claimed.
In recent weeks, world number one Scottie Scheffler has had the PGA Tour under his spell, but with Scheffler missing this week, there is an opportunity for somebody else to get into the winners circle.
With a fantastic week of golf ahead, read on to discover our complete preview of the 2024 Byron Nelson.
The course
The action this week will be taking place at TPC Craig Ranch. Having first hosted the tournament back in 2021, the course allows for low scoring, with each of the past three winners posting winning scores of -25, -26 and -23.
A parkland style course with trees aligning either side of the fairways, the fairways are wide and generous and allow for plenty of flags to be attacked. The field will look to make hay on the three par 5’s, and despite the weather forecast looking breezy for the week, expect plenty more low scoring this week.
The favourites
Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth headlines the field. The highest ranked player in the tournament, backing Spieth for victory will require a major leap of faith as he heads into the tournament woefully out of form.
Having missed the cut in three of his last five starts, Spieth’s problems off the tee have returned and despite his magical short game, his inconsistencies have left him with far too much to do.
The Texan’s scorecards are wildly eventful and those backing Spieth for victory will hope that he can eradicate his driving issues and return to the form that we all know he is capable of producing.
Jason Day
After spending a few years in the golfing wilderness, Jason Day announced his return to the highest levels of the game with victory at the 2023 Byron Nelson.
Heading into this week as the defending champion, it’s fair to say that the Australian is looking for a spark.
Having made the weekend in six of his last seven starts, recently Day hasn’t been able to trouble the top of the leaderboards and has had to settle for finishes well down the field.
Returning to a course that he clearly loves, Day will hope that his putter can get hot and that he can have a real crack at defending his title.
Will Zalatoris
Before a troublesome back injury that ruled Will Zalatoris out of almost all of 2023, he had the world at his feet.
After several near misses at the Majors, Zalatoris was a winner of the 2022 St Jude Championship and was a fixture inside the world’s top ten.
Having to resurrect his career, Zalatoris has steadily climbed back up the rankings and is now back inside the world’s top 50.
Finishing ninth at the 2024 Masters, Zalatoris’s game is clearly in a good place and with three top ten finishes in his last six tournaments, Zalatoris looks sure to give anyone who backs him a real run for their money.
Value Picks
One of the best things about betting on golf is the amount of value that can be extracted. There are plenty of players that will start the week at a big price who could be in with a chance of victory.
Adam Scott
Despite being in the twilight of his career, Adam Scott is still playing his golf to a high level.
The winner of the Byron Nelson back in 2008, Scott hasn’t played as regularly as others this year but will be hopeful of a big week before he starts preparing for the U.S. PGA Championship.
He clearly likes the course, having finished eighth in the tournament last year he has three top ten finishes in his last eight tournaments and will be hoping for another big week. As consistent as they come, Scott’s chances can’t be ruled out.
Stephan Jaegar
Already a winner on the PGA Tour this year thanks to his victory at the 2024 Texas Open, Stephan Jaegar returns to the Lonestar State on the hunt for further glory.
Since his breakthrough victory he went on to miss the cut at the Masters but bounced back well at the RBC Heritage, finishing 18th.
With his first win behind him, look for Jaegar to be a major contender once more.
Long Shots
This year’s PGA Tour has thrown up surprise winners left, right and centre and there’s nothing to suggest that some of the players at bigger prices can’t be successful this week.
Seamus Power
Seamus Power is a two time PGA Tour winner and for most of 2022 was a name we regularly saw at the top of the leaderboard.
A former fixture inside the world’s top 50, Power will head into this week looking for his first top ten finish of the season.
He finished in the top twenty at last year’s Byron Nelson and will be hopeful of another big showing this week.
Jake Knapp
When it comes to the list of unlikely winners, Jake Knapp is one of those players who was able to secure their first ever PGA title earlier this season.
A winner of the Mexico Open, Knapp is quickly becoming a name that is recognised thanks to his super smooth swing and unique look.
Since his breakthrough in Mexico he has barely featured near the top of the leaderboard, but with conditions sure to suit, he could be a major force this week.
Jack Hartman
A keen golfer and huge fan of the game, Jack has been covering golf for the last five years. Bringing you all the latest coverage and news from the PGA, LIV, LPGA and DP World Tours, never before has golf been so popular and Jack can’t wait to bring all the excitement to his readers.
