News
FTF: A lawyer’s hot take on the Dustin Johnson ruling and Machine putters galore
The GolfWRX forums exist so golfers have access to the latest equipment releases, hottest discussions, real equipment reviews, best instruction, new technologies and everything golf you can imagine.
So if you love golf, the GolfWRX forums are your sanctuary.
In the From the Forums weekly feature, we bring you the hottest, most buzz-worthy topics from our forums for your convenience. I’ll be your trusty tour guide to navigate the latest buzz.
Here’s a peek behind the curtain into golf’s sanctuary.
Is PXG “bad for golf”?
User Shipwreck raises an interesting question: In an environment of “grow the game” initiatives and a fixation on making the game more accessible, PXG has entered the marketplace with an ultra-high-end club offering.
Shipwreck writes: “Parsons even said it himself that he wants to be the Ferrari of golf. Now I am not saying there is anything bad about this, he is a successful capitalist and the beauty of capitalism is that you can charge what you want and the market will decide.”
So, is the “Ferrari of golf” good, bad, or neutral for the game? Good arguments in this thread for the different readings.
Machine Putters love
219 pages and going strong! The pictures in this thread of some of Dave Billings’ incredible putter work are worth much more than any words dedicated to describing them. WRXers share their Machine M1s, M10s and more in this buffet of beautiful flatstick imagery. (titleistgolf_nirvana’s putter in the featured image)
Olympic golf discussion
Ahh. Golf in the Olympics. Are you sick of hearing about Zika and the other elements of this dumpster fire yet? Considering the competition is yet to begin and more player withdrawals are imminent (Jordan Spieth just said he’s on the fence), you need a refuge of sanity amid an increasingly nutty situation.
With this in mind, bookmark the official GolfWRX Olympic golf discussion thread.
Who wins first: Rahm or DeChambeau?
Great talk here following Jon Rahm’s impressive showing at the Quicken Loans National and Bryson DeChambeau’s series of strong performances on tour this season: Which of these two big-time rookies wins first?
A lawyer’s take on the USGA’s Dustin Johnson ruling
Applying the USGA’s “weight of evidence” standard, OTE200 presents three exhibits to find Dustin Johnson not guilty of any infraction at Oakmont. Even if you’re sick to death of the U.S. Open-marring rules fiasco, you have to read OTE’s take.
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News
Morning 9: Tiger confirms playing schedule | Player: This caused Tiger’s downfall
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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News
Vincenzi’s 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson betting preview: International talent to shine
As anticipation mounts for the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla in a few weeks, the PGA Tour makes a pit stop in McKinney, Texas to play The CJ CUP Byron Nelson.
Last year was the third time TPC Craig Ranch hosted the Byron Nelson. Prior to 2021, the event was held at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas.
TPC Craig Ranch is a 7,414-yard par-71 that features Bentgrass greens. The event historically plays relatively easy, and that has remained the case in the three editions at TPC Craig Ranch.
The course structure may provide some additional intrigue with the par-3 17th featuring a stadium setup called “Ranch 17” which is reminiscent of the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale. The course also has both long and difficult par-4s mixed with drivable par-4s, which should create some exciting moments.
There are 156 golfers in the field this week, and many stars will be taking the week off to prepare for 2023’s second major championship in a few weeks and a “signature event” at Quail Hollow next week. Notable players in the field include Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Sungjae Im, Stephan Jaeger, Tom Kim, Si Woo Kim, Min Woo Lee, Alex Noren, Adam Scott and Will Zalatoris.
Past Winners of the AT&T Byron Nelson
- 2023: Jason Day (-23 at TPC Craig Ranch)
- 2022: K.H. Lee (-26 at TPC Craig Ranch)
- 2021: K.H. Lee (-25 at TPC Craig Ranch)
- 2019: Sung Kang (-23)
- 2018: Aaron Wise (-23)
- 2017: Billy Horschel (-12)
- 2016: Sergio Garcia (-15)
- 2015: Steven Bowditch (-18)
Key Stats at TPC Craig Ranch
Let’s take a look at five key metrics for TPC Craig Ranch to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their last 24 rounds.
Strokes Gained: Approach
Strokes Gained: Approach remains the best measure of current form.
Hot iron play will be at a premium this week. Last year, Jason Day gained 6.4 strokes on approach, which was fourth in the field. In 2022, K.H. Lee was ninth in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, gaining 5.2 strokes. In his 2021 victory, he was second in the field and gained 8.3 strokes on the field in the category.
Strokes Gaines: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds
- Tom Hoge (+1.12)
- Keith Mitchell (+1.02)
- Henrik Norlander (+0.99)
- Ryan Moore (+0.98)
- Ben Martin (0.80)
Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
Fairways are wide at TPC Craig Ranch.
Distance will certainly be helpful, and there aren’t too many difficult holes on the course. Golfers who put themselves in position off of the tee this week should have a sizable advantage.
Strokes Gained: Off the Tee Over Past 24 Rounds
- Peter Kuest (+0.93)
- Kevin Daugherty (+0.91)
- Alejandro Tosti (+0.83)
- Keith Mitchell (+0.82)
- Kevin Tway (+0.74)
Birdie or Better %
There aren’t many hazards on the course, and all of the par-5s should be reachable in two for the majority of the players in the field. I am anticipating a birdie fest, and this statistic should be helpful in finding the birdie-makers.
Birdie or Better % Over Past 24 Rounds:
- Wesley Bryan (31%)
- Kelly Kraft (26.2%)
- Peter Kuest (25.9%)
- Matti Schmid (25.7%
- Jimmy Stanger (25.2%)
Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass)
Many golfers on TOUR have some major putting surface variance in their statistics and prefer Bentgrass to other surfaces.
Bentgrass is common in Texas, and we often see golfers who play well in Texas continue to do so, finding a great feel around the greens.
Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass) Over Past 24 Rounds:
- Maverick McNealy (+0.92)
- Aaron Baddeley (+0.87)
- Callum Tarren (+0.86)
- Harry Hall (+0.81)
- Nick Hardy (+0.69)
Course History
This statistic will tell us which players have performed the best at TPC Craig Ranch over the past three seasons.
Course History Over Past 12 Rounds:
- Jordan Spieth (+2.69)
- K.H. Lee (+2.59)
- Seamus Power (+1.84)
- Ryan Palmer (+1.76)
- Adam Scott (+1.72)
CJ CUP Byron Nelson Model Rankings
Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (27%), SG: OTT (24%), Birdie or Better % (18%), Course History (17%) and SG: Putting Bentgrass (16%).
- Alex Noren
- Adam Scott
- Keith Mitchell
- Si Woo Kim
- Stephen Jaeger
- Jordan Spieth
- Jhonnatan Vegas
- Nate Lashley
- Brice Garnett
- Tom Hoge
2024 CJ CUP Byron Nelson Picks
Byeong Hun An +3000 (DraftKings)
Byeong Hun put together an excellent performance at The Masters, finishing T16, which ties his best ever finish at a major championship (also T16 at 2019 U.S. Open). The South Korean gained 9.16 strokes from tee to green, which ranked 2nd in the field behind only the champion, Scottie Scheffler.
An’s next start at Harbour Town didn’t go as well (67th), but he still had a fantastic ball striking week. The 32-year-old bled strokes both around and on the greens, which was his eventual undoing. In his past three starts, An has gained significant strokes on the field both off the tee and on approach.
Benny had a strong start at last year’s Byron Nelson, finishing in a tie for 14th. With limited challenges on the course, he shouldn’t have to do much scrambling. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 17th in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 17th in the field in birdie or better percentage. The putter is up and down per usual, but his ceiling putting weeks with his LAB Golf putter in 2024 are higher than they’ve been in past seasons.
An is starting to become my “white whale” of the PGA Tour, but I believe in his talent and TPC Craig Ranch is a course that should suit his excellent tee to green play.
Mackenzie Hughes +5500 (FanDuel)
Mackenzie Hughes is quietly putting together a very good season. He finished in a tie for 3rd at the Valspar Championship and followed that up with a T14 at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
In his past 36 rounds in Texas, the Canadian ranks 5th in the field in Strokes Gained: Total. Last year, he finished in a tie for 14th at this event and gained strokes putting and off the tee. Mackenzie played well that week despite being in extremely poor form. He missed two cuts in a row prior to the event, and four consecutive cuts immediately after. His irons were off that week, but in 2024, we’ve seen an improvement in Hughes’ approach game. He now comes to the event playing some steady golf. He’s gained strokes on approach in four of his past five events and is hitting the ball very well from tee to green.
Hughes has two victories on the PGA Tour, both coming in relatively low-scoring affairs (-17 in each). He will need to go a bit deeper to win the CJ Cup Byron Nelson but has the type of putter that can keep pace in a birdie barrage.
Seamus Power +7000 (FanDuel)
After struggling over the past few seasons with injuries, Seamus Power seems as if he is rounding back into the form that made him a really consistent player on the PGA Tour.
Power finished T12 in his most recent start at the RBC Heritage, which is encouraging considering it was a “signature event” with a very strong field. For the week, the Irishman gained 4.4 strokes on approach and 2.8 strokes putting, which is the combination he’s used in the past to contend on Tour.
In his three trips to TPC Craig Ranch, Power is yet to finish outside of the top-20, with his best finish being a T9 in 2019. He ranks 4th in Strokes Gained: Total at the course. The 37-year-old thrives on easy tracks and has won in 2021 (Barbasol Championship) and 2022 (Butterfield Bermuda) on easier layouts with weaker fields.
Power has the game to go extremely low and I believe he can get back in the winner’s circle for the third time in four years.
Chan Kim +10000 (FanDuel)
Chan Kim has been striking the ball beautifully this season and is a proven winner with two wins on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2023 as well as eight career Japan Tour wins.
At last week’s Zurich Classic, Kim and his partner Doug Ghim finished in a tie for 28th. Prior to that, the South Korean T14 at the Valero Texas Open and T6 at the Corales Puntacana Championship. His success this season in Texas as well as he propensity to play his best golf on the PGA Tour’s easier courses make him and ideal fit for TPC Craig Ranch.
2024 has given plenty of longshot winners on the PGA Tour, and with a birdie fest like this, I believe there’s a strong chance we get another this week in McKinney, Texas.
Alejandro Tosti +10000 (FanDuel)
Alejandro Tosti is one of the most polarizing players on the PGA Tour thus far in the 2024 season. His antics can rub many the wrong way, but he’s shown on a few occasions that he has what it takes to compete in Tour events.
This season, Tosti has been elite off the tee. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 2nd in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. The Argentine hits it long and straight, which works at any course on earth. He got a taste of contention a few starts ago at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, finishing in a tie for 2nd place.
Tosti had a fantastic year in 2023 on the Korn Ferry Tour, where going low is a prerequisite to success. If this turns to a shootout, which it likely will, the 27-year-old has the ability to set the pace. Tosti will look to become the second Argentine to win in Texas in the past two seasons after Emiliano Grillo emerged victorious at last year’s Charles Schwab Challenge.
C.T. Pan +15000 (FanDuel)
Outside of a T3 at the Mexico Open, C.T. Pan doesn’t have strong results this season in terms of finishes. However, over his past two starts, Pan’s iron play has come alive. At The Players, he gained 6.6 strokes on approach. At the Valero Texas Open, he gained 3.7. At last week’s Zurich Classic, Pan and his partner Kevin Yu finished T28. For a player who can get extremely hot with his scoring clubs, I believe he’s playing better than the results have shown over the past month or so.
Last season, Pan finished 4th at TPC Craig Ranch and was spectacular across all the major stat categories. In his past 36 qualifying rounds, he ranks 16th in Strokes Gained: Total in Texas.
Pan has won on the PGA Tour at the RBC Heritage and is always a player that I believe has what it takes to win on a Sunday if he finds himself in contention.
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Christosterone
Jul 2, 2016 at 9:29 am
I can afford either and if I wanted a sports car I would buy a 2016 corvette hardtop….that is the most beautiful car on earth and 5X cheaper than a Ferrari…
As it is, I prefer the mom-car Lexus line of SUVs with air conditioned seats!!!
-Christosterone
300 Yard Pro
Jul 21, 2016 at 12:39 pm
Corvettes are for old divorced dudes who think they are still 18.
don d.
Jul 2, 2016 at 1:39 am
PXG’s too expensive for me. But so is a Ferrari. The latest and greatest. I was going through a deceased golfers garage recently and found a set Hogan Directors. circa? God they were fun to hit. E thru 2 iron. I have yet to buy a golf game and have tried for 40 yrs. Do you really want to get better? Learn how to play hickory.
M Smizzy
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:46 pm
usga got it right leave it alone
Steve
Jul 1, 2016 at 10:21 pm
No, they didn’t.
pL
Jul 1, 2016 at 11:41 am
If PXG wants to be the Ferrari of golf, why did they make the clubs so ugly and feel like crap? We already have Ferrari of golf clubs in limited edition high-end Japanese clubs. We don’t need PXG
Pete Petersson
Jul 1, 2016 at 11:19 am
How much did Dave pay to get his Machine thread a plug? That thread has been dying for months and is only full of retracted messages of customers chasing an update on their putters as no one responds to any emails or answers the phones. Not surprising when it takes months past agreed project delivery to get anything.
Dave Billings
Jul 3, 2016 at 7:28 pm
Pete Petersson,
Thanks for taking time to post about my company and our picture thread here. However, I really wish you were more accurate and fair in your criticism. I don’t think you’ve ever ordered from us, so I’m not sure why you feel the need to disparage our business.
IN any event, I’d like to set the record straight for all our other customers, collectors and our staff.
First, I didn’t pay a single penny for the article, didn’t ask for it or have anything to do with it. We’ve been very fortunate that so many people have enjoyed our main picture thread here, including writers here and other sites and magazines, etc. Personally I think Golfwrx writers are some of the very best in the business, and their journalistic professionalism is beyond reproach. I think you owe Ben an apology for that insinuation at the very least.
Regarding recent posts in the picture thread: Have some customers posted asking about updates on their orders? Yes. The last one had an update waiting in his email inbox from the day before. He realized his error and deleted his post. So you know, I’ve never redacted any post in our picture thread, and never asked any mods to either. I think it stands as a great record of our work, and I’m very happy to let it stand on it’s own merits.
I’m also proud of how hard we work to make sure each and every customer is totally happy with their purchases. Often the custom work we do takes additional time, especially when their are change-orders in the middle of the process. The last order referenced about changed his neck three times. Those changes take time, especially when we have to mill something from scratch mid-stream, and with all the detailed back and forth, updates, etc,.
You say no one responds to emails or answers the phones. I have thousands of customers who know that’s absolutely not true. Chris has also recently rejoined us after taking time off for a move and to spend time with his family and newborn son. So our capacity for customer service has improved again dramatically, as Chris is one of the best in the business, and we’re thrilled to have him back.
We’re currently going through a reorganization so we can best move the business forward and handle the demand we’ve been so fortunate to receive, even through a very challenging golf marketplace.
As part of our new operating plans, we elected to slow down the development of new models and also the photos and posts of orders going out to customers. We’ve elected to do this out of respect for the customers waiting so patiently, and also as it just created more demand, more backlog and longer delivery times.
However, we are working very hard and now very close to catching up to our estimated production times, and we will be catching up on posts in the picture thread when we do. I think customers and fans will appreciate the work we’ve done the past six months in particular, and see some really cool work.
So thanks to the 99% of our customers and fans here that have been so supportive and helpful. To the naysayers and critics, I hope you can find something that makes you happy and spend your time and efforts focused on whatever that is.
Sincerely,
-Dave Billings