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VIDEO: Trump protestors carve Tiger Woods-inspired quote into green

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A group of activists vandalized Trump National Golf Course (Los Angeles) in Rancho Palos Verdes between Sunday night and Monday morning, allegedly sending a message to President Trump and his administration.

The group carved “NO MORE TIGERS, NO MORE WOODS” into the green of hole No. 5 in letters that ABC News said were 6-feet tall. One member of the five-person group captured the criminal activity on video, which is posted at the bottom of the article. A member of the group also spoke to ABC News using a voice-disguising mechanism.

“It’s a protest piece against Trump’s administration’s handling of our environmental policies,” the group member told ABC News. “He’s been very aggressive in gutting a lot of the policies that we’ve had in place for a very long time. We felt it necessary to stand up and go take action against him.”

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100 Comments

100 Comments

  1. KCCO

    Apr 9, 2017 at 7:27 am

    This is as low as keying someone’s car. If I caught someone doing either of the sneaky lack of balls actual I’d let them try make a video titled “running from a person crazy enough to make me dance on camera courtesy of SIG.” Vandalism like this gets under my skin. No balls, when caught, bury on practice range with only their heads above ground.

  2. Brains a golfer

    Mar 23, 2017 at 8:06 am

    Vandalism is NOT protest!

  3. JuNiOR

    Mar 16, 2017 at 12:32 am

    Amazing how fast Rachel Maddow flew to SoCal for with vengeance after embarrassing herself on her very fake new MSNBC.

  4. J

    Mar 15, 2017 at 5:17 pm

    I love golf. If civil war breaks out and we can’t play golf, I’m gonna go hulk mode on everyone. So, golfers, chill the eff out with the childish insults. Haha.

  5. Dave R

    Mar 15, 2017 at 3:46 pm

    I’m a Canuck and there are idiots every where . This type of response does your little gang of mutts nothing . Believe me these types are everywhere ,and the sad part is they are allowed to breed.

  6. Raven

    Mar 15, 2017 at 12:02 pm

    Argh! So many idiots! The people responding on Facebook with inappropriate language. The people defending poor actions because Trump does worse. Trump. Left wing lunatics. Right wing lunatics. Seriously, wait 24 hours and if you still think you need to post then come back.

    Anyhow, the whole thing was a hoax. This is just a huge and coincidental divot, and when the left wing golfer saw it he decided to pretend it was a political statement.

    • Casey Ford

      Mar 20, 2017 at 9:28 am

      this is the post everyone on here should be seeing

  7. Mike

    Mar 15, 2017 at 10:59 am

    If they really wanted to make their voice heard and cause a war cry, just try tinkering on down to Augusta National GC dig up their greens and see what happens ???? I’m not condoning this act by the way, but it sure would let the shit hit the fan, with the millions of golf lovers in America.

    Or if you wish to protest then phone Mr trump up arrange a meet, then you can sit down and discuss like normal citizens ways to overcome global warming, not much hope as someone on here said, that Mother earths being changing and evolving for millions of years, and she aint about to change her ways, when we burnt fossil fuels the world over didn’t hear a peep about global warming, probably we were too busy fighting world wars, if they want to protest about Tigers being drove to extinction then go to China and India and protest, if their concerned about trees and forests then go to Brazil and protest, and also the ivory animals, Elephants and rhinos the go to African countries and protest about the Poachers, and war lords condoning this mass killing, I mean Mr trump cant be held responsible for every frigging thing that goes wrong.

  8. David Ciccoritti

    Mar 15, 2017 at 10:29 am

    What’s the problem? Probably no more damage than Trump causes playing a round of golf 🙂

  9. GMatt

    Mar 15, 2017 at 9:43 am

    So many idiots on this site. I love the stupid comment about needing more liberals to grow the game. Vandalism is wrong nothing more to be said. Do you really think this stupid act will change policy? If you do then you’re less intelligent than you think you are. Hope and change by these tactics? Maybe another plan of attack that doesn’t involve anarchy might serve your agenda better, you can’t say that the conservatives would employ these kind of tactics. Stupid is as stupid does

  10. MrMayhem

    Mar 14, 2017 at 9:19 pm

    Forget the word activists, just plain vandals would be enough.

  11. Steve

    Mar 14, 2017 at 7:30 pm

    Vandalism is the most senseless crime.

    • Raven

      Mar 15, 2017 at 12:15 pm

      While activities like this are wrong, sometimes people have to cross boundaries to make a statement heard. There are a very small number of people who can change laws so that they don’t have to abide by them. The rest don’t have that luxury. Whatever you or I think, these people were smart enough to find a way to get themselves heard and they have us talking about it.

  12. Ben

    Mar 14, 2017 at 5:55 pm

    I don’t come to Golfwrx to talk about politics. This trash doesn’t belong here. It belongs on the dreck that is both sides of the media, desperate for a reason for being.

    • get off your high horse

      Mar 14, 2017 at 6:42 pm

      then why did you read/post in the article? just skip it, your lordship!

    • birdie

      Mar 15, 2017 at 9:11 am

      who forced you to read the article?

  13. birdie

    Mar 14, 2017 at 11:57 am

    I can only hope that criminals, vandals, violent paid protestors, anarchists, and nancy pelosi become the face of the democrat party. lol

    • good luck with your stupid wall

      Mar 14, 2017 at 6:51 pm

      you dumpsters just dont get it. go ahead and keep voting against your own best interests. in 20 months there shall be a reckoning. you’re welcome

      • MrMayhem

        Mar 14, 2017 at 9:22 pm

        I bet you lock your door and have a fence at your house!

      • birdie

        Mar 15, 2017 at 9:12 am

        oh look, another dem who thinks they should get to decide what someone else’s best interests are. curious, what are the best interests of someone in the working middle class and how were they met under previous president?

  14. Matt

    Mar 14, 2017 at 11:37 am

    Support this action 100%. Science denying, no-nothing republicans are the ugliest sentient beings in the history of the universe. No time for argument these days, its literally pointless to use facts anymore.

    • Matt

      Mar 14, 2017 at 11:40 am

      know-nothing*

    • birdie

      Mar 14, 2017 at 11:55 am

      so you’re saying its ok to vandalize others property?

    • birdie

      Mar 14, 2017 at 12:03 pm

      The truth is that fossil fuels have resulted in increased human health and prosperity and have extended human life in every nation where they have been used plentifully.

      • Double Mocha Man

        Mar 14, 2017 at 6:26 pm

        Birdie, I think you are making bogeys.

    • IHateLoveGolf

      Mar 15, 2017 at 6:03 pm

      Appreciate you once again insulting me for disagreeing with you enlightened ones. Budget-denying, do-nothing, lying libs are a scourge on this country. There – that really forwarded the dialogue, didn’t it. Name-calling never does.

      First amendment for libs only, right? Shout down conservatives and non-lib students everywhere.
      Require total transparency on Trump’s taxes but it’s ok for Wasserman Schultz to surreptitiously undermine Bernie’s campaign.
      Laws should be adhered to unless the crimes are committed against conservatives.
      Laws should be adhered to unless it’s for illegals, their families, and their voting.

      If we can’t even agree that crimes are crimes, where do we start? Your move, sport.

      Signed,
      A 1%er, ex-military, summa cum laude college grad who supports Trump while also supporting gay marriage, Roe v Wade, and legal immigration while condemning the incredible untruthfulness seen from Dems and from some on the GOP side

  15. Mat

    Mar 14, 2017 at 9:57 am

    Almost nothing to do with the sport of golf. Just clickbait.

  16. birdie

    Mar 14, 2017 at 9:34 am

    as usual, our media labels this as coragous and brave act of defiance (Wash Post) ….yet if this was a conservative they’d label it as hateful, intolerant, vandalism, and anarchists.

    the double standard among the media is stunning, yet predictable. As is the intolerance and hypocrisy among the left

    • PCR

      Mar 14, 2017 at 11:44 am

      Read. He wrote that the act was spun that way in the Washington Post. And suggestions that there is no media bias to the left, is as ridiculous as they come.

  17. chip

    Mar 14, 2017 at 9:32 am

    which is worse? Some damaged grass or a man trying to turn the United States into the most hateful, deceitful, and corrupt country in the world?

    • birdie

      Mar 14, 2017 at 9:49 am

      luckily obama is now out of office huh

      • Blake

        Mar 14, 2017 at 11:20 am

        What did obama do? Im sincerely asking because i see you people say things like this and then i cant find any speeches or quotes or actions that would justify it. So what did he do?

        • Toad2017

          Mar 14, 2017 at 12:23 pm

          His hope and change was nothing more than business as usual. He fixed nothing, just made existing problems bigger.

        • birdie

          Mar 14, 2017 at 1:33 pm

          used irs as political weapon, blamed benghazi on youtube video for months, lied about aca saving families money, fast and furious (illegal arms transfers to mexican cartels), jumped into every criminal cases based on race before facts and verdict known only to incite anger and divide, payment to iran, spying on journalist james rosen…… i can go on if you want…..

    • PCR

      Mar 14, 2017 at 11:53 am

      So we can tear up your grass and say, “Well, it’s not as bad as the President”.

    • Tom

      Mar 14, 2017 at 1:33 pm

      we’re not running a popularity contest

  18. JThunder

    Mar 14, 2017 at 6:46 am

    “Murdering grass”? Really? Grass is not an endangered species, nor is it difficult to grow back. Would you call taking a divot “murdering grass”? Because the average 130-shooting hack tears up that much grass with their play.

    • Double Mocha Man

      Mar 14, 2017 at 11:45 am

      Bubba doesn’t take a divot… but he does dent a lot of perfectly good trees.

  19. JThunder

    Mar 14, 2017 at 6:27 am

    It’s funny how to conservative golfers, this is such a “disgusting crime”, and they are appalled and judge all liberal-minded folks by these actions. But when conservative politicians manage to legalize the fleecing of the American people via things like the healthcare industry and pharmaceutical companies, which KILL people on an hourly basis, this is “just business” and defended to the hilt.
    (And when Trump, Bannon and Pence take charge on their vote, they can claim “but I’m not racist or misogynist”.)

    To say we have different values is an understatement.
    But the past 9 years have proven that.

    One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.

    • birdie

      Mar 14, 2017 at 9:36 am

      what are you talking about? were people not being fleeced under obama? were prescriptions cheap under obama? fun fact…obama oversaw a fleecing of the american working class. trump is reflection of americans turning against liberal policy.

  20. R

    Mar 14, 2017 at 4:46 am

    Liberals what is your problem.
    You are worthless. Just causing more
    and more problems. We have enough
    in the world as it is. Get over it.
    Grow up.

    • JThunder

      Mar 14, 2017 at 6:32 am

      They’re protesting the destruction of the environment, and your suggestion is “get over it”? Why couldn’t the billionaires and their corporations “get over” the regulations enacted to save the planet? Why couldn’t Republican Congress and 42% of the country “get over” the fact that Obama won two elections? People who put greed and ignorance above the good of the people and planet are the ones who need to “grow up”. But if you see shining a light on real problems as “causing more and more problems”, then that explains why the world is as f-ed up as it is now. I guess everyone should just keep their mouths shut and put up with whatever is done to them, and somehow it will all be OK.

  21. Michael

    Mar 14, 2017 at 4:15 am

    Fantastic work.

  22. Bubba Wilson

    Mar 13, 2017 at 11:12 pm

    Wow – Talk about a country divided right now.

    • mik

      Apr 7, 2017 at 11:22 pm

      So true, my local course installed separate restrooms. Liberals on the left and republicans on the right. It’s bad, very very bad.

  23. Bubba Smith

    Mar 13, 2017 at 10:05 pm

    Stupidity at its finest.

  24. SlapHappy

    Mar 13, 2017 at 7:23 pm

    I mean seriously……. we ought to be able to hang these people in public once we arrest them

    • Brian

      Mar 13, 2017 at 8:46 pm

      Like Pete Dye said, “It’s just grass.” Really, hang someone from wrecking some grass? Did you think about those words before you typed them, or are you just a ridiculous reactionary like the morons that defaced this green?

      • JThunder

        Mar 14, 2017 at 6:43 am

        If you’re suggesting hanging people for hurting some grass, what do you suggest for all the Wall Street execs who destroyed peoples’ lives? Or the pharmaceutical companies and health care companies who kill people every day for profit?

        Oh, right, laws in their favor and achievement awards. Nice values.

        • Tom

          Mar 14, 2017 at 1:36 pm

          I don’t think so, that’s counter productive to the bottom line.

          • J

            Mar 15, 2017 at 4:05 pm

            I think you’re being over-simplistic. The reality is if you’re trying to bank a bonus, you couldn’t care much less if there’s a long term fallout on the bottom line. It’d be dishonest to say people only consider the company’s infinite bottom line. More likely, there are some individuals who focus on the near terms profits, without regard for what happens later. And these decisions have consequences much larger than turf damage. They just don’t have the image problem of someone carving into a green.

      • birdie

        Mar 14, 2017 at 9:38 am

        firing squad works too

  25. KoreanSlumLord

    Mar 13, 2017 at 7:16 pm

    So that is your new America, huh? If you don’t agree with another political party, just burn, vandalize, perform acts of violence against supporters of the other party. In Japan, were not shown this type of behavior that Republicans did when Obama was in office. Odd.

    • Bryan

      Mar 14, 2017 at 12:22 am

      It’s the liberal way, it’s how they roll. Kind of reminds you of a 3 year old when they don’t get their way.

      • JThunder

        Mar 14, 2017 at 6:34 am

        Reminds me of Republicans for the last 8 years. And I mean, ALL of them. Not a handful of people who “vandalized” some grass. Republican golfers care more about a patch of grass than peoples’ lives or the planet. That’s the conservative way, because that little patch of grass is PROFIT!

        • birdie

          Mar 14, 2017 at 9:40 am

          maybe you should go burn down a building or block people from getting to work…..vandalism is the liberal way. don’t agree or don’t get your way….stomp your feet and destroy others property…so pathetic yet so predictable. i can only hope these protestors become the face of the democrat party.

        • Tom

          Mar 14, 2017 at 1:39 pm

          play the victim card much?

  26. ROY

    Mar 13, 2017 at 6:19 pm

    Think I will go cut down some trees and dump some oil into the local lake to show my support for them and the environment!!!

  27. Barry

    Mar 13, 2017 at 5:49 pm

    This makes me angry

  28. Double Mocha Man

    Mar 13, 2017 at 5:44 pm

    I think we’re on to something here! 90% of the responses below are from conservatives/Republicans. If GolfWRX is a cross section of the average golfer then it’s obvious we need many, many more liberals to grow the game.

    • Barry

      Mar 13, 2017 at 5:55 pm

      Good luck with that. “Liberals” (nothing liberal about them these days) aren’t going to be attracted to golf because it’s too hard and requires too much patience.

      • JThunder

        Mar 14, 2017 at 6:52 am

        Yeah, liberals fight for the environment and the poor and disenfranchised because it’s not hard and requires no patience. Well said.

    • JThunder

      Mar 14, 2017 at 6:50 am

      Golfwrx is not a cross-section of the average golfer. it’s a cross-section of the avid golfer. It might be suggested the connection is avid golfer = likely wealthier golfer = likelier conservative.

    • birdie

      Mar 14, 2017 at 9:41 am

      they’ll start demanding that others pay for their round of golf…..because equality or something

      • Blake

        Mar 14, 2017 at 11:23 am

        Oh i get it. Your doing some bit where you act like a “typical dumb trump supporter”. Good one

    • Bert

      Mar 14, 2017 at 5:18 pm

      +1 exactly on the point.

    • mik

      Apr 7, 2017 at 11:04 pm

      I agree.

      I like to keep the Republicans in the group ahead of me, I pick up their Prov1s and Prov1xs that they don’t want to look for along the tree line. I keep the Liberals in the group behind me in case I leave a club or a head cover, I’ll get it back on the next hole.

  29. golfomatic

    Mar 13, 2017 at 5:38 pm

    Kind of a stupid crime. Much less risky to make money as a Wells Fargo exec while looking the other way as thousands of employees open millions of accounts without customers’ permission over many years to meet absurd quotas, then retire with a 9-figure payout as your punishment, then play lots of golf on courses like this.

  30. larry

    Mar 13, 2017 at 5:36 pm

    Stuff like this makes me hate liberals even more, what a joke.

    • Dr Troy

      Mar 13, 2017 at 7:45 pm

      Could not agree more Larry.

      • JThunder

        Mar 14, 2017 at 6:55 am

        This thread makes me hate conservatives more. What a joke.

        • birdie

          Mar 14, 2017 at 9:44 am

          why because conservatives support law and order? or is the fact that liberals don’t get their way no matter how much they whine, destroy property, protest, or all the other useless means of organized intimidation and destruction they employ

          • Tom

            Mar 14, 2017 at 1:41 pm

            +1

          • J

            Mar 15, 2017 at 4:23 pm

            What a joke. What makes you think conservatives support law and order, and liberals do not? Those vandalizers = all liberals, just as Dennis Hastert = all conservatives. Non-reasoning individuals on both sides are the coals that keep this division going. It’s all so stupid. I’m not your enemy, and you’re not my enemy. Congratulations on both sides being used as pawns.

  31. alan

    Mar 13, 2017 at 4:56 pm

    destroy something the POTUS owns, and get caught on camera? and do interviews. amateur hour. i hope no one feels sorry for them when they get hammered for this.

    • Double Mocha Man

      Mar 13, 2017 at 5:41 pm

      They did the video recording themselves… didn’t “get caught” on camera.

  32. Bryan

    Mar 13, 2017 at 4:15 pm

    Liberals at their finest….

  33. Double Mocha Man

    Mar 13, 2017 at 3:25 pm

    It got the message across (and directly to Trump in this case) without anyone getting hurt. Other than hurting the wallets of some very well-off club members. On a positive note it caused the extra employment of some greenskeeping crew members, thus strengthening the economy as Trump has promised.

    Though the message was weak… if Tiger wants to rub shoulders with Trump that’s his right. Doesn’t mean we have to like him for it.

    • Barry

      Mar 13, 2017 at 6:37 pm

      If the message was “we are idiots and criminals,” then yeah, message received

  34. Blake

    Mar 13, 2017 at 3:20 pm

    Really? He has nominated a climate change denier to the head of the epa and he sees any regulations that protect clean air and water as bad and is actively trying to repeal them to benefit big business. His nom to the epa has actively sued the EPA to lighten restrictions on coal plants, and several other issues. Basically he is doing everything in his power to harm the environment.

    • Joey5Picks

      Mar 13, 2017 at 3:56 pm

      LIKE^^^

    • JThunder

      Mar 14, 2017 at 6:54 am

      Read a book.

    • Blake

      Mar 14, 2017 at 11:24 am

      Oh i get it. Your doing some bit where you act like a “typical dumb trump supporter”. Good one

    • Bert

      Mar 14, 2017 at 5:22 pm

      Great news! I didn’t know he was doing so well.

  35. Chris

    Mar 13, 2017 at 3:06 pm

    Idiots.

  36. Steve

    Mar 13, 2017 at 1:27 pm

    Disgusting. I’m not a big Trump guy by any means, but I find it absolutely disgusting that A) people would do this to a golf course just because it has his name attached to it, and B) that ABC would happily keep these people anonymous and disguise the voice just to get the scoop. THIS IS A FREAKIN CRIME. They belong in jail.

  37. Golfwhiler

    Mar 13, 2017 at 12:22 pm

    Eco-terrorists. They will be found out and will be shocked to learn the cost of repairing greens, not to mention felony trespassing.

  38. Silky Johnson

    Mar 13, 2017 at 12:19 pm

    Why the voice-disguising mech, you wuss? You want to vandalize private property, own up to it. Coward.

  39. Blake

    Mar 13, 2017 at 12:08 pm

    Good. At least this way he cant say he never saw it.

  40. Joe

    Mar 13, 2017 at 11:55 am

    when it is against Trump (or conservatives) they’re called ‘activists’ and ‘protesters’. When it was against Obama (or the left) they’re ‘racists’ and ‘terrorists’.

    • JThunder

      Mar 14, 2017 at 6:41 am

      Yep, there’s no difference between fighting for the environment by harming some grass and carrying a sign with a painting of lynching an African American President. Yep, exactly the same.

      At least you admit that fighting for the environment is “against conservatives”.

  41. MikeyB

    Mar 13, 2017 at 11:47 am

    Well the solution is quite clear. These people have a deep abiding love and respect for the environment. I think they should be given the chance to experience the environment in all it’s glory.
    So, with just the clothes on their backs, they will be flown to a spot that is 500 miles from any trace of civilization and be chucked out of the airplane with a static line parachute attached.
    If they can survive, and walk out, they don’t have to go to jail. Seems fair. I mean since their point is the Trump administration has allegedly endangered the environment, a pen and notebook will be provided to our hapless eco-warriors so that they can log, in person and in real time, the effects of said policy reversals on their immediate surroundings. Well, it’s research, right?

    • Mower

      Mar 13, 2017 at 2:07 pm

      As long as it’s televised. #nakedandafraid lol

  42. Tom

    Mar 13, 2017 at 11:42 am

    putz(s)

  43. Whaatt

    Mar 13, 2017 at 11:41 am

    Vandalism isnt a protest it is a crime, Im no Trump fan, but I hope these criminals are prosecuted.

    • JThunder

      Mar 14, 2017 at 6:37 am

      As long as they’re not millionaire businessmen, they’ll likely be prosecuted for crime. If they’re millionaire conservative businessmen, they’ll be praised and have a chance to run for President.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson

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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

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

 

 

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Vincenzi’s 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson betting preview: International talent to shine

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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

  1. Tom Hoge (+1.12)
  2. Keith Mitchell (+1.02)
  3. Henrik Norlander (+0.99)
  4. Ryan Moore (+0.98)
  5. 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

  1. Peter Kuest (+0.93)
  2. Kevin Daugherty (+0.91)
  3. Alejandro Tosti (+0.83)
  4. Keith Mitchell (+0.82)
  5. 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:

  1. Wesley Bryan (31%)
  2. Kelly Kraft (26.2%)
  3. Peter Kuest (25.9%)
  4. Matti Schmid (25.7%
  5. 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:

  1. Maverick McNealy (+0.92)
  2. Aaron Baddeley (+0.87)
  3. Callum Tarren (+0.86)
  4. Harry Hall (+0.81)
  5. 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:

  1. Jordan Spieth (+2.69)
  2. K.H. Lee (+2.59)
  3. Seamus Power (+1.84)
  4. Ryan Palmer (+1.76)
  5. 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%).

  1. Alex Noren
  2. Adam Scott
  3. Keith Mitchell
  4. Si Woo Kim
  5. Stephen Jaeger
  6. Jordan Spieth
  7. Jhonnatan Vegas
  8. Nate Lashley
  9. Brice Garnett
  10. 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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Morning 9: McIlroy, Lowry win Zurich | Green repeats on LPGA | Steele victorious down under

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Monday morning, golf fans, after an exciting finish in New Orleans saw Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry come out on top.

1. Two Irishman in New Orleans

AP report…”Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry received a standing ovation when they showed up at historic, creole French Quarter restaurant Arnaud’s on the eve of their final round at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event.”

  • “They also had the largest, loudest galleries at the TPC Louisiana, where the charismatic, 34-year-old McIlroy, had not previously played.
  • “He’s getting old, but he still moves the needle a little bit,” Lowry joked as McIlroy chuckled. “Rory brings a crowd and people love him and we’ve gotten a lot of love in New Orleans. We’ve had just the best week.”
  • “McIlroy and Lowry won Sunday, beating Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer with a nervy par on the first hole of a playoff.
  • “Trainer pushed a 6-foot par putt to the right of the cup to end it, with Lowry lifting a laughing McIlroy off the ground with a bear hug on the green.”
Full piece.

2. Green repeats on LPGA

AP report…”Hannah Green won the LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship for the second straight year Sunday, holing out twice from off the greens in a pivotal back-nine stretch at challenging Wilshire Country Club.”

  • “A year after making a 25-foot birdie on the final hole of regulation and winning on the second hole of a playoff, Green — with help from Maja Stark — took the late drama out of this one for her fifth LPGA Tour victory and second of the year.
  • “It wasn’t as a eventful as the last couple days. I was nervous,” Green said. “And I’ve never been able to win having a lead into the last hole like that, so it is nice to be able to get it done earlier in the round.”
  • “Green closed with a 5-under 66 to beat Stark by three strokes. The 27-year-old Australian, also the winner early last month in Singapore, finished at 12-under 272 on the tree-lined layout with poa annua greens that become bumpy late in the day.”
Full piece.

3. DP World Tour: The local takes it

Staff report…”Yuto Katsuragawa continued a history-making season for players from Japan on the DP World Tour with a three-shot victory on home soil at the ISPS HANDA – CHAMPIONSHIP.”

  • “The local favourite entered the final day at Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course three shots off the lead but was right in the mix at the turn as many of the leading players stumbled.”
  • “Sebastian Söderberg was the only one keeping pace with him but the 25-year-old started the back nine with five birdies in seven holes to leave the Swede in his wake and finish at 17 under after a course-record equalling 63.”
Full piece.

4. LIV: Steele Down Under

AP report…”Three-time PGA Tour winner Brendan Steele held off a fast finishing Louis Oosthuizen to win the LIV Golf Adelaide tournament at The Grange Golf Club by one stoke.”

  • “The 41-year-old Steele shot a final round 68 Sunday for a 54-hole total of 18-under 198 to earn his first victory since he won his second Safeway Open in 2017 on the PGA Tour.”
Full piece.

5. Langer set for return

Golf Channel staff report…”Three months after tearing his Achilles tendon and undergoing surgery, Bernhard Langer is scheduled to return on the PGA Tour Champions.”

  • “Langer’s injury occurred while playing pickleball on Feb 1. He had surgery the next day and had to miss what was supposed to be his final Masters appearance earlier this month.”
Full piece.

6. “Proud” Norman speaks

…Vindication is not the right word,” Norman told Australian Golf Digest before pausing.

  • “It’s the ignorance of others who simply didn’t understand what we were trying to do. I actually feel sorry for them because they now see the true value of LIV Golf and want to be a part of it.”
  • Norman was quick to pay tribute to the Australian faithful for their unconditional support of not only LIV Golf Adelaide but his own playing career. An estimated 35,000 spectators packed Grange Golf Club on Sunday, the majority sticking around to line the 18th fairway and cheer on Cam Smith and Marc Leishman in their dramatic two-hole playoff victory against South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and Dean Burmester.
  • “The support Australia gave me during my own playing career for decades was something I have never forgotten,” says Norman, bursting with pride. “It’s why I brought LIV Golf back home – I did it for them. The people have well and truly spoken. Both individual and team golf is alive and well in Australia and they deserve it. I knew they would support this event.
  • “I’m feeling extremely proud right now. With what we’ve (LIV Golf) gone through over the past 16 months, both as a league and what I’ve copped personally… the hatred… this makes it all worthwhile.”
Full piece.

7. Winning WITBs

Presented by 2nd Swing

MCILROY

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees)

Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)

Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X

5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18 degrees)

Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 X

Irons: TaylorMade Proto (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9)

Shaft: Project X 7.0 (4-9)

Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks (58-K @59)

Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X3

Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol Tour

Grips: Golf Pride MCC

Ball: 2024 TaylorMade TP5x

LOWRY

Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II (8.5 degrees)

Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 70 TX

5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (18 degrees)

Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X

Irons: Srixon ZX Utility (3), Srixon ZX5 Mk II (4, 5), Srixon ZX7 Mk II (6-PW)

Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X (3), KBS Tour 130 X (4-PW)

Wedges: Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID), Cleveland RTX Full Face (58-8)

Shafts: KBS Tour Wedge X Black

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Z

Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol 1.0

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV

Full WITBs.
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