News
Perspectives on the Tiger’s WD at the Honda Classic
Rory McIlroy’s Sunday 74 and Russell Henley’s playoff victory at the Honda Classic competed for headline space with Tiger Woods’ back-nine withdrawal.
Woods withdrew after No. 13, at which point he was 5-over for the final round. He left PGA National without comment, but he later released a statement indicating that his back began bothering him while warming up and got progressively worse during the round.
Whether Tiger tapped out due to a recurrence of the back spasms that have plagued him merit top billing is beside the point. Yes, Woods was more than 10 strokes off the lead when he withdrew. Were it any other golfer, the WD wouldn’t be competing for headline space with McIlroy and Henley’s feats.
The man leaving the golf course without speaking to the press wasn’t “any other golfer,” however. It was Tiger Woods. So, here we are.
Tiger detractors will say Woods is whining. They’ll say his walkoff is comparable to McIlroy’s early departure at the same tournament last year. Many anti-Tiger-ites (on social media, anyway) speculated the golfer was frustrated with his play and the overall pace of the round and thus he elected to head home to Jupiter Island early.
Catastrophists will take this news, coupled with Woods’ underwhelming play this week and poor start to the ’13-’14 season, as signs that Tiger’s Masters hopes have gone up in smoke. Off to his worst start of his career and only has one start scheduled before heading to Augusta in April? “Tiger is doomed,” they’ll say.
Hardliners, of course, will invoke the names of the golfing greats who have soldiered on through incredible pain to finish tournaments and assert that such behavior is what this great game demands. Thus, a WD at any point other than while one is being carried away on a stretcher is unsatisfactory and Mr. Woods is a wuss.
Supporters and the more even-tempered won’t doubt the legitimacy of Tiger’s injury; many of those who followed Tiger today reported the golfer grimacing throughout his round. Whether he was truly unable to finish, only Woods himself knows. By all appearances though, the back injury was legitimate.
It’s no secret Woods is looking ahead to the Masters. If he felt there was any possibility that continuing to play would further aggravate his back, it’s understandable from a certain perspective that he withdrew in order to get treatment. However, the fact that he didn’t proceed immediately to the trainer won’t please naysayers any.
Obviously, too, he wasn’t getting quality reps while fighting through pain. Clearly, the final round wasn’t going to allow him to practice the shots he’ll need for the Masters in a competitive setting, as he reportedly likes to do in the tournaments leading up to the first major of the year. Thus, the round was, in some sense, pointless.
Does the above merit a withdrawal? Certainly not in and of itself. However, coupled with a level of pain that made continuing to play golf impossible, it’s a complementary rationale.
Regardless of what faction you align with, the following is indisputable: Tiger Woods looks as ill-prepared for the Masters at the beginning of March as he has at any point in recent memory. Clearly, he needs to practice. Clearly too, he can’t practice with a spasming back.
Therein lies the rub, as they say. It will be interesting to listen to the chatter and watch the next month unfold.
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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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RumtumTim
Mar 3, 2014 at 7:17 pm
I wonder- could the Foley swing be bad for his back? Is it wiser to protect the knee or protect the back?
Ponjo
Mar 3, 2014 at 1:09 pm
Golfers only withdraw when scores are bad.
Christian
Mar 7, 2014 at 2:33 pm
Very true in my opinion, bad back or not. Tiger won the US Open with a hurt knee, if he was doing much better on Sunday, no doubt he’d have stayed in. I’m a huge Rory fan but even I know last year when he withdrew he obviously wasn’t enjoying himself that round. As long as it doesn’t happen every other month, it’s no big deal.
billy
Mar 3, 2014 at 11:28 am
His short game is very average during most rounds now…I dare say its below the field in some events. If he does not recapture the magic somehow it will be a slow demise and end of a stellar golf career.
Nothing to be ashamed of for sure but there will always be that JD type question hanging low on the tree…
What if?
scott f
Mar 3, 2014 at 9:46 am
His injuries seem to be more frequent not less since he’s been bulking up. He looks as bulked this yar than I can ever remember. Rory is ripped but not bulky. Guess he needs to figure put whether he wants to beat Jack or try out for Mr Universe. Also at his age should be more focused on just core strength and stretching/yoga.
Scott
mlamb
Mar 3, 2014 at 9:09 am
“It’s no secret Woods is looking ahead to the Masters.”
This is why he is not going to win. No winning team overlooks games against lesser opponents prior to a more important matchup against a rival.
marty
Mar 3, 2014 at 11:31 am
uh, golf is not a team sport. those rules do not apply.
mlamb
Mar 3, 2014 at 1:15 pm
yes, it does. his lack of competitive play before the honda was pretty telling on wednesday, thursday, and (arguably) sunday.
simply saying “he’ll be ready for the masters” is stupid. he is far from mid-season form and there are many, many talented players in the field who have been on the grind since january.
mlamb
Mar 3, 2014 at 1:16 pm
edit: meant thursday, friday, and arguably sunday
Jack
Mar 4, 2014 at 10:43 am
No it is not like other sports. You get to a peak to perform for a tournament and do your best that way. No argument here. It’s why they all schedule around the majors…
Large chris
Mar 3, 2014 at 8:43 am
Only he knows the extent of his injury, but to have only one more start before the masters…. Is he sick of golf? Or more likely everything that goes with being who he is.
I think he has always been a very hard worker, and generally enjoys the practice, but that plus his workouts are leaving him too tired and jaded to compete.
More competitive golf, less practice and working out, fewer press and sponsor commitments, and he can play great again.
larry wilson
Mar 3, 2014 at 8:43 am
Tiger just didn’t want to post a 80.
Forsbrand
Mar 3, 2014 at 2:21 am
But don’t worry, he’ll be in great shape come the Masters in April ready for another major title! Well done Russell Henley great win
Johan
Mar 4, 2014 at 12:56 am
Är det du Anders?
Sean
Mar 3, 2014 at 12:08 am
I think the whole field was plagued with injury today. I feel sorry for Tiger. At least he has a reason for playing poorly. The rest of the field should be happy that he had a bad day. Otherwise it was his to win. At least his poor performance was due to legitimate continual issues. I don’t know what to think of the pathetic rounds I saw with the healthy one’s on the course but, wow.
Charles
Mar 3, 2014 at 7:18 am
His to win?, where we watching the same tournament?
heinket
Mar 3, 2014 at 10:58 am
He was never in contention!! This was not his tournament to win.
steve dawson
Mar 3, 2014 at 10:16 pm
his to win? sober up before posting next time..
Philip
Mar 2, 2014 at 10:05 pm
LMAO, ok you covered all the angles … woe is a society that is so predictable