News
Tiger Woods to play The Players
We wondered when Tiger Woods would tee it up again following his T17 finish at Augusta National. Now we know: Woods announced today that he’ll next put a peg in the ground at The Players Championship, which begins May 7.
Woods last played at TPC Sawgrass in 2013, when he won the event (he also won in 2001). He didn’t participate in The Players last year as he was recovering from back surgery.
Also on the subject of injury: Woods’ wrist is apparently fine. Visibly in pain after hitting a root on the ninth hole of his final round at Augusta, Woods said after the round that “a bone kind of popped out and the joint kind of went out of place, but I put it back in.” However, Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, told ESPN.com four days later the golfer’s wrist is “fine.”
Thanks to his No. 106 world ranking, Woods did not qualify for the Match Play Championship next week.
Also added to Tiger’s schedule this week (according to Jack Nicklaus) the Memorial, which is June 4-7.
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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
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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News
Morning 9: McIlroy, Lowry win Zurich | Green repeats on LPGA | Steele victorious down under
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Mad-Mex
May 3, 2015 at 7:23 pm
(Cue sarcastic Tone) Good, I can sleep now and stop worrying about Tiger’s well being.
Some defend him with comments like “Look what he has done for golf!!”,,,,, BUT Golf has done 100 times MORE for him. You think Tiger “cares” about YOU? Think he cares about Golf? Tiger cares about Tiger,,, That’s it!!!!
New Golfer
Apr 28, 2015 at 9:41 pm
All you Tiger haters. So fast you are to forget that he won 5 times back in 2013. Name one other player that has done that in any year? That’s right you can’t. Sure he’s had some back problems and it has caused him to play poorly, so who hasn’t had problems and shot in the 80’s. I remember Rory quitting in the middle of a tournament because he was playing extremely bad, what was his excuse? a toothache? How about Bubba Watson withdrawing after the first day when he shot in the 80’s? Didn’t he have some kind of allergies? and Dustin Johnson shooting 80’s, I can’t even remember what his problem was. Probably didn’t get his daily dose of snow. Why isn’t Tiger playing at the Players news? He’s still the biggest draw to golf weather for good or bad. TV is about ratings and making money and people want to see Tiger play more so than 95% of the field. Even little old grandmas know who Tiger Woods is, can that be said about any other golfer? No. So next time before coming on some forum and smashing Tiger, think before you post, about what he’s done for the game and if it wasn’t for him little old grandmas and half of the girlfriends/wives of posters on here wouldn’t have any interest in golf.
Dennis
Apr 27, 2015 at 9:06 am
Good article Ben.
MHendon
Apr 25, 2015 at 11:34 pm
A lot of people on here bitching about this article, but the bottom line is hate him or love him Tiger still is the biggest draw in golf.
sam s
Apr 26, 2015 at 2:09 pm
He does draw attention, but no necessarily for his golf. He draws attention because how far he quickly dropped…and because of his numerous inappropriate actions – personal and on the course. Remember, Tiger has only played in 12 events since 2013 and hasn’t finished in the top 10 even once. He is ranked a lowly 106th – just in case you are wondering, that means that 105 players are ranked better than Tiger…many that you’ve probably never heard of before; like Romain Wattel, Shingo Katayama, Emiliano Grillo, Scott Hend, Gary Stal, Koumei Oda, Mikko Ilonen, etc., etc., etc. No one minds Tiger Woods being in the news when the news is justified – such as because of his good play, or him doing something disgustingly stupid like he’s done so many times in his life. But to announce in a news article that Tiger Woods is playing in a particular tournament is as stupid as doing the same for any other player that qualifies to play in the tournament. Likewise, to cover Tiger Woods on television when he is nowhere close to the lead is also downright stupid. When Tiger plays well enough to be competitive – then cover him. Otherwise, he is nothing more than a once great golfer that has become a has-been and not someone you would want a family member to emulate with his personal life. In my view – Tiger Woods was once a great golfer, but a scumbag person.
Kyle
Apr 26, 2015 at 6:50 pm
He’s the biggest draw in golf because he’s the best ever. End of story.
COGolfer
Apr 27, 2015 at 12:12 am
You obviously have a bias but the ‘scumbag person’ really showed your stripes. A-Rod, Armstrong, Ray Lewis, Hernandez, “etc, etc…” Obviously you don’t have to be a reasonable person to participate in professional sports.
Love him or hate him, he has helped shape professional golf. The news needs story lines and Tiger provides them.
I also think he has won a couple majors. I believe more than (at least) the top 30 combined.
oh poor sam.
Apr 27, 2015 at 1:34 am
“was once a great golfer”
lol
the man just finished t17 in the masters.
Joe
Apr 29, 2015 at 12:12 pm
His first event back… Just wait until he gets the rest of him game back up to snuff.
MHendon
Apr 27, 2015 at 2:10 am
First off let me be clear, I am by no means a Tiger fan. I tend to root for Rory, but Jordan Spieth is quickly becoming a favorite. However to sit there and call Tiger a scumbag for doing what most men and women for that matter do at some point in their life is quite hypocritical. Unless you’re some kind of saint you really shouldn’t go there. It would be interesting to see what might be uncovered in any of our lives if we where under the public scrutiny that has been Tigers life. And yes Tiger hasn’t played well in a couple years but he still is the biggest draw and when he plays everyone involved in the business of Tiger woods makes more money that’s why its covered so much, period.
sol demanto
Apr 27, 2015 at 5:32 pm
I would agree – ‘scumbag’ is an excellent description for Tiger Woods.
Nathan
Apr 25, 2015 at 5:48 pm
Good to know when the man is playing next. Thanks
Booger
Apr 24, 2015 at 11:30 pm
I want to know what tourney’s rory and Jordan sign up for. Don’t care about this hacker.
Dave
Apr 25, 2015 at 5:58 pm
If he is a hacker WHAT do you qualify as?
LJL
Apr 24, 2015 at 9:06 pm
This ‘news’ is so damn stupid. There is no ‘news’ when any other golfer decides to play a particular tournament. Why should Tiger Woods make news just because he enters? Think people!
Kyle
Apr 26, 2015 at 6:51 pm
You must not follow golf often.
KT
Apr 24, 2015 at 7:26 pm
I think Tiger had a Brian Williams moment with that bone popping comment.
Gary Gutful
Apr 24, 2015 at 4:56 pm
I generally pop at least 5 bones out before breakfast and then shoot 65 in the afternoon…
Golfer Steve
Apr 24, 2015 at 1:10 pm
Glad to see this