News
With changes aplenty, the 2018-2019 PGA Tour schedule is here
Calendar lovers, scheduling enthusiasts, and golf fans too: the long awaited day is here. The PGA Tour today presented its 2018-2019 schedule.
“A cadence of events highlighted by significant championships every month,” the Tour called the 46-tournament schedule, which now concludes before the NFL season starts.
A few quick notes
- The FedEx Cup is now three events instead of four.
- Two new tournaments: the Rocket Mortgage Classic June 24-30 in Detroit and the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Minneapolis.
- The RBC Canadian Open moves from late July to June 3-9.
- The Players Championship moves from May to March (11-17) and the PGA Championship moves from August to May (13-19).
- The final World Golf Championships event of the season will now be held at TPC Southwind in Memphis as the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.
- The Houston Open and A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier move to the fall.
Here’s the whole darn thing, as posted to PGATour.com
DATE | TOURNAMENT | COURSE | LOCATION |
10/1 – 10/7 | Safeway Open | Silverado Resort and Spa (North Course) | Napa, California |
10/8 – 10/14 | CIMB Classic | TPC Kuala Lumpur | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
10/15 – 10/21 | THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES | Nine Bridges | Jeju Island, Korea |
10/22 – 10/28 | World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions | Sheshan International Golf Club | Shanghai, China |
10/22 – 10/28 | Sanderson Farms Championship | Country Club of Jackson | Jackson, Mississippi |
10/29 – 11/4 | Shriners Hospitals for Children Open | TPC Summerlin | Las Vegas, Nevada |
11/5 – 11/11 | Mayakoba Golf Classic | El Camaleon Golf Club at the Mayakoba Resort | Playa del Carmen, Mexico |
11/12 – 11/18 | The RSM Classic | Sea Island Resort (*Seaside Course, Plantation Course) | St. Simons Island, Georgia |
BREAK | |||
12/31 – 1/6 | Sentry Tournament of Champions | Kapalua Resort (The Plantation Course) | Kapalua, Hawaii |
1/7 – 1/13 | Sony Open in Hawaii | Waialae Country Club | Honolulu, Hawaii |
1/14 – 1/20 | CareerBuilder Challenge | PGA WEST (*Stadium Course, Nicklaus Tournament Course); La Quinta Country Club | La Quinta, California |
1/21 – 1/27 | Farmers Insurance Open | Torrey Pines Golf Course (*South Course, North Course) | San Diego, California |
1/28 – 2/3 | Waste Management Phoenix Open | TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course) | Scottsdale, Arizona |
2/4 – 2/10 | AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am | *Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Shore Course) | Pebble Beach, California |
2/11 – 2/17 | Genesis Open | The Riviera Country Club | Pacific Palisades, California |
2/18 – 2/24 | World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship | Club de Golf Chapultepec | Mexico City, Mexico |
2/18 – 2/24 | Puerto Rico Open | Coco Beach Golf & Country Club | Rio Grande, Puerto Rico |
2/25 – 3/3 | The Honda Classic | PGA National Resort & Spa (The Champion Course) | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida |
3/4- 3/10 | Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard | Bay Hill Club and Lodge | Orlando, Florida |
3/11- 3/17 | THE PLAYERS Championship | TPC Sawgrass (THE PLAYERS Stadium Course) | Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida |
3/18 – 3/24 | Valspar Championship | Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf and Spa Resort (Copperhead Course) | Palm Harbor, Florida |
3/25 – 3/31 | World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play | Austin Country Club | Austin, Texas |
3/25 – 3/31 | Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship | Puntacana Resort & Club (Corales Golf Course) | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic |
4/1 – 4/7 | Valero Texas Open | TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks Course) | San Antonio, Texas |
4/8 – 4/14 | Masters Tournament # | Augusta National Golf Club | Augusta, Georgia |
4/15 – 4/21 | RBC Heritage | Harbour Town Golf Links | Hilton Head Island, South Carolina |
4/22 – 4/28 | Zurich Classic of New Orleans | TPC Louisiana | New Orleans, Louisiana |
4/29 – 5/5 | Wells Fargo Championship | Quail Hollow Club | Charlotte, North Carolina |
5/6 – 5/12 | AT&T Byron Nelson | Trinity Forest Golf Club | Dallas, Texas |
5/13 – 5/19 | PGA Championship # | Bethpage State Park (Black Course) | Bethpage, New York |
5/20 – 5/26 | Charles Schwab Challenge | Colonial Country Club | Fort Worth, Texas |
5/27 – 6/2 | the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide | Muirfield Village Golf Club | Dublin, Ohio |
6/3 – 6/9 | RBC Canadian Open | Hamilton Golf & Country Club | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
6/10 – 6/16 | U.S. Open # | Pebble Beach Golf Links | Pebble Beach, California |
6/17 – 6/23 | Travelers Championship | TPC River Highlands | Cromwell, Connecticut |
6/24 – 6/30 | Rocket Mortgage Classic | Detroit Golf Club | Detroit, Michigan |
7/1 – 7/7 | 3M Open | TPC Twin Cities | Blaine, Minnesota |
7/8 – 7/14 | John Deere Classic | TPC Deere Run | Silvis, Illinois |
7/15 – 7/21 | The Open Championship # | Royal Portrush Golf Club | Portrush, Northern Ireland |
7/15 – 7/21 | Barbasol Championship | Keene Trace Golf Club (Champions Trace) | Nicholasville, Kentucky |
7/22 – 7/28 | World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational | TPC Southwind | Memphis, Tennessee |
7/22 – 7/28 | Reno-Tahoe Tournament | Montreaux Golf and Country Club | Reno, Nevada |
7/29 – 8/4 | Wyndham Championship | Sedgefield Country Club | Greensboro, North Carolina |
8/5 – 8/11 | THE NORTHERN TRUST | Liberty National Golf Club | Jersey City, New Jersey |
8/12 – 8/18 | BMW Championship | Medinah Country Club (Course No. 3) | Medinah, Illinois |
8/19 – 8/25 | TOUR Championship | East Lake Golf Club | Atlanta, Georgia |
With respect to the early opinions, here are a few.
Writing for PGATour.com, Jim McCabe riffed on discussions with Olin Browne and Joe Durant.
“What caught Browne’s attention was the climactic finish to next season – three consecutive weeks of the FedExCup Playoffs culminating with the TOUR Championship Aug. 22-25. Reducing the FedExCup Playoffs by one and concluding the season before Labor Day and the onrush of football are definitive exclamation points, in Browne’s view, and two former PGA TOUR competitors who helped give shape to the FedExCup Playoffs agree.
“It’s more dynamic, instead of the season petering out like it used to,” said Joe Durant, who was a member of the Policy Board when the FedExCup debuted in 2007. Another Policy Board member was Brad Faxon, who recalls that “we always had the thought to eliminate competing against the NFL when the FedExCup started. This new schedule is good. I think it’s better to have only three playoff events.”
Writing for GolfChannel.com, Rex Hoggard offered praise and approval but cautioned that there will be an adjustment period to the condensed schedule.
“Essentially, the Tour had to shed four weeks off the season to move out of football’s shadow. Losing the Boston playoff event and the post-season “bye” week was half the bill. The Houston Open was relocated to the fall portion of the schedule, and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was replaced by an existing event in Memphis.
“If that all sounds clean and easy, consider that the run up to the post-season will now feature a major (The Open), a World Golf Championship (Memphis) and the Wyndham Championship. Including the three playoff stops, that’s five must-play events in a six-week window.
How this congestion impacts events like Bay Hill or the AT&T Byron Nelson, which will now be played the week before the PGA Championship, remains to be seen, but there will be tough choices made.
“Consider the RBC Canadian Open, which has been mired in a post-Open Championship vortex, will now be played the week before the U.S. Open. Depending on where the American championship is played, the move could give the field in Canada a boost, but it’s hard to imagine how it’s going to lead to long-term improvements.”
ESPN’s Bob Harig praised moving the PGA Championship to May, however, he worries that given the host venues and time of year for that tournament, weather and conditioning could be problems. He praised wrapping the Playoffs before the NFL season begins, and also said, “golf-mad markets in Minneapolis and Detroit are rewarded with PGA Tour events, the Canadian Open moves off a tough date after The Open, the WGC event in Akron loses a sponsor in Bridgestone but picks up a big one in FedEx.”
Those are a few thoughts from long-serving scribes. What do you think about the new schedule, GolfWRX members?
- LIKE11
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB1
- SHANK4
News
Morning 9: Tiger confirms playing schedule | Player: This caused Tiger’s downfall
|
- LIKE1
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL1
- IDHT1
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
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.
- LIKE10
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
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.
- LIKE16
- LEGIT10
- WOW3
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP3
- OB0
- SHANK4
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Brandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
-
19th Hole1 week ago
LET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you
-
Equipment3 weeks ago
Jason Day on his recent switch into Srixon ZX5 and ZX7 Mk II irons
Bryan from Boston
Jul 10, 2018 at 11:04 am
RIP TPC Boston. I’ll certainly spend some extra time to enjoy it this year. Cutting that tournament out of the schedule makes me sad because I love going to it, and love watching the other rounds that weekend. The Monday finish was always great too.
3PuttPar
Jul 10, 2018 at 4:03 pm
Agreed…I had a chance to play TPC Boston about a month ago and loved it. I’ve been to the tournament twice and once I found out it was most likely going to get the boot on the new schedule I made sure I got tickets this year. I’ll miss that tournament. Looks like we’ll be making the drive to CT for the Traveler’s.
Konklifer
Jul 11, 2018 at 9:32 am
As of now, TPC Boston and Liberty National will be alternating. Northern Trust will sponsor at TPC Boston in 2020.