Connect with us

News

Phil Mickelson: Playing courses like Le Golf National “is a waste of my time”

Published

on

After lighting up the Safeway Open on Thursday afternoon with a round of 65, Phil Mickelson gave an interesting interview after finishing his round. While discussing his impressive opening round of seven-under par around Silverado Country Club, Mickelson talked about his experience at last week’s Ryder Cup and the course itself, Le Golf National. When questioned about the bitter fallout that continues to rumble on from the U.S. camp, Mickelson described the team unity of the American side last week as “one of the best weeks of team unity that he’s seen from a U.S. side”.

Mickelson also commented on Le Golf National, and how it’s a golf course that “is a waste of time my time to play”. When asked directly about the struggles of the U.S. side at the host course of last week’s Ryder Cup, Mickelson stated:

“The fact is that they had brutal rough, almost unplayable, and it’s not the way I play. Here (Silverado CC), I can miss some fairways, and it’s playable. I’m 48; I’m not going to play tournaments with rough like that anymore, it’s a waste of my time. I’m going to play courses that are playable and that I can play aggressive, attacking, make a lot of birdies style of golf that I like to play.”

Mickelson’s performance at Le Golf National last week certainly supports his claim that golf courses that set up with tight fairways and thick rough are a waste of his time to play, but his comments are sure to raise some serious questions over what exactly he was doing in Paris for the 2018 Ryder Cup. Captain Jim Furyk came under attack for some of the decisions he made last week in Paris, and as a captains pick Mickelson’s comments about his inability to play courses such as Le Golf National is sure to add more fuel to that particular fire. Mickelson’s statements also bring up the question mark of his own preparation and knowledge of Le Golf National, and if it was even right on his part to accept his captain’s pick.

What do you make of Mickelson’s comments?

Your Reaction?
  • 122
  • LEGIT38
  • WOW21
  • LOL36
  • IDHT3
  • FLOP32
  • OB22
  • SHANK592

Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

55 Comments

55 Comments

  1. Stephen Donaght

    Oct 22, 2018 at 10:21 am

    We play the ball as it lies and the course in front of us, that is part of the unique nature of golf. All courses are different and we all have setups and styles we prefer. But it is as much a mental game as a physical one. You need the mental acuity to choose the right shot and the self discipline to deal with the consequences when it doesn’t turn out as planned. It seems to me that Phil no longer has the burning desire to discipline himself to the demands of the course.

    I am sure he will make a killing on the Champions Tour though.

  2. Simms

    Oct 17, 2018 at 2:29 pm

    A player considered “A Great Player” would fit his game to the course, Ten thousand golf instructors out there would tell you sometimes a driver or even a wood off the tee is not the right club. Us poor amateur hackers are hitting 3 woods and 3,4 irons into par 4 greens from our 180 yard drives in the fairways everyday….so sad if a pro is upset because he does not have a wage from 150 on a 480 yard par 4…..I loved that set up for this years rider cup, made a 240 yard drive in the fairway a plus over the 320 yard drive in the ruff.

  3. dixiedoc

    Oct 17, 2018 at 11:32 am

    Well he proves it once again, Phil is all about Phil. Please don’t show up at any more Rider Cups.

    • David Lehmann

      Oct 19, 2018 at 12:36 pm

      What is a “Rider” Cup?

      • David LehmannTheJack4ss

        Oct 24, 2018 at 1:21 pm

        The one where 2 teams take turns riding David’s mum

  4. kevin

    Oct 9, 2018 at 3:44 pm

    his arrogance continues to shine.

  5. AggOwl

    Oct 8, 2018 at 6:09 pm

    Mickelson and woods were both picked because they increase the viewership which sells more advertising which means more profit to the networks who bought the broadcasting rights. It’s that simple. Neither of them were going to refuse an offer to play and piss off all of the sponsors.

    This sport is a business like any other professional sport. It’s all driven by sponsors dollars and selling advertising.

    That is the only reason they were picked. Which means this team was sold to the highest bidder.

    • Christopher Hansen

      Oct 8, 2018 at 8:22 pm

      Amen.

    • Tim

      Oct 13, 2018 at 11:48 pm

      yup!

    • Ev

      Oct 19, 2018 at 6:34 am

      Sorry but you’re wrong. Woods was close to winning 2 majors and also won the Tour Championship beating the top 30 players in the world.

      • Gurt

        Oct 21, 2018 at 1:33 pm

        Woods is never any good at Matchplay. It’s no solid comparison.

        • U_Who

          Oct 25, 2018 at 1:54 am

          Bull… he won US Am 3 years in a row !!!

          • John

            Nov 2, 2018 at 3:36 pm

            The difference is the Ryder Cup is a team event and Woods is all about himself.

      • AggOwl

        Nov 5, 2018 at 7:58 am

        He had some success, yes. Not a slam to Woods, just a fact niether he or Mickelson would have been picked were it not for sponsor pressure.

        Tiger undoubtedly was the greatest player in the game at one time. He is the best thing that ever happened to the business of golf but the worst thing that ever happened to the game of golf.

  6. Aaron

    Oct 8, 2018 at 4:46 pm

    I thought picking him was a bad choice based just on his US Open ‘shenanigans’ aka cheating. A shame to see him live up to exactly that performance, guess we should have believed him the first time.

  7. Mike

    Oct 8, 2018 at 4:04 pm

    More sour grapes from a man at the end of his career. Hasn’t changed from the time he was so critical of the great Tom Watson. Beginning to sound like he is the problem in the team!

  8. Jack Nash

    Oct 8, 2018 at 3:43 pm

    So is your Cup record. When you’re in the trees a lot it’s hard to see the greens. You’ll still get great sponsorship though.

  9. Mike Barnard

    Oct 8, 2018 at 2:14 pm

    Tragic chat from Phil. One trick pony from now on. Disrespectful to his Captain, teammates and fans. I thought all top pros could hit the ball relatively long and fairly straight … it’s what they do for a job?? You get the odd genius of Seve who was wild off the tee and ( like Phil ) has a mercurial short game , but you would NEVER have heard Seve talk like that. Totally tragic comments.

  10. joro

    Oct 8, 2018 at 1:17 pm

    Well Phil, you could have dropped out and let somebody who wanted to win play. Face it, you and Tiger are RC losers. I have pulled for you every time you compete since your career started only to be disappointed by your pathetic finishes. You always seem to Phuque it up somehow thinking you can still play like you used to and of course you won’t change anything that people toll you, stubborn is the word. So do I not wast My time pulling for you, or are you going to wake up and adjust so you can win again, you can do it you know, just take your head out of your rear and adjust. And i would suggest you start listening to what Butch is telling you, he is right. I wish you good luck in the future.

  11. Tom54

    Oct 8, 2018 at 1:07 pm

    Hard to believe a player with his talents never learned a swing that would eliminate one side of the course. Seems all his career he found both sides of deep rough. The fact that he nearly won so many US Opens is a testament of his great short game. If he would just face up to needing to hit it straighter instead of fussing about the course setup he might come across a little better. Maybe he should try a shorter shaft in the driver.Not that I was gonna watch,but he needs to get better if he thinks he even has a prayer against Tiger in their upcoming match.

    • Tim

      Oct 13, 2018 at 11:53 pm

      with the phil vs tiger match, i think they are going to add some dimension to it. If it were straight match play or stroke play tiger might be up 5 after 7-8 holes and the ratings would drop. i think there will be something weird that will be applied.

  12. Kevin Kelly

    Oct 8, 2018 at 1:00 pm

    Let me write directly (lol) to Phil I listened to and read this account of your comments. You’re right and I agree with you 100%. You should have declined the team offer (since you were picked) because of what you’ve so eloquently described and shared. You were absolutely the worst “horses for course” pick in history of Ryder Cup. And I love watching you play ( was 75 yards away when you the behind the tree off the pinestraw shot and your not so high jump Masters wind!” You should have been gentleman enough at this stage if life to proudly Thank Jim for the offer and then politely declined. Thanks for reading, Respectfully

    Btw Nice article, well written and on point young man.

  13. Timothy

    Oct 8, 2018 at 12:56 pm

    I cheer for individual players rather than US or European ,so I’m not biased that way, but I thought the course was ridiculous. I kept looking for windmills, water slides and rubber ducks. Oh well, these choices are all about money and politics.

  14. Tom

    Oct 8, 2018 at 12:36 pm

    Phi stop being a ???? crybaby. You’re paid big bucks , so stuff it and admit you were beaten far and square.

  15. Me

    Oct 8, 2018 at 12:33 pm

    Mickelson needs to take a couple years off and try to reinvent himself for the Champions tour.

    In the meantime he could work on his NFL picks and insider trading investments.

  16. Funkaholic

    Oct 8, 2018 at 11:22 am

    In other words “I am a big baby and will only play in pristine conditions because I am not, nor have I ever been, up to a challenge.” Phil wants his rough like my fairways, his tee box like my greens and his hazards totally out of play.

  17. Bert Gwaltney

    Oct 7, 2018 at 5:52 pm

    Sad day again for Phil, US Open Rules fiasco, now condemning a course he could not handle, nor could the team, but the Euro’s could. Basically I’m not sure Phil could handle any course that required accuracy, especially driver accuracy.

    Was a favorite but have lost respect for him and any comments he would make. Hopefully we won’t suffer from his Captaincy.

  18. T-Bone

    Oct 7, 2018 at 12:38 pm

    So does this mean he’s not going to play in the US Open anymore?

  19. Shane Ingram

    Oct 6, 2018 at 11:18 am

    Isn’t it more relevant that Phil wasted the US team and its supporters time in energy and resources in an event where he wasn’t going to contribute but someone else would have had a much better chance? Or is it about Phil and not the team?

    • larrybud

      Oct 6, 2018 at 3:00 pm

      Gees Phil, you should have said something sooner. You knew how the course was going to be set up.

      • Alvaro

        Oct 8, 2018 at 2:09 pm

        Maybe he didn’t. It looked like he didn’t care at all.

  20. Tom Duckworth

    Oct 6, 2018 at 10:43 am

    A very poor comment from Phil. He should have bowed out and Jim should have focused on players that fit that course.
    Isn’t golf about adapting to be course to shoot a good score. Maybe distance isn’t the problem on tour it’s wide fairways with light
    rough. I don’t watch golf on TV to see how far they can drive I watch to see good golf but I guess that’s what thePGA thinks we want.
    They have created their own problem by setting up courses for long wild bombers. They too often give in to whining golfers that want the course to play easy so they can play “birdie ” golf whatever that is.

  21. drbopperthp

    Oct 6, 2018 at 10:15 am

    Vijay Singh told you all about Mr. FIGJAM a long time ago. But you didn’t want to listen. So now you know.

  22. ND Hickman

    Oct 6, 2018 at 9:29 am

    He just turned up to do his high kick in the team room.

  23. JP

    Oct 5, 2018 at 11:41 pm

    Tiger just sent Shadow Creek GC a bunch of money to start watering the rough and to stop cutting it.

  24. Terry

    Oct 5, 2018 at 10:14 pm

    Losing respect for Phil and his antics/comments over the past year. What a shmuck

  25. Johnny Penso

    Oct 5, 2018 at 9:36 pm

    Funny how people hail Patrick Reed and his family as a heros for airing their grievances in public but Phil is fat and lazy for doing the same thing…lol.

  26. Tom

    Oct 5, 2018 at 7:49 pm

    Maybe he could run after his ball if it is heading toward the rough and hit it while its moving like he did in the US Open?

  27. Tom

    Oct 5, 2018 at 7:47 pm

    Watching Phil play Tiger on Thanksgiving would be a big waste of viewers time and money (pay-for-view). When the going gets “rough” Phil evidently quits?

  28. Red

    Oct 5, 2018 at 7:05 pm

    Phil, if this was such a waste of your time, why did you not spare Jim Furyk from wasting his wild card on you?
    If you’d have checked earlier, you’d have realised that the course is not your super-wide fairway that supports your play.
    So, instead of telling Furyk that you are not fit for playing there, you still do, just so you can get on the record books?
    Great sense of what a team needs you have there 🙂

  29. Kim Hay

    Oct 5, 2018 at 6:17 pm

    OK, Phil, do not enter any more US Opens which have tight fairways and rough. You totally exaggerated the width of the fairways in Paris, not 14-16 yards wide as you stated, more like 20 to 40 yards. You have acted poorly this year, gross rules infraction and now slagging a venue that was more like a USA style course than a European style course. How about showing some humility, you were not prepared, did not play well and are now looking for excuses. Definitely falling down the respect ladder and not being a very good example for the many fans who enjoy watching you play.

  30. rex235

    Oct 5, 2018 at 5:47 pm

    So-

    Phil Mickelson’s last shot in a Ryder Cup event will be a tee shot in the water (eau)?

    Do not despair! The PGA will offer him a Captaincy…in the US-

    Then again…

  31. Joeg Voll

    Oct 5, 2018 at 4:53 pm

    Wow? I consider myself to be quite a fan of Phil’s, but he lost quite a bit of my respect with this comment! (Not that it matters.) YOU SHOULD’VE DECLINED THE INVITATION THEN PHIL! IF PLAYING A COURSE LIKE THIS, is a waste of your time, then let 1 of the young guys take your place! How was the courses rough unfair??? The Europeans didn’t seem to mind, while they were waxing your @ss up and down the fairways! I wish I could add some colorful 4-letter expletives, to match my real feelings about PM’s comments! Hey Phil, maybe if you practiced keeping the ball in the fairways, instead of “dancing” like CP30 in need of a lube job, you could’ve actually contributed something in the Ryder Cup???

    • Luke Skywhacker

      Oct 5, 2018 at 6:17 pm

      C-3PO

    • Scheiss

      Oct 5, 2018 at 6:18 pm

      They were all there to visit Paris and Versailles with their respective WAGS. That’s why they didn’t decline to play.

  32. Vas

    Oct 5, 2018 at 4:48 pm

    He’s totally right… but I’m sure Xander Schauffele would have liked that spot.

  33. Thomas

    Oct 5, 2018 at 4:46 pm

    If this is the case, why didn’t Phil scout the course before the event and tell Captain Furyk NOT to pick him? I’m sure he ego wouldn’t allow that!

  34. Anthony B

    Oct 5, 2018 at 3:26 pm

    They hit lots of fairways on the Senior Tour Phil. In the meantime, betting on Mickelson for the Players, US Open or the British Open would be a ‘waste of my time’.

  35. Pete O'Tube

    Oct 5, 2018 at 3:04 pm

    So in future Mickleson will only play on courses with no hazards, no rough and no challenge. You’re a fat, lazy waste of time. Get some backbone and test yourself, see how good you can be if you hit it STRAIGHT. Pathetic response from a has-been.

  36. Paul stocks

    Oct 5, 2018 at 2:17 pm

    Absolute arrogance as usual from the Americans

    Why didn’t he play it in advance like Justin Thomas,why did furyk pick him ,both teams had to play the same course,,and the fact he said it’s the best team spirit he’s ever been in is the most worrying thing.

    • GolfGolfGolf

      Oct 6, 2018 at 6:50 am

      *American. Don’t generalize

    • Funkaholic

      Oct 8, 2018 at 11:27 am

      Ridiculous generalization, Phil is not all “Americans”, most of us don’t respect him and his antics. Typical, smug, uninformed European.

      • Meroo

        Oct 9, 2018 at 4:02 am

        Hey Funk,then you proceed to generalise about Euro’s. Hypocrite much?

  37. William Davis

    Oct 5, 2018 at 1:43 pm

    He really should learn not to make comments like this. Makes him look very silly – again.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

News

Morning 9: Tiger confirms playing schedule | Player: This caused Tiger’s downfall

Published

on

By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Thursday morning, golf fans, as day one of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson gets underway.

1. Woods confirms he plans to play 1x monthly, remaining 3 majors

ESPN report…”Woods, appearing on the “Today” show Wednesday morning, said he is still following the calendar he mapped out before the season began. But physical limitations continue to give the 15-time major winner pause.”

  • “He completed the Masters last month but requires a “cold plunge every day, religiously” to get his body going and was “extremely sore” when he left Augusta National. Woods shot a 16-over 304 at the Masters and finished last among the 60 golfers who made the 36-hole cut.”
  • “I have basically the next three months — three majors — and hopefully that works out,” said Woods, who last won a major in 2019.
  • “Up next is the PGA Championship at Valhalla in two weeks. The U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 begins June 13, and the Open Championship at Royal Troon in Scotland begins July 18. Woods has not played all four majors in a year since 2019.”
Full piece.

2. Tiger on origin of red-and-black Sunday outfit

Ben Morse for CNN…”…speaking on Tuesday’s edition of ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,’ the 48-year-old said his mother Kultida was key to him wearing the now-iconic red and black combination.”

  • “My mom thought, being a Capricorn, that [red] was my power color, or some BS thing like that, so I end up wearing red and end up winning some golf tournaments,” the 15-time major winner told Fallon. “And then to spite her, I wore blue, and I did not win those tournaments. So Mom is always right.”
  • “Woods’ mother was clearly was onto something as her son would go onto win a record-equaling 82 PGA Tour tournaments.”
Full piece.

3. Gary Player’s take on Tiger’s downfall

Our Matt Vincenzi…”While speaking with KW Golf, golf legend Gary Player said that he believes swing coaches ruined the career of Tiger Woods.”

  • “The US Open at Pebble Beach, he won by 15 shots. You know what that’s like? It’s like running the 100 meters in seven seconds. The next week, he’s having a lesson from a man who, I don’t think, if he played in the Masters, could break 80.”
  • “And then he goes to another guy who couldn’t probably break 85 in the Masters with the pressure, or the British Open or the PGA on the final day. And he’s having lessons from them.”
  • “Why did Tiger do that? He was so good, but I understand he wanted to get better,” Player went on. “If he had just gone along and never changed, he would have won at least 22.. He would’ve gone down as the greatest athlete the world has ever seen.”
  • In 2008, Woods had won 14 majors and was 33 years old. It would take him eleven years to win his 15th at the 2019 Masters.
Full piece.

4. Open winner: I used to hate links golf

Peter Scrivener for the BBC…”However, he did recall his chastening links golf baptism at neighbouring Prestwick, which hosted the inaugural Open in 1860.”

  • “The first time I played links golf I hated it – it ate me to pieces,” said the 37-year-old, who lost all four of his matches as Europe thrashed the United States in the 2006 Palmer Cup.
  • “I kept trying to hit lob wedges around the greens and the weather was bad. I got whipped, lost all of my matches.”
Full piece.

5. Why Tiger’s daughter doesn’t like golf

Our Matt Vincenzi…”While Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, has certainly inherited his father’s love for golf, his daughter, Sam, has not.”

  • “On Wednesday, Tiger made an appearance on The Today Show with Carson Daly and explained his daughter’s relationship with golf.”
  • “Golf has negative connotations for her. When she was growing up, golf took daddy away from her. I had to pack, I had to leave, and I was gone for weeks. So, there were negative connotations to it.
  • “We developed our own relationship and our own rapport outside of golf. We do things that doesn’t involve golf. Meanwhile, my son and I, everything we do is golf related.”
Full piece.

6. Spieth hits ‘reset button’

Mark Schlabach for ESPN…”PGA Tour star Jordan Spieth isn’t happy that he’s not playing as well as his longtime friend Scottie Scheffler, but he’s hoping to use the world No. 1 golfer’s success as inspiration.”

  • “Spieth, a three-time major championship winner, said he used last week as a reset after a so-so start to the 2024 season. He has three top-10 finishes in 10 starts but had a disqualification and three missed cuts, including at The Players and Masters, in his past seven.”
  • “He is hoping to turn things around, starting at The CJ Cup Bryon Nelson, which tees off Thursday at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.”
  • “I think I kind of wanted to hit the reset button this last week and I took more days off than I usually do,” Spieth told reporters Wednesday. “Got a little burned out trying to find stuff. I wanted to take some time off, clear my mind, and then get back to it.
  • “… Kind of looking at this as kind of a restart. I haven’t had the year I wanted to have after getting off to a pretty optimistic start in Hawaii. I feel really good about the work I put in since the weekend into the few days this week, so I believe that I’m really close to some great things.”
Full piece.

7. Photos from the CJ Cup Byron Nelson

  • Check out all of our galleries from this week’s event!
Full Piece.
Your Reaction?
  • 1
  • LEGIT0
  • WOW0
  • LOL1
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK1

Continue Reading

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Published

on

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.

 

 

Your Reaction?
  • 10
  • LEGIT0
  • WOW0
  • LOL0
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK1

Continue Reading

News

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

Published

on

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.

Your Reaction?
  • 16
  • LEGIT10
  • WOW3
  • LOL0
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP3
  • OB0
  • SHANK4

Continue Reading

WITB

Facebook

Trending