News
TaylorMade to skip 2019 PGA Merchandise Show
The 2019 PGA Merchandise Show will be missing a very familiar face, as TaylorMade has announced that it will not be involved in the annual event. The news will come as a disappointment to many, as TaylorMade had previously created much buzz at the show, often showcasing their new product line with an elaborate exhibition each January at the event. At the 2017 PGAM Show, TaylorMade announced the news that Tiger Woods had signed with TaylorMade.
According to TaylorMade’s CEO, David Abeles, the decision to skip the event next year is due to ongoing investment into growth initiatives that will add value to the game of golf.
“After conversations with TaylorMade Professional Staff members and key leaders within the golf industry, we will be investing into growth initiatives that we believe will create even greater value for the game of golf. As a result of our additional spend, we have decided not to attend the 2019 PGA Merchandise Show.”
Abeles stated how TaylorMade’s lack of involvement in the show based in Orlando will present the opportunity for TaylorMade to invest in the “support of PGA Professionals across the country,” while also acknowledging how the news of TaylorMade’s lack of participation in the PGA show would come as a blow to many.
“While this may be disappointing to some, we hope that you appreciate our excitement to expand our partnership in new ways.”
Not since Acushnet (Titleist, FootJoy) decided to skip the event from 2004-2008 has the PGA Merchandise Show lost such a big name.
See what GolfWRX Members are saying about it in our forums.
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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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Bert Gwaltney
Nov 29, 2018 at 7:13 pm
I remember when Pig said, no thanks, didn’t hurt them at all.
DaveyD
Nov 11, 2018 at 11:51 am
Not really news. They gotta do what they gotta do.
Rich Douglas
Nov 10, 2018 at 8:37 pm
I smell bankruptcy.
Read
Nov 7, 2018 at 11:41 pm
Maybe they can use some of that “saved money” to run a show on the Golf Channel and let some amateur hacks design a driver for them…OR HAS THAT BEEN DONE?
RT
Nov 6, 2018 at 7:51 pm
That is maybe because —- Lack of something that’s really new and different or lack of funding ,or paying out too much for players ???? Either way it doesn’t matter I don’t play their product..
B. Ferguson
Oct 27, 2018 at 8:18 pm
As an Adams fan, pardon my alligator tears . . .
Golf Golf Golf
Oct 25, 2018 at 6:28 am
The show would be time wasted for TM to come out with 5 new models of irons in that week.
bob carroll
Oct 24, 2018 at 10:35 pm
the show originally was for new product that was introduced at the show. before the internet, you had to go to the show to see all the new stuff. it was also a great vacation for the northern pro’s. go to the show, play golf in warm weather and write it all off. now there really is no reason to go unless you live up north.
Garry Pierce
Oct 24, 2018 at 2:55 pm
My experience as a retailer.. Oct is when new products were released and I had the stuff in stock already. By the end of Jan. The “new line” was already 60 days into what I call the 180 main sales period. After that the wow factor is gone. The PGA Show was a “work” vacation I could right off. Half day st the show, 5 days of golf
rymail00
Oct 24, 2018 at 3:38 am
Maybe they are realizing that all $$$ going into the PGA Show just isn’t worth the cost? With social media now a few “leaked pics” on twitter, Instagram etc. Stirs up as much buzz as or even more than stock PGA Show pics. At the show you hear everything about a club, but slow leaks makes people keep checking back in for a just a tiny bit of more details, and again it’s basically free.
Honestly like 5-6 years ago I was so amped for the PGA Show photos etc. but every year that pasts it’s just less and less interesting IMHO.
I’m curious if this will maybe make other large OEM’S start to reconsider spending all this cash that can be done over the internet for free with “leaked pics from pros etc.”
I dont know, just a thought.
Brad
Oct 23, 2018 at 10:37 pm
In other words, money is too tight at TaylorMade for them to attend the show. Given how many pros they are paying on the PGA to play their clubs, and that Adidas offloaded TM last year because of how that business was a drag on their bottom line – this is no big surprise.
The only thing that would surprise me is if TM is NOT bankrupt or put on the block again (for an even lower price) within the next 3-4 years.
Robb
Oct 24, 2018 at 4:44 pm
Their business model has changed significantly since they were acquired last October. If they are sold again it will be for a profit not due to bankruptcy I promise that.
Joseph A Smith
Nov 11, 2018 at 8:37 pm
I see that you think the brand will tank. I disagree. There are a lot of smart people who work there. The PGA show literally costs TM MILLIONS (Plural). All I know is that I wish I had $425 million laying around- I would have jumped at that price. KPS will make them mean and lean and then flip them for double that in 4-6 years. Arguably the strongest tour staff (DJ, Rory, Day, Rahm, Rose (For the time being) and of course TW). They went big with the needle movers and cut back on sponsoring the 237th best player in the world. You know why? Nobody cares what driver that guy is playing. Callaway is top dog right now. That will change. If I were a betting man- Honma is the next brand to take off. Have a good night!
Tom
Oct 23, 2018 at 5:28 pm
Are they going to use the money they are saving by skipping the Show to invest in and promote 10″ diameter cups like a former TM CEO was suggesting to grow the game? hahahaha!
Tom
Oct 23, 2018 at 12:55 pm
Uh Oh, guess we now know how TM’s sales went this year.
WITB Enthusiast
Oct 23, 2018 at 9:06 am
I actually like the thoughts…. “invest in the support of PGA Professionals across the country,” and “the decision to skip the event next year is due to ongoing investment into growth initiatives that will add value to the game of golf.” However, I will just say I’m VERY INTERESTED to see if this investment and growth initiative really add value. Will Taylor Made be putting all of those dollars to work or just saving them. That’s ok too…. maybe just not fully wanting to say they are trying to save money.
Scott
Oct 23, 2018 at 1:00 am
there is a mutual benefit to TM and the club professionals selling the kit to attend the show. This is very shortsighted CFO bean-counting management.
MAPA
Oct 22, 2018 at 10:30 pm
{{{{{{{ OMFG }}}}}}