News
Tour Rundown: And then there were 30
Playoffs are cutthroat. Sahith Theegala made bogey on the 72nd hole this week, after posting birdies on holes 69, 70, and 71. That bogey dropped him from T10 to T15, and cost him a spot in the Tour Championship. One stroke, after all the practice and competition from last October to Sunday. Emiliano Grillo, Tyrrell Hatton, Jordan Spieth, and especially, Sepp Straka, did their best to drop out of the top 30, but somehow, they found a way to secure the 27th to 30th spots, and a berth in the big-money event in Atlanta.
The U.S. Amateur concluded in Colorado, and the simultaneous women/men events in Northern Ireland celebrated two distinct champions. The Korn Ferry and Tour Champions also served up trophies to event winners. Late August is a busy time for golf so, with a tip of the cap to Nick Dunlap, the new U.S. Amateur champion, let’s run down the pros and their results in this week’s Tour Rundown.
PGA Tour @ BMW Championship: Hovland storms back to claim playoff win
Not since Shigeki Maruyama, the smiling assassin, has a golfer grinned in both defeat and victory, as does Viktor Hovland. On Sunday, Hovland came home in 28 strokes, making birdie on all holes but the par threes on the inward half. His 61 jetted him past third-round, co-leaders Matt Fitzpatrick and Scottie Scheffler, and everyone else in the field. After a season of disappointing, final rounds in the PGA Championship and other events, Hovland was able to bury those memories with one stellar scorecard.
Neither Fitzpatrick nor Scheffler played poorly on Sunday, but each had a pair of bogeys that they could ill afford to admit. With Hovland on a tear, it was keep up or settle, and no one could keep up. The tour now moves on to Atlanta, where Hovland will begin the week two shots behind front-runner Scheffler, in the pro-rated Tour Championship.
The moment that sealed the deal.
Viktor Hovland's closing hole @BMWChamps was nothing short of incredible. pic.twitter.com/Jz9cQMpPRZ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 20, 2023
LPGA/LET @ Handa World Invitational: Did anyone see Pano coming?
Imagine that you’re 18 years old, on the cusp of 19, and you’re playing in the Handa World Invitational. Imagine that you post a final-round 66 that includes nine birdies. Imagine that you tie for the top spot with two other golfers, go into a playoff, and ultimately make birdie on the third extra hole to win your first tour title. Welcome to the world of Alexa Pano. The young Floridian eschewed college golf for the professional ranks and this week’s result makes the decision appear justified. Pano began the week with 76, but improved each day, to 70, then 69, before Sunday’s stellar round. She began the day four shots behind England’s Gabriella Cowley, one of the playoff participants. Cowley closed birdie-eagle after a lackluster day, to find herself in overtime with Pano and Germany’s Esther Henseleit. Both Cowley and Pano made birdie at the first extra hole, then battled twice more before Pano ended things with a two-putt.
We have a new solo leader after this from @alexapanogolf on 17 ?#RaiseOurGame | #WorldInvitational pic.twitter.com/hEcfpVijIM
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) August 20, 2023
Korn Ferry Tour @ Magnit Championship: Chan can and did!
Chan Kim did quite a thing this week in New Jersey. Kim began the week in 54th position, 24 spots away from the PGA tour card awarded to the regular season top 30 on the Korn Ferry tour. On Sunday, he played a back-nine, four-hole stretch in five under par to separate from third-round leader Taylor Dickson and secure a Korn Ferry title. With the win, Kim moved up 42 spots, into the top 15. His future got a little brighter, thanks to his brilliant, closing 64 on Sunday. As for Dickson, fate could not have been much crueler. His runner-up finish was enough to elevate him to 31st on the regular-season money list, exactly one spot and 23 season points away from the same tour card. Dickson will have another opportunity to secure a tour card during the three-week playoff run, but he would certainly love to have less pressure as the tour heads to Idaho and the longest-running event in tour history, the Boise Open.
A birdie putt to remember?
Chan Kim fires a 64 to win @MagnitChamp pic.twitter.com/7n5q6jx1ZP
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 20, 2023
DP World Tour @ Handa World Invitational: Mr. Brown is back in town
Daniel Brown played so magnificently through the opening 54 holes, that he found himself in one of golf’s cursed positions: the six-shot advantage with one round to play. For those who remember the 1996 Masters, those sorts of leads are never safe, and in that event, Nick Faldo was the beneficiary of a historic collapse. Alex Fitzpatrick, in a second-spot tie with Wilco Nienaber with one round to play, cut Brown’s lead to two but could get no closer. The younger Fitzpatrick brother has been on a tear the last month and secured a runner-up spot this week in Northern Ireland. After a bit of a blaise start, Brown righted the ship and cruised to a five-shot win. Eddie Pepperell regained form this week and closed with 68 to secure a full podium for England. The tour moves onto the European mainland next week, for the Czech Open.
Back on track. @danbrown212 recovers from three consecutive bogeys with a birdie at the par three 14th to move three clear ?#WorldInvitational pic.twitter.com/jBX2fFDqoR
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) August 20, 2023
PGA Tour Champions @ Shaw Charity: Duke reigns by narrowest of margins
This week on PGA Tour Champions was one for the numerologists. Runners-up Thongchai Jaidee (66-69-62) and Tim Petrovic (62-66-69) posted identical rounds in differing sequences. Champion Ken Duke, one slim shot ahead, signed for 66-64-66. However, there’s always more to the story than statistics, so let’s dive deeper on Duke. PGA Tour Champions is the fourth tour on which Duke has won, and this victory was his first on the second-chances tour. The 54-year-old didn’t go super low, as did his closest pursuers, but he never left the mid-60s, and that made all the difference. On Sunday, Tim Petrovic failed to make birdie on the par-five closer. Jaidee and Duke made four at the last, and if it weren’t for the bogey at 14, Jaidee would have had 61 and a tie at the top. Duke had a pair of bogeys on the outward half, but more than made up for those stumbles with six birdies on the day. The victory moved him from 40th to 21s in the season-long Schwab Cup race, meaning that he might get to extend the season a bit more, come October, assuming his victory celebration didn’t cause any damage!
KEN DUKE BREAKS THROUGH??@DukePGA birdies 18 to win the @ShawClassic, his first career victory on PGA TOUR Champions. pic.twitter.com/iZwMEBh5Wu
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) August 20, 2023
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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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