News
Tour Rundown: Gold to Korda, Memphis is Ancer to his prayers
The Olympic flame in Tokyo was extinguished on Sunday, but the golf fires burned brightly across the globe. A U.S. Women’s Amateur champion was crowned, and a unique format played out at the Ladies European Tour’s Spain event. The WGC-FedEx took place in Memphis, and Utah hosted the Korn Ferry Tour. Finally, the cradle of golf hosted the European Tour, but it wasn’t the Old Course that took center stage.
There are seven events to run down as August hits its stride. Have a tour with us as we look back on the first week of the year’s eighth month.
Olympic Games: Gold to Korda
Is there much more to write this year about Nelly Korda? In June, she won twice, including her first professional major, the PGA Championship. In August, the USA native claimed her second major title at Kasumigaseki, winning gold by a stroke over Mone Imani of Japan and Lydia Ko of New Zealand. In the playoff, Imani defeated Ko for the second spot on the podium. For Imani, the silver medal was a huge achievement in front of the home crowd. For Ko, the bronze was her second, as she claimed that same medal in Rio in 2016. Kudos to them, now let’s talk about the top of the podium.
The competition all week was fierce. Aditi Ashok fired 68 on day four and dropped from medal contention to fourth. Korda had 69 on day four and only a 72nd-hole bogey by Imani kept Korda out of a playoff. On day two, Nelly nearly posted 59, but a double at the last dropped her to 62. Although it was a reality check, it was not what she needed at that moment. For the first time in 36 holes, she was vulnerable. Her matching 69s got the deal one, but the Korda we saw over the second half was not the lightning bolt that snatched a massive, halfway lead.
And that’s what makes the Olympic games more than a major title. That’s why Korda has two majors and Xander Schauffele has one on the men’s side. You represent your country, and you are only one of 60 golfers in the tournament. Everything about the event is different, and it happens once every four years. Knowing that she was playing for an entire country Korda (and Imani, and Ko) found the necessary focus to complete the task at hand. Beyond third, there were no paying spots. If that’s not major pressure, I don’t know what is.
The putt that put @NellyKorda back on top ?
She leads by one at #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/mgk0nHzgf9
— LPGA (@LPGA) August 7, 2021
WGC: Memphis is Ancer to his prayers
The WGC-FedEx St. Jude event in Memphis had its swan song this year; it will be reborn and rebranded as a FedEx Cup playoff event in 2022. Probably the same course, but how could you possibly replicate the drama of 2021. Turns out that the course is not the easiest on which to seal anything. Just ask Harris English. The toast of the town all week, English came to the tenth tee with a healthy lead on Sunday. The U Georgia alum made double bogey at the 11th and 14th, yet still found himself in a tie for the lead. It didn’t last long, as he chopped his way up the 16th hole and made bogey at the par five. English finished one shot out of a playoff.
Just ask Cameron Smith, who stood on the 18th tee in a tie for first, and left the green in a tie for fifth. One wayward drive, one dumped recovery, one penalty stroke, one stiff wedge, and one putt added up to six, and the magic of the mullet was gone. Time for a trim, Smithy. So who was left? Guys who finished early and low, with nothing to lose. Hideki Matsuyama finished 64-63 to reach the playoff and lose. Sam Burns had 64 on Friday and Sunday, made the playoff, but once again came oh-so-close to his second win. The laurel wreath belongs to Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, who went super low on Friday with 62, then followed with 67 and 68 to reach the magic 16-under par figure. After Matsu, Burns and Ancer made par at the 18th, Ancer and Burns hit it close the second time through. Ancer went first, hit all of the hole, and drained. Burns putted next, caught 75% of the cup, and spun out to extend the playoff.
The putt that gave @Abraham_Ancer his first TOUR victory. ? pic.twitter.com/fuPgaBzOaU
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 8, 2021
USGA: Women’s Amateur belongs to woman in high Castle
If you like the back-and-forth of match play, the title tilt between Yu-Chiang Hou of Chinese Taipei and the University of Arizona, and Jensen Castle of South Carolina and the University of Kentucky was all that. 20 of the 35 holes played were won by one of the two finalists. Castle got to two-up after 11, but Hou wont the next two to square the match. Hou stood at two-up after the morning round, but Castle won three of four to start the afternoon 18 and take a lead of her own. Her lead reached three holes with seven to play. Hou won three of those, but Jensen won two of her own. In the end, the match stood 2 & 1, in favor of Jensen Castle.
Queen of the castle!@jensen_castle's #USWomensAm ? winning effort is the @Lexus Top Performance of the Day. pic.twitter.com/N3hGvuYbGb
— USGA (@USGA) August 8, 2021
Korn Ferry Tour: Creel creeps past everyone for Utah Championship
Joshua Creel likes those KF Tour events with state names in the title. Not long after a second place finish in the Maine Open, Creel snuck past a host of players with an inward 31. His 65-64 weekend brought him past the Sunday surfer, Hayden Buckley, whose 61 looked for all the world a winner. Buckley had 29 on his inward half, and that included a bogey at the 10th! Five subsequent birdies and an eagle brought him to 22-under par, ultimately worth a tie for 2nd with Peter Uihlein and Taylor Montgomery.
It was Creel and his clean, Sunday card that finished off the competition. Seven birdies against eleven pars meant 34 holes without a bogey to close the event. His thirty-feet putt for three at the last was deadly, and elicited a double pump-growl from the champion. The effort effectively eliminated his final pursuers.
10th year as a pro.
First #KornFerryTour title.@Josh_Creel_Golf embraces the moment @UTChampionship! ? pic.twitter.com/Nc1MdU58gK— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 8, 2021
Ladies European Tour: Alison Lee secures first individual title as a professional
The Aramco team series has quietly worked its way into relevance, for a number of reasons. The events take place in London, Spain’s Costa del Sol, New York, and Jedda. They combine a four-golfer team event with an individual competition. In the team event, three professionals partner one amateur for four rounds. At Sotogrande’s Reserva Club, the Ashleigh Buhai brigade bested the Linnea Strom squad, after both quadrilaterals tied at 35-under par. In the playoff, Buhai’s par overcame Strom’s bogey.
In the individual event, the USA’s Alison Lee hoisted a professional trophy for the first time. After opening with matching 65s, Lee carried a seven-shot advantage into the final day. Her closing 71 was enough to hold off Buhai, attempting to earn the impressive indy-team double conquest. Buhai closed with 68 to finish five back, at 10-under par. Third place belonged to Germany’s Karolin Lampert, three back of Buhai at minus-seven.
Unbelievable scenes.
Incredible shot by @stacybregman to put Team Buhai on -35 ?#RaiseOurGame | #BringTheEnergy pic.twitter.com/SDPGt68cLV
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) August 7, 2021
European Tour: Hero Open lost in the Forrest
The top five of the Hero Open at Fairmont St. Andrews was 60% Scottish and, fortunately enough for the home crowd, a Scot claimed the title. Grant Forrest followed his Saturday 62 with a Sunday 66, and edged England’s James Morrison by one. Morrison had nine birdies on day four, including one at the par-five closer. He needed ten of them to match Forrest’s 62 and catch the frontrunner. To his credit, Forrest closed with grit and determination. After bogey at 16 dropped him out of the lead, he harvested birdie at the two closing holes to regain the top spot. The victory was Forrest’s first on the European Tour.
The moment @grantforrest93 became a winner on the European Tour ?#HeroOpen pic.twitter.com/sSJUbCksnY
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) August 8, 2021
PGA Tour: OOOHHH, Van Rooyen at Barracuda Championship
It’s a true shame that the Barracuda Championship’s format often gets lost as an alternate-field event. Any time the opportunity to gain lots of points with one shot is available, things get exciting. Adam Schenk knows all about it. After earning 30 point total in rounds two and three to take the lead, Schenk struggled to a meager five points on Sunday and finished fourth. Andrew Putnam stood on the fifth tee with 11 points already in his pocket. His three birdie-one eagle start got him to the top of the leaderboard. From that point on, Putnam played like Schenk, which wasn’t good enough for either of them.
So which of the competitors got the job done? Try South Africa’s Erik Van Rooyen. The jogger-wearing, guitar-strumming Springbok made six birdies and an eagle against one bogey, garnered 16 points on the day, and won by five points over Putnam. The win was EVR’s first on this side of the Atlantic.
Thank you, tree.
Sincerely,@FredVR_ pic.twitter.com/Y6ePdp3Emb
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 9, 2021
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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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