The PGA Tour season continues this week with the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, which takes place at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, for the fourth consecutive season.
Craig Ranch, a wide-open track which hosted tournaments on the Korn Ferry Tour before becoming a PGA Tour venue, has proved a straightforward test for the top-tier stars with winning scores of 25, 26 and 23 under par over the last three seasons.
Jason Day triumphed last season while South Korea's Kyoung-hoon Lee claimed his two PGA Tour titles in the two previous editions.
With the latest Signature event - the Wells Fargo Championship - taking place next week and the US PGA Championship just a fortnight away, most of the big guns have decided to forego the Byron Nelson, although Texas native Jordan Spieth is an exception.
Spieth, who debuted in this event as a 16-year-old in 2010, would dearly love to win on home turf this week but the three-time Major champion has been struggling for form and is hard to trust despite his status as favourite.
- SI WOO KIM TO WIN EACH-WAY
- ADAM SCOTT TO WIN EACH-WAY
- KYOUNG-HOON LEE TO WIN EACH-WAY
Consistent Korean To Claim 5th PGA Title
While Spieth could make a mockery of his price if he finds top gear, the best bet for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson could prove to be Si Woo Kim, one of a number of Koreans who will be hoping to take the title in an event now sponsored by the Korean CJ Group.
A four-time PGA Tour winner, Kim has not been a frequent contender this season but he has been churning out solid results, finishing in the top 30 on nine of his 11 starts and generally striking the ball better than he did when runner-up to Day in this event 12 months ago.
Dallas resident Kim finished 18th in elite company at the Heritage last time out and this time he tees it up as one of the strongest performers in a weak Byron Nelson field.
Scott Could Double Up in Texas
An Aussie took this title last season as Day triumphed for the second time and Adam Scott, a Byron Nelson winner in 2008 at a different venue, could emulate his compatriot by doubling up in Texas.
Scott has won four times in Texas. He is comfortable in the Lone Star State, he remains an elite iron-player and his improvement with the putter should allow him to reach the kind of super-low total that will likely be required this week.
Lee Not Ruled Out In Hat-Trick Bid
KH Lee has a remarkable Byron Nelson record and the Korean looks overpriced as he goes in search of a McKinney hat-trick.
The 32-year-0ld Seoul man has posted some excellent results in recent weeks, finishing fourth at the Cognizant Classic and ninth at the Valspar Championship last month. He was also 11th alongside Michael Kim in the Zurich Classic pairs event on Sunday.
KYOUNG-HOON LEE TO WIN & EACH-WAY
