The PGA Tour season continues with the rebranded CJ Cup Byron Nelson, which takes place at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, for the third consecutive season.
With the Wells Fargo Championship and the US PGA Championship both on the horizon, the Byron Nelson has attracted a less-than-stellar field although local hero Jordan Spieth adds a touch of star quality in his home event.
Spieth, who finished 16th on his PGA Tour debut in the 2010 Byron Nelson as a 16-year-old, has been searching for top form in recent weeks and he returns to Texas on the back of a run of one top-ten finish from his last seven starts.
Craig Ranch is a vast layout which has proved easy pickings for PGA Tour professionals with winning scores of 25, 26 and 23 under par for the last three editions. The wide-open fairways lessen the need for accuracy off the tee, with the onus on accurate approach shots.
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Si Woo Kim to win & each-way @ 16/1
Si Woo Kim has been well supported in the market for the 2024 Byron Nelson and it’s not hard to see why given the South Korean’s rock-solid form in the build-up to this event.
Kim has been ultra-consistent in elite events, finishing outside the top 30 in just two of his 11 PGA Tour starts this year, striking the ball superbly both off the tee and on approach.
The 28-year-old Seoul man has proven he has what it takes to win on the PGA Tour, having bagged four previous titles, three of which came with winning totals of 18 under or lower.
Kim came within touching distance of his fifth victory in this event last season, shooting a final-round 63 to finish runner-up behind Jason Day, and there’s every chance he can go one better this time around.
Adam Scott to win & each-way @ 25/1
Australian ace Day bagged this title last season for the second time and his compatriot Adam Scott could do likewise having first won the Byron Nelson in 2008.
The 43-year-old former world no.1 is not quite the force of old but he’s enjoying a solid year having chalked up form figures of 20-8-19-MC-45-14-22 on the PGA Tour, playing almost exclusively in stronger events than this.
His most recent performance – 22nd at the Masters – was underpinned by solid iron play and a similar effort could see Scott improve on last season’s eighth-place finish.
Kyoung-hoon Lee to win & each-way @ 50/1
Kyoung-hoon Lee fell in love with Craig Ranch in 2021, winning the Byron Nelson by three strokes and he successfully defended the title the following season with a one-shot triumph over Spieth when the entire crowd was against him.
The Korean comes alive in McKinney and his performances this season suggest a hat-trick can not be ruled out.
Lee has often been outclassed in more competitive events but he was fourth at the Cognizant Classic and ninth at the Valspar in March, then he warmed up for his favourite tournament by finishing 11th alongside Michael Kim in last week’s Zurich Classic pairs event.
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