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3w ago

Koepka Leads as Scheffler Begins Title Defense on Revamped TPC Craig Ranch

A tougher, Lanny Wadkins redesign and the PGA Tour’s preferred-lies ruling are changing scoring and strategy at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson this week.

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May 17, 2026; Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA; Scottie Scheffler hits on the sixth hole during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • Brooks Koepka fired an 8-under 63 to take the clubhouse lead after Round 1 on Thursday while defending champion Scottie Scheffler opened with a 5-under 66 and sits three shots back.
  • The PGA Tour allowed preferred lies for Round 1 because recent rain left fairways saturated, a ruling that gives players cleaner contact from the turf and can encourage more aggressive approach shots.
  • Players say the Lanny Wadkins-led redesign added contouring to the new bentgrass greens and repositioned bunkers to make TPC Craig Ranch a more demanding test around the greens.
  • Several expected contenders, including Rory McIlroy, Aaron Rai and Cameron Young, skipped the event after the PGA Championship, leaving a thinner top end to the field and changing weekend outlooks.
  • The CJ Cup Byron Nelson carries a $10.3 million purse with 500 FedExCup points for the winner and the course changes were explicitly intended to curb the extreme low scoring seen during Scheffler’s 31-under title run last year.