Overview
- The CJ Cup Byron Nelson is scheduled for May 21-24 at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, and Scottie Scheffler enters as the clear betting favorite to defend his 2025 title.
- Course changes include brand-new greens, repositioned fairway bunkers around the 300-yard mark, and greater exposure to Rowlett Creek, work done expressly to prevent repeat ultra-low winning scores after last year’s 31-under result.
- Rory McIlroy, PGA champion Aaron Rai, and Cameron Young withdrew after the PGA Championship, reducing the event’s top-end depth and reshaping the list of contenders.
- Betting markets and expert models still favor Scheffler, but some analysts are fading him because of recent putting dips and are instead backing approach-oriented players such as Si Woo Kim, Jordan Spieth, and Brooks Koepka or model-driven longshots.
- The tougher layout should reward players who hit precise approach shots and read the new greens well, a shift that could lower winning scores, change who contends for the $10.3 million purse, and increase the value of accurate iron play this week.