Golf Bets and Odds for The CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tournament

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Get ready for some high-stakes golf action as the PGA Tour heads to Dallas for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Dallas' own World No. 1, Scottie Scheffler (+280), is gunning for a win in his adopted hometown. Another local favorite, Jordan Spieth (18-1), is eager to break his three-year tournament drought and claim victory in Big D.

A note on the recent history of Korean players at this event: since the move to TPC Craig Ranch in 2021, Korean contenders like Byeong Hun An (25-1), Sungjae Im (22-1), and Si Woo Kim (30-1) have consistently performed well. Sam Burns (30-1), Scheffler's buddies on the tour, also finished as a runner-up in 2021.

Defending champion Taylor Pendrith (28-1) is back this year to defend his title. Other noteworthy Dallas-area golfers include Will Zalatoris (50-1) and Tom Kim (60-1).

The Event

First contested in 1944 as the Texas Victory Open, this tournament was renamed in honor of its inaugural winner, Byron Nelson. Hosted by The Salesmanship Club of Dallas, it's the PGA Tour's all-time fundraising leader, with proceeds benefiting the Momentous Institute, a youth social services organization based in Dallas. The event has traditionally been played in the Dallas area since its inception. South Korean conglomerate CJ Group took over sponsorship last year, and it previously sponsored the CJ Cup event from 2017 to 2022.

Many golfing legends have won this tournament, with names like Tom Watson, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Phil Mickelson on the roll call of champions. Since the move to TPC Craig Ranch in 2021, potential correlated courses include Vidanta Vallarta, TPC Scottsdale, Black Desert Resort, Detroit Golf Club, TPC Twin Cities, TPC Deere Run, CC of Jackson, and Plantation Course of Kapalua.

This year, the CJ Cup Byron Nelson offers 500 FedEx Cup points, a $9.9 million purse, and the chance to advance to next week's Truist Championship event and the PGA Championship.

The Field

Though the 156-player field for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson is relatively modest due to the schedule synchronized around two majors and two "Signature" events, the list of participants includes:

Front-runners: Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, and defending champion Taylor Pendrith
Korean players: Byeong Hun An, Sungjae Im, and Si Woo Kim
Notable locals: Will Zalatoris and Tom Kim
Top performers: Sam Burns, Stephan Jaeger, Ryo Hisatsune, and Kevin Yu

The Course

The tournament takes place at TPC Craig Ranch, first designed by Tom Weiskopf in 2004. The course is set in a rolling valley, featuring tree-lined fairways and Rowlett Creek, which crosses the course 14 times, making eight water dangers holes. After renovations led by 1973 Byron Nelson winner and Dallas resident Lanny Wadkins, the course will play as a par-71 spanning 7,569 yards – the third-longest course on the tour. This year, the course adds 155 yards to holes No. 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14 due to new tee boxes.

The rough is also modified, changing from Bermuda to Ryegrass and extending to 3.25 inches from last year's 2.5-inch length. Fairways are shifted from bouncier Zoysiagrass to Ryegrass as well. The Bentgrass greens are large (6,778 square feet average) and average speed (11.5 stimpmeter).

TPC Craig Ranch plays eight easy holes and five average holes, making for a relatively straightforward course. Some potential correlated courses to TPC Craig Ranch include Vidanta Vallarta, TPC Scottsdale, Black Desert Resort, Detroit Golf Club, TPC Twin Cities, TPC Deere Run, CC of Jackson, and Plantation Course of Kapalua.

Weather

Be prepared for thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday, as per the AccuWeather forecast.

Key Stat Insights

While 2024 champion Taylor Pendrith was an outlier in terms of Strokes Gained: Approach, the three previous winners at TPC Craig Ranch ranked high for this category. These insights can help inform bettors' decisions:

Strokes Gained: Approach – Average Per Round (2025 PGA Tour Season): Leaders include Henrik Norlander, Scottie Scheffler, Sami Valimaki, Jackson Suber, Tom Kim, Will Zalatoris, Kevin Yu, Nicolai Højgaard, Rico Hoey, and Chan Kim.
Birdie or Better Percentage (2025 PGA Tour Season): Leaders include Cam Davis, Harry Hall, Si Woo Kim, Jesper Svensson, Niklas Norgaard, Sungjae Im, Jake Knapp, Sam Burns, Stephan Jaeger, and Eric van Rooyen.
Average Driving Distance (2025 PGA Tour Season): Top players, ranked by driving distance, include Aldrich Potgieter, Niklas Norgaard, Michael Thorbjornsen, Alejandro Tosti, Kurt Kitayama, Jesper Svensson, Rasmus Højgaard, Gary Woodland, Chris Gotterup, and Trey Mullinax.
Proximity Gained 200+ Yards – Average Yards Per Round (Last 36 rounds): Top players include Rikuya Hoshino, Jackson Suber, Erik van Rooyen, Kurt Kitayama, Thorbjørn Olesen, Brandon Matthews, Jeremy Paul, Nicolai Højgaard, Sami Valimaki, Trace Crowe, Matti Schmid, Nick Hardy, Kris Ventura, Austin Eckroat, Sam Ryder, Kaito Onishi, Cam Davis, Mark Hubbard, and Charlie Phillips.

With easy scoring conditions, focus on elite approach play, birdie making, and consistent performance. Strokes Gained: Putting on Bentgrass is particularly important due to the course's smooth greens.

Prospective Picks

Sam Burns (30-1, DraftKings)

Finished runner-up in the 2021 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, ranking highest in the field for Strokes Gained: Tee-To-Green in his second-place finish. He's also great on Bentgrass, ranking seventh for Strokes Gained: Putting on Bentgrass over the last 36 rounds and fourth overall this season on the PGA Tour for Putting.

Stephan Jaeger (42-1, Circa Sports)

Four top-20 finishes this season, including a T-3 at the Sony Open in Hawaii and a T-6 at the Mexico Open. He's consistently done well at TPC Craig Ranch, earning finishes of T-11 and T-20 in his last two appearances.

Ryo Hisatsune (70-1, DraftKings)

Finished 13th on debut in the 2023 CJ Cup Byron Nelson. He's had five top-20 finishes in his last eight starts, including top-5s at the Valero Texas Open and Valspar Championship and another top-10 in Mexico at Vidanta Vallarta.

Kevin Yu (80-1, Bet Rivers)

Ranks eighth for Strokes Gained: Off The Tee and 21st for Strokes Gained: Approach this season on the PGA Tour. He's shown consistency with four top-20 finishes in his last eight starts, with a win at the Sanderson Farms last fall at CC of Jackson – another correlated course to TPC Craig Ranch.

Isaiah Salinda (80-1, Bet Rivers)

A rookie on the PGA Tour, Salinda ranks fifth for Strokes Gained: Off The Tee. He finished third at the Mexico Open and T-11 at the Houston Open. His birdie-making abilities and long driving make him a strong contender.

Note: Placement markets and/or matchups will be available on Wednesday afternoon and at VSiN.com/picks. Also, check out the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, RBC Heritage, and Corales Puntacana Championship best bets and golf odds articles for more tournament insights.

College football odds and sports-betting enthusiasts might find interest in the upcoming Zoysiagrass renovations at TPC Craig Ranch, considering potential correlations with other courses like Vidanta Vallarta and TPC Scottsdale.
Despite the community sports-focus being predominantly on college football in Dallas, some golfers are making a name for themselves, such as local talents Tom Kim and Will Zalatoris, who have notable performances in the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
NovaK, a known sports analytics expert, might want to investigate Strokes Gained: Off The Tee and Strokes Gained: Approach stats for golfers playing at TPC Craig Ranch, as these are key factors in predicting success at the course.
While some may prefer betting on local college football teams or golf greats like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, fresh talent like Isaiah Salinda, with his top-5 ranking for Strokes Gained: Off The Tee, is poised to shake up the CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament.
When planning your next golf vacation, don't forget courses similar to TPC Craig Ranch, like Vidanta Vallarta, TPC Twin Cities, and Plantation Course of Kapalua, for a tee time experience like the pros enjoy during the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.