PGA Power Rankings: The CJ Cup Byron Nelson Top 5 Power Rankings

PGA Power Rankings: The CJ Cup Byron Nelson Top 5 Power Rankings

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson is the latest event on the 2024 PGA Tour schedule this week. Located in McKinney, Texas, at TPC Craig Ranch, just outside of the greater Dallas and Fort Worth metropolitan areas, 156 golfers will compete in a traditional four-round format with a cut-line enforced after the first two rounds. This follows the lone two-team format held at the Zurich Classic, which was won by Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry this past weekend.

After watching K.H. Lee win The CJ Cup Byron Nelson twice in a row from 2021-22, Jason Day ended a five-year win drought with a final score of 23-under-par in 2023. It was one stroke lower than Si Woo Kim and Austin Eckroat, followed by C.T. Pan in a solo fourth finish at 21-under-par, as well as World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler winding up with a top-five finish.

Scheffler won't be competing this week. Will Zalatoris has also withdrawn from this event, despite being among the betting favorites to win. Local Dallas native Jordan Spieth is the current betting favorite at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson, finishing runner-up during his last outing in 2022 at 25-under-par behind K.H. Lee.

PGA handicapper Matt MacKay is back with his latest course analysis and to offer betting insights with his top-five power rankings at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

CJ CUP BRYSON NELSON DATE, START TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH

• Date: May 2-5, 2024
• Where: TPC Craig Ranch, McKinney, Texas
• Where to Watch: ESPN+, Golf Channel, CBS

Click here to see the CJ Cup Byron Nelson odds

CJ CUP BYRON NELSON COURSE: TPC CRAIG RANCH

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson is held at TPC Craig Ranch just outside of Dallas, Texas. It's a par 72 that runs over 7,400 yards, meaning there are plenty of par 3s and par 5s for golfers to improve their score. In fact, this course averaged 68.9 during last year's event, which explains why winning scorecards have been 23-under-par or lower since 2018.

Designed by Tom Weiskopf and opened in 2004, TPC Craig Ranch is comprised of zoysiagrass fairways and bentgrass greens that run 11.5 feet via Stimpmeter. This slower putting surface will take some adjustments based on the 12.5 feet default pace golfers are accustomed to playing on. The Rowlett Creek is a recurring water hazard that is located on 14 of 18 holes at TPC Craig Ranch, forcing players to be precise off-the-tee and on approach.

CJ CUP BYRON NELSON POWER RANKINGS

CJ CUP BYRON NELSON POWER RANKINGS

1. Stephan Jaeger (+2500) CLICK HERE TO SEE WHICH SPORTSBOOK HAS THE BEST ODDS

The only golfer to beat Scottie Scheffler in the past few events has been Stephan Jaeger. Ironically, it was his first win on the PGA Tour. This undoubtedly gives the German golfer an extra boost of confidence heading into an event he performed well at in 2023.

Jaeger wound up T11 at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson last year, improving from a T38 finish in 2022. He's ranked 28th strokes gained: off-the-tee and 13th strokes gained: around the green. Jaeger's putting and approach shots aren't elite, but he's 19th strokes gained: tee-to-green and manages to convert over 34 percent of birdie attempts, ranked 25th on the PGA Tour. Jaeger is a solid golfer to bet in outright markets at 25-1 odds, warranting a 0.25 unit wager.

2. Byeong Hun An (+2500) CLICK HERE TO SEE WHICH SPORTSBOOK HAS THE BEST ODDS

Byeong Hun An was sharp during his debut at TPC Craig Ranch in 2023. The South Korean golfer wound up T14 on the leaderboard, finishing 6-under-par to surge into a top-15 finish at 17-under-par.

An already has three top-ten finishes in 2024, plus, he's ranked 18th strokes gained: off-the-tee and 18th for greens in regulation percentage. An is seventh in birdie average at 4.64 per round, along with seventh for par breakers. He's ranked fifth in par 4 birdie or better leaders and 35th for par 3 birdie or better leaders, making An worth another 0.25 unit wager at 25-1 odds.

3. Tom Hoge (+2500) CLICK HERE TO SEE WHICH SPORTSBOOK HAS THE BEST ODDS

We continue to find good value in the +2500 odds range at FanDuel Sportsbook for this event. Tom Hoge is playing a really good stretch of golf coming into Thursday's opening round, logging two top-ten finishes, including a T14 at the Houston Open and T18 at RBC Heritage.

Hoge is an absolute flag stick hunter with his irons. Ranked second strokes gained on approach, only Scheffler ranks higher. Hoge is also ranked 30th strokes gained: putting and 23rd for greens in regulation rate. If that wasn't enough, the 34-year-old golfer is also ranked second in hole proximity.

Last year, Hoge wound up T43, regressing from a T17 finish in 2022. However, based on his current form, we need to throw another 0.25 unit bet down on Hoge to wind up winning his second PGA Tour event at TPC Craig Ranch this weekend due to his elite irons and putter.

4. Tom Kim (+2800) CLICK HERE TO SEE WHICH SPORTSBOOK HAS THE BEST ODDS

At 28-1 odds, Tom Kim is a great value to bet on for his fourth career PGA Tour win this week at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

Kim has been a bit volatile with his finishes this season, but he's rounding into form lately, with a T18 finish at RBC Heritage marking his best performance since a T17 at the WM Phoenix Open. Kim's previous finishes at this event include a T34 in 2023 and T17 in 2022.

Ranked 11th within par 3 birdie or better leaders and top-50 for par 5 birdie or better leaders, Kim could wind up making a run at the top of the leaderboard this week. He's worth a 0.25 unit wager at 28-1 odds.

5. Nate Lashley (+8000) CLICK HERE TO SEE WHICH SPORTSBOOK HAS THE BEST ODDS

We're going all the way down to +8000 odds and targeting Nate Lashley as our final outright betting prospect at TPC Craig Ranch this week.

Lashley wound up T23 here in 2023, finishing with a scorching 7-under-par final round. He's ranked 45th strokes gained on approach and 39th strokes gained around the green. Sitting at 33rd strokes gained tee-to-green, oddsmakers are undervaluing Lashley due to three consecutive finishes outside of the top 25.

Lashley is riding a five-year win drought and is seeking a second outright win since joining the PGA Tour in 2018. He's a pure ball-striker and is also good off-the-tee, as demonstrated during his T3 finish during the Farmers Insurance Open back in January. Lashley went T13 at THE PLAYERS Championship in mid-March, so he shouldn't be quite this low in the outright betting market.

A 0.10 unit wager is sufficient for Lashley's outright winner market at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson this week.

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GOLF ODDS

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