The PGA Tour is back in Texas with Byron Nelson in this weekend's CJ Cup, which is back to normal after the weekend's team event.
This week, the action moved to McKinney, where TPC Craig Ranch is a private club with PAR-71 courses that will be held in the 16th round of the 2025 season.
Founded in 2004, the modern 7,438-yard TPC Craig Ranch has earned its reputation for low scores and high drama, spacious fairways, extendable 5-strokes and soft putter surfaces, making it a player on the tour.
Lee Kyoung -Hoon's course record is -26, highlighting the potential of the field, while defending champion Taylor Penrith won a -23 win in 2024, demanding a $1.78 million winner share.
Another low-scoring carnival is expected to be held this weekend, led by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, an undeniable favorite to win his first game in 2025.
With another seductive gunfight, let's take a deeper look at five crazy facts about the CJ Cup Byron Nelson…
Wild weather in Texas
Texas spring often provides adverse weather, with the activity’s thunderstorms and the subsequent delays exceeding its considerable share.
Several renditions of the event have been paused over the past decade, with some heading into Mondays – but the weather won’t stop the parties with concerts, barbecues in Texas and fan district parties, and has attended more than 200,000 fans this week, making it a staple on the PGA Tour.
18-year-old risk and reward drama
The 18th hole of the TPC Craig Ranch is an iconic PAR-5 fixed hole that measures 552 yards and ensures an attractive drama.
It's easily reached in both parts, but the ominous water hazards around green make it a real issue of risk and reward.
Players usually raise and eliminate risks, but Sunday’s event wins the final reward, which means we may reach the climax of the ultimate uncertainty.
The last one earns more than Byron Nelson's career
Byron Nelson won 52 titles on the PGA Tour and completed his successful career with about $180,000.
The 15th-place solo scored enough to surpass the five-time champion career in this weekend's competition.
The biggest ridge in the tour
The fairways at the TPC Craig Ranch are wide and spacious, but on the PGA Tour, it's a big goal for a route.
Some putter surfaces cover over 835 square meters, which is almost twice the tour average, meaning players can hit the green and still face the birdie’s 80-foot putter.
In many courses, hitting green in method is the goal – on this golf course, players will need to pursue the flagpole more actively if they want to be within the competition.
Lee Kyoung-hoon's playground
South Korea's KH Lee has a special connection to this match, winning Byron Nelsons in 2021 and 2022 since Tom Watson finished three games between 1978 and 1980 and becoming the only player to complete the feat.
After winning the game twice in a row, Lee explained, “Whenever I am here, I feel more confident, this place is only for my game”, adding, “I have brought me extra confidence in the TPC Craig Ranch” as he conveys the playability of the venue.
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