It might be a surprise to some, but a non-elevated tune-up for the PGA Championship has plenty of fire power this week. The AT&T Byron Nelson is a staple event on the PGA Tour, even without the allure of a gigantic purse.
TPC Craig Ranch is a very gettable golf course. The par-71 track in McKinney, Texas stretches to over 7,400 yards. It is also home to tree-lined, yet spacious fairways with light rough. The Bentgrass greens are flat, slow, and roll true. We are in store for another birdie bonanza.
The event was not held in 2020, due to the pandemic, but a Korean has won here three-consecutive times. The last two years have belonged to KH Lee, aka the Panda. He broke his own tournament record last year with a winning score of 26-under par 262. One famous Texas golfer Scottie Scheffler is in the field, while Jordan Spieth has withdrawn with a wrist injury.
The wide open nature of the Byron Nelson means past success will play a major part in my wagers, as well as a focus on birdie-making ability. Proximity on approach, especially from 150-175 yards, will be paramount to a golfer maximizing his scoring opportunities. There is a creek that meanders throughout much of the course and accounts for most of the blowup chances we will see this week. Aggression in a tune-up event is not advised on betting slips, so I’m picking my spots carefully.
2023 AT&T Byron Nelson Odds, Picks & Predictions
(Odds Courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Scottie Scheffler (Outright +360 [2u]; Top-5 -110 [1u])
Taking short odds is always risky in a sport like golf. Even then, the second-ranked player in the world is the only member of the top-10 at the Byron Nelson this week. Scottie Scheffler has been streaky this season, but his highs have been world-class. The native Texan loves playing TPC Craig Ranch and a win here would be more than just another notch in his belt. I am going ultra-aggressive with a two-unit outright bet because I don’t think anyone can beat Scottie if he shows up with decent form this week.
Tom Kim (Outright +1600 [0.5u]; Top-10 +175 [0.5u])
Will we see a fourth-straight win from a Korean at the Byron Nelson? If so, I would bet a king’s ransom that Tom Kim would be the one to do it. Kim is already among the best players in the world on approach at 20 years old and is on the prowl for his second career PGA Tour win. Kim is a candidate to light this course up with a barrage of birdies and eagles.
Min Woo Lee (Outright +4000 [0.5u]; Top-10 +400 [0.5u])
It would be fun if an Australian of Korean descent could win here. Jason Day won this event in 2010, but the last Aussie to triumph here was Stephen Bowditch in 2015. With players like Scheffler in this field, I’m shooting for enough firepower to win like KH Lee has the last two years. Min Woo is a part of the staggering talent in the upcoming generation of Tour stars and is a hot putter away from breaking through for his first win.
Dylan Wu (Outright +9000 [0.25u]; Top-20 +300 [0.5u])
Both of the PGA Tour golfers with the surname Wu are blazing hot right now. Although not related, Brandon and Dylan are both 26 years old and in their first full PGA Tour season. Brandon, a Northern California native, and Stanford alum, is fresh off a second-consecutive top-5 finish at the Mexico Open. Dylan, from Southern Oregon, has shown a strong overall game and has made nine consecutive cuts entering the week. At 90-1 to win and 3-1 to finish with another top-20, I prefer Dylan’s betting odds to Brandon’s this week.
Pierceson Coody Outright +15000 [0.25u]; Top-20 +450 [0.5u])
Quail Hollow Club chewed up Pierceson Coody and spat him out. That course is a daunting test for anyone, and it was clear that Coody’s game wasn’t quite there yet. TPC Craig Ranch will look like a pitch-and-putt in comparison. Coody had three-consecutive top-15 finishes on the Korn Ferry Tour before last week and was riding some hot recent form. I believe in his overall game and that he will bounce back at the Byron Nelson. Coody’s strengths are on approach and especially putting. He also has shown a penchant for making birdies in bunches, which will suit him well here.
Total Units Played: 6.5