Tournament Dates: May 21–24, 2026
Venue: TPC Craig Ranch — McKinney, Texas
Par / Yardage: Par 71 — 7,385 yards
Defending Champion: Scottie Scheffler (-31, 2025)
Venue & Course Profile — TPC Craig Ranch
- Location: McKinney, Texas, northeast of Dallas.
- Architect: Tom Weiskopf (Lanny Wadkins redesign).
- Course Style: Wide fairways, large greens, scoring‑friendly layout.
- Major 2026 Renovations:
- Completely redesigned bunkers
- Resurfaced greens
- New turf: Zoysiagrass fairways, Bermudagrass rough, Bentgrass greens
- Lengthened holes to curb low scoring These changes were implemented after Scheffler’s record‑setting 31‑under win in 2025.
Course Identity: Even with renovations, TPC Craig Ranch remains a birdie‑fest venue. Average winning score the past several years: –23 to –31.
Starting Date & Time
- Round 1 begins Thursday, May 21, 2026.
- Featured marquee groups begin at 7:33 a.m. CT (Scheffler, Koepka, Si Woo Kim).
Weather Conditions (Tournament Week)
Temperature: ~80°F during play.
- Wind: Typically 5–10 mph; Texas spring winds can influence scoring, especially on exposed tee boxes.
- Rain: No major precipitation expected based on early‑week forecasts.
- Impact: Warm, calm conditions favor low scoring and reward aggressive iron play.
Course Conditions
- Fairways (Zoysia): Ball sits up cleanly → promotes aggressive approach play.
- Rough (Bermuda): Trickier lies; missing fairways now carries a bigger penalty than in past years.
- Greens (Bentgrass): Firmer and faster after resurfacing → tougher putting, especially downhill.
- Overall: Still a scoring track, but with more teeth than pre‑2026.
Field Strength & Key Player Matchups
The field is lighter than a signature event, but still features several elite names.
1. Scottie Scheffler vs. Si Woo Kim vs. Jordan Spieth
- Scheffler is the +168 to +170 favorite across books.
- Si Woo Kim is consistently the second favorite (+1275).
- Spieth returns to his home state and plays well in Texas winds.
Matchup Dynamics:
- Scheffler’s tee‑to‑green dominance + home‑state comfort make him the clear statistical favorite.
- Si Woo Kim ranks 1st in proximity and 3rd in driving accuracy on TOUR, making him a perfect fit for Craig Ranch.
- Spieth’s creativity helps on firm greens, but his recent form is less consistent.
2. Brooks Koepka vs. Wyndham Clark
- Koepka is +2500 and trending upward after the PGA Championship.
- Clark is a volatile but high‑ceiling ball‑striker.
Matchup Dynamics:
- Koepka’s major‑championship form often carries into regular TOUR events.
- Clark’s distance gives him scoring opportunities on reachable par‑5s.
3. Rising Stars: Pierceson Coody, Ryo Hisatsune, Michael Thorbjornsen
- Coody (+4000 to +4579) is a Texas native familiar with local winds.
- Hisatsune has 13 straight cuts made and four top‑10s this season.
- Thorbjornsen is gaining momentum after strong spring finishes.
Matchup Dynamics: These three are the most dangerous mid‑tier threats to crack the top 10.
Tournament History
Recent champions:
- 2025: Scottie Scheffler (–31)
- 2024: Taylor Pendrith (–23)
- 2023: Jason Day (–23)
- 2022 & 2021: K.H. Lee (–26, –25)
Historical Identity:
- One of the TOUR’s lowest‑scoring events.
- Five of the last six winners have been international players.
Recent Player Form
Scottie Scheffler
- Dominated 2025 Byron Nelson by eight strokes.
- Enters as World No. 1 and defending champion.
- Odds as short as +155 to +170 reflect overwhelming form.
Si Woo Kim
- T‑13 and T‑15 in last two Byron Nelson starts.
- Elite ball‑striking metrics make him a strong contender.
Ryo Hisatsune
- 13 consecutive cuts made, four top‑10s.
- Debuted here with a T‑13 at –17 two years ago.
Brooks Koepka
- Trending upward after strong major‑championship play.
- Still searching for putting consistency.
Final Outlook
The 2026 CJ CUP Byron Nelson sets up as another low‑scoring shootout at TPC Craig Ranch, even with course renovations. Scheffler enters as the clear favorite, but Si Woo Kim, Spieth, Koepka, and rising stars like Hisatsune and Coody all have realistic paths to contention.
Projected Winning Score: –22 to –27
Most Likely Contenders: Scheffler, Si Woo Kim, Spieth
Best Value Plays: Hisatsune, Coody, Thorbjornsen
