Might 4, 2025; McKinney, Texas, USA; Scottie Scheffler performs a shot from a bunker on the 18th gap through the ultimate spherical of the THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson golf event. Necessary Credit score: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Photographs Moments after Scottie Scheffler tied the PGA Tour scoring file on TPC Craig Ranch final yr, they began tearing up the course.
That is solely a slight exaggeration. Former professional golfer Lanny Wadkins was tagged to lead a two-year renovation that took a short pause when the course hosted the CJ Cup Byron Nelson final Might. Scheffler breezed by way of Craig Ranch and shot a 31-under-par 253 to win by eight strokes, then the actual work started.
“(The course’s father or mother firm) mainly mentioned they did not need 30 beneath successful the factor anymore,” Wadkins instructed Golfweek. “And I instructed them, ‘Don’t fret.'”
A brand new and hopefully more difficult TPC Craig Ranch makes its PGA Tour return this week when the CJ Cup Byron Nelson tees off Thursday in McKinney, Texas.
Because the course took over the longtime tour cease in 2021, the successful rating has by no means been worse than 23 beneath par. Scheffler and his friends who’ve seen the course have felt it is going to be harder than what it had been.
“I believe tee to inexperienced it’s positively higher than what it was earlier than,” Scheffler mentioned. “I believe it is a extra fascinating take a look at. The greens have added a big quantity of slope to them, and a few are a bit aggressive, however general I believe (Wadkins) did a extremely good job of making some good pin places, and also you positively have to suppose your approach round this place much more than you probably did earlier than. I believe the take a look at has positively improved round this golf course.”
That ought to catch golf followers’ consideration after the discourse all through final week’s PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Course exterior Philadelphia. The consensus was that pin places had been diabolical and exhausting to attain on Thursday and Friday, and Englishman Aaron Rai went on to win with a rating of 9 beneath, whereas no person else went decrease than 6 beneath.
“It is actually modified with all the brand new greens,” South Korea’s Si Woo Kim mentioned. “Excited to play. I’ve to type of fear about the place I’ve to miss.”
As gamers recuperate from the PGA Championship, the one three gamers ranked top-50 on this planet who’re taking part in this week are Scheffler, Kim and Jordan Spieth. Rai was meant to play however withdrew.
The event has grow to be as Korean as it’s Texan since CJ Group’s title sponsorship started with the 2024 event. A few of South Korea’s greatest golfers make Dallas their American house base. Kim, Sungjae Im, two-time champion Okay.H. Lee and Tom Kim are amongst these competing this week.
“We’re very grateful for CJ’s help of this occasion,” Scheffler mentioned “They stepped in once we wanted them to. I actually love the vibes of this event now. Like I mentioned, now we have nice meals in eating. It is one in every of my favourite weeks of the yr when it comes to the meals. We get a number of younger Korean gamers that come and play on this event, and I am wanting ahead to getting out and competing with these guys once more.”
No participant from South Korea has gained on tour since October 2023, however Si Woo Kim is ninth within the FedEx Cup race, with 4 top-fives, six top-10s and no missed cuts in 14 begins this yr.
Then there’s Brooks Koepka, who’s taking part in the place he can in his first season again from LIV Golf, inside restrictions set by the PGA Tour. Koepka, Scheffler and Si Woo Kim will kind the marquee grouping for the primary two rounds.
“I am having fun with the grind. I am having fun with battling it out right here,” mentioned Koepka, who’s altering putters this week amid struggles on the greens. “Yeah, it is only a newfound love, a newfound ardour for the sport, and one thing that I am actually, actually having fun with being again on the highway and grinding it out and attempting to discover it within the filth. I believe there’s one thing to be mentioned about that. Every week is changing into increasingly more enjoyable.”
–Area Degree Media
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