Welcome to the start of our golf coverage! A lot of us here at The Land love playing and talking golf, so we decided to offer our community some golf-related content. We kick it off this week with a vibes rating for some of the names competing in Dallas at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, courtesy of our man Big Rig. For more in depth golf betting analysis, check out his blog Pinseeker.
The PGA Tour is at TPC Craig Ranch in Dallas this week for the CJ CUP Byron Nelson. After a string of signature events and a change of pace with team golf at the Zurich, it’s back to a traditional tournament setup. It’s no Augusta, but we should be in for some fireworks with a course set up for birdie binges. Here’s a preview of the event and some players to watch this week.
TPC Craig Ranch is all about scoring. With wide-open fairways and gettable pins, players go low here (the winning score in the four previous tournaments held here has ranged from 23 to 26 under par). It's primed for a birdiefest, so expect a fair share of low scores and a leaderboard that looks like a mosh pit. While the course isn’t the toughest challenge, precision with approach shots and a hot putter are key. If you’re not hitting greens, you’ll struggle to keep up.
The field this week isn’t packed with big names, but there are still compelling storylines to follow. Here are a few players worth keeping an eye on this week and why they deserve your attention.
Scottie Scheffler
This needs no explanation. It’s Scottie in his hometown, and he’s playing great golf even by his standards. Despite not winning yet, his worst finish this season is T25 in eight starts.
Vibes: 9/10
Jordan Spieth
Another hometown kid. Spieth is quietly putting together a good stretch of golf, and he’s always an entertaining watch with his otherworldly ability to explore every inch of the golf course while still saving par.
Vibes: Absolute Rollercoaster/10
Ben Griffin
Coming off a win at the Zurich, Griffin might not have his teammate, Andrew Novak, this week, but he’s putting some quality ballstriking rounds together. If he gets hot with the flatstick, look out.
Vibes: 7.43/10
Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard
The identical twins are here as a study in contrast. Nicolai fits the course well with his solid approach play, while Rasmus is the exact opposite. We’ll see who comes out on top this week after they teamed up last week in New Orleans.
Vibes: Sibling Rivalry/10
Sami Valimaki
Our model is high on Valimaki this week, and for good reason. The Finn is hot (three top-20s in his last three starts), and his approach stats have been excellent this season. He’s 20th on Tour in SG: PUTT, so if he gets birdie looks, he could be right at the top of the leaderboard come Sunday afternoon.
Vibes: 8/10
We should be in for a fun one this week. Between the storylines, course setup, and the PGA Tour’s never-ending potential for drama, we’re in for a treat, even if it’s one of the less heralded stops of the year. So sit back, enjoy the golf, and let’s see who comes out on top deep in the heart of Texas.
Enjoyed this? Be sure to check out my work at pinseekergolf.substack.com for more previews, analysis, and content about the game of golf.
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