The AT&T Byron Nelson finds itself on a new golf course for 2021, with the Tom Weiskopf-designed TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, replacing the unpopular Trinity Forest after just two years at the Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw layout. The 2020 AT&T Byron Nelson was one of the casualties of the Covid-19 shortened season, and 2019 winner Sung Kang, who is also a member at TPC Craig Ranch, remains the defending champion.
Since the 7,458 yard layout that plays to a par 72 is new to Tour players, it could be difficult, outside of Kang, to find someone with any advantage in the AT&T Byron Nelson. Also, look for firm putting surfaces and fairways that should allow a lot of runout of the tee shots.
It’s the week before a major, in this case, the PGA Championship at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island, but the AT&T Byron Nelson has attracted a solid field, with three of the top ten ranked players in the world planning on teeing it up on Thursday. In addition to Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka, there is also Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and Dallas native Jordan Spieth, among others.
Talor Gooch is coming off a 26th place finish in the Wells Fargo Championship and is at odds of +8000 in the AT&T Byron Nelson.
Betting Odds at TPC Craig Ranch
Rahm and DeChambeau are the two betting favorites with odds of +1000, but none of them has been playing particularly well of late, especially at last week’s Wells Fargo Championship. Rahm missed the cut and DeChambeau, after thinking he missed the cut, went home to Dallas Friday afternoon, then back to Charlotte early Saturday morning, and finished in ninth place.
Spieth is at +1200 after taking a month off following his third-place finish in the Masters, and Daniel Berger, a winner earlier this year at Pebble Beach, has odds of +1800. Matsuyama, also idle since his Master’s victory, is at +2000 along with Matthew Fitzpatrick, who is looking for his first PGA Tour title after winning six times on the European Tour.
Underdog Picks at TPC Craig Ranch
After watching Luke List last week at the Wells Fargo, it’s hard to believe the long-hitting 36-year-old has yet to win on Tour. Although he has not had a great 2020-2021 season, sometimes it just takes a good week on a very difficult golf course to push a player like List, who is at +6000, over the top to finally win a tournament.
Another player who looked good at the Wells Fargo was Keith Mitchell, the third-round leader who tried valiantly to hang on but eventually tied for third after a closing round 72. The 2019 Honda Classic winner also teamed up with Brandt Snedeker to tie for fourth at the Zurich Classic in April and has odds of +6600 this week.
Talor Gooch is also mentioned as someone who is primed to get their first victory on the Tour, especially after a tie for fifth at The Players Championship and two other top-ten finishes early in the season. He’s coming off a 26th place finish in the Wells Fargo Championship and is at odds of +8000 in the AT&T Byron Nelson.
