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The annual PGA Tour May celebration of the legacy of the great Byron Nelson has a new venue this week. It had, of course, a long time home at TPC Las Colinas, but after the 2017 edition it moved to Trinity Forest, a slightly quirky venue that lasted only two tournaments. The event was also one of the many to fall foul of the lockdown this time last year and on return we have a new puzzle: TPC Craig Ranch. In truth, we’re not entirely clueless ahead of Thursday’s first round because the course hosted the second tier in 2008 and 2012 – and was deemed good enough to be venue for the Tour Championship. It’s a Tom Weiskopf design and he’s perhaps best known (in architecture terms) for creating Loch Lomond, but he has also renovated TPC Scottsdale and Torrey Pines North. It’s a par-72 with a maximum yardage of 7,468. Three of the short holes are long at over 200 yards, but the quartet of long holes are all well inside 600 yards. The fairways are Zoysia (which sits up and is often said to suit sweepers of the ball) and the greens Bent grass. Weiskopf has described the track as “a big boy golf course”, but local (and course record holder) Ryan Palmer has claimed “it’s going to be a putting contest” and “it’s going to be a bomber’s golf course”. The predicted light winds might back that up. On the other hand, although those two KFT events were the best part of a decade ago, there wasn’t much proof that big-hitting dominated. In 2012 only two of the top seven ranked top 20 for distance and in 2008 only three of the top eight. In contrast, the top four in 2008 and top eight in 2012 ranked top 20 for hitting Greens in Regulation. Putting did matter, however. The top eight in 2012 and nine of the top 10 in 2008 ranked top 20 for Putting Average. Angles to consider 1/ Course form There is a little of this to go on because, as mentioned, Craig Ranch has only hosted the second tier Tour Championship in 2008 and 2012 (other than the name mentioned below, Luke List was T13th in 2012 and Marc Leishman T7th in 2008). 2/ Texas form A bit like Florida, it’s a state where players tend to either thrive or struggle. They’re both windy states which partially explains it. Australians often say they like playing in Texas – blustery breezes and hard turf being the reason. 3/ Tom Weiskopf Less to go on here, but you might find something in Loch Lomond and recent TPC Scottsdale results. 4/ Good putting stats Anecdotal and data evidence suggests this will matter. Selections The above angles have been used to create a shortlist from which the following players are selected. Bryson DeChambeau A bomber who can drain plenty of putts sounds like DeChambeau. He needs little introduction from the tee box and ranks sixth in the field for PA over the last 12 months. Ranked second for SG Putting last week and closed with rounds of 68-68. Scottie Scheffler The new course might provide a little help to a Sophomore for whom recently all courses have been relatively new. The Texan ranks 10th in field for Putting Average and 21st for Distance (and also 11th for GIR if that matters). He’s a proud Texan who was second in this year’s WGC Dell Match Play in the state. T7th at Scottsdale this year and carded 65 on Torrey Pines North. James Hahn He was second on the course back in 2012, spending all weekend in the top two. He’s also held a 54-hole lead in the tournament, back in 2017, when finishing third and was fifth in 2014. He’s a five-time top 25 finisher at TPC Scottsdale, but has done so in each of the last three years, with a best this year of T10 when in the top 12 all week. His putting is less easy to talk up, but he was top five for SG Putting at Scottsdale and in Texas at the 2019 Houston Open. The big price and smaller stake accommodates that weakness.
Tips: 0-3; -6.00pts 3pt win Bryson DeChambeau at 10/1 (William Hill, Bet365, Betfred) 55th 1pt e.w. Scottie Scheffler at 25/1 (William Hill 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) 47th 0.5pt e.w. James Hahn at 150/1 (Skybet, Paddy Power, BF Sportsbook 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) mc
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