CJ CUP Byron Nelson 2026 Fan Guide: Course, Players to Watch, and What Makes This Tournament Special

The PGA Tour rolls into McKinney, Texas, for the 2026 CJ CUP Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch, one of the most exciting stops on the calendar for fans of big-scoring, birdie-filled golf. Running from April 28 through May 4, this North Texas event delivers big-name players, a fan-friendly atmosphere, and the kind of low scores that keep leaderboards spinning all week. Here is everything you need to know about the tournament.

About TPC Craig Ranch

TPC Craig Ranch is a par-71, 7,569-yard layout in the growing suburb of McKinney, roughly 30 miles north of Dallas. It opened as the host of this event in 2021, replacing Trinity Forest Golf Club, and quickly established a reputation as one of the most scoring-friendly venues on the PGA Tour. The course rewards aggressive play, particularly off the tee, and places a premium on iron play and putting. There is not much penalty for wayward drives, which means players who can stripe it close and drain putts tend to thrive here.

Since the tournament moved to Craig Ranch, winning scores have ranged from 23 under to 31 under par. In 2025, Scottie Scheffler set the 72-hole Tour scoring record of 253, matching 31 under to win by eight shots. That score broke the previous Nelson record by six strokes. Do not expect a battle-hardened grind-fest here — expect red numbers from the opening tee shot.

The Defending Champion

Scottie Scheffler enters the 2026 edition as the defending champion after one of the most dominant performances in recent PGA Tour history. The world No. 1 opened with a 10-under 61 on Thursday in 2025 and led wire-to-wire, the first player to do so at the Nelson since Tom Watson 45 years earlier. He finished at 31 under par, matching the all-time 72-hole Tour scoring record set by Justin Thomas at the 2017 Sony Open. Scheffler is also a hometown player — he grew up in Highland Park, Texas — making the venue feel like a second home. He returns in 2026 as the clear betting favorite and the player to watch from the first round.

Players to Watch in 2026

The field at the CJ CUP Byron Nelson is a strong one despite this being a regular PGA Tour event rather than one of the Signature Events on the schedule. Here are the names worth tracking all week.

Scheffler is the obvious headliner. Beyond his 2025 victory, he has two career top-five finishes at this event and plays it with the confidence of someone who has both history and home-state comfort on his side. He enters 2026 at world No. 1 and sportsbooks have him as the heavy favorite.

Jordan Spieth is another Texas native with deep ties to this event. He grew up in Dallas and attended the University of Texas, and the Byron Nelson is a tournament he has spoken about wanting to win throughout his career. In 2025 he closed with a final-round 62 to finish fourth at 19 under, showing he has the ball-striking and putter to contend on this course. Spieth is listed in the 18/1 range at leading sportsbooks and represents genuine value in the without-Scheffler market.

Taylor Pendrith won this tournament in 2024 at 23 under par and returns as one of the longer hitters in the field. Pendrith ranks among the best drivers of the golf ball on the PGA Tour and fits the power-friendly layout at Craig Ranch. KH Lee went back-to-back here in 2021 and 2022, so defending the title in successive years is certainly possible — though Scheffler took that discussion off the table last year.

Sungjae Im comes in ranked 20th in the world and is one of the few top-30 players in the field outside of Scheffler. He has been a consistent performer on the PGA Tour and brings strong ball-striking numbers to a course that rewards approach play. Byeong Hun An, Tom Kim, and Sam Burns round out a strong group of contenders just outside the top odds.

Storylines to Follow

The local angle will dominate the narrative all week. Scheffler and Spieth are both beloved in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and the crowd at TPC Craig Ranch tends to be especially loud and engaged around those two. If both are in contention on Sunday, the atmosphere will be electric.

Another subplot involves Si Woo Kim, who finished second here in 2023 and has a T13 in 2025. He consistently ranks among the best ball-strikers in the field at this event and approaches it as a circled date on his calendar. His value odds in the mid-20s to 1 range reflect a player who has done everything but win here.

Stephan Jaeger, winner of the 2024 Houston Open, also brings strong form into Texas. He plays this region of the schedule aggressively, citing TPC Craig Ranch as a course that suits his low-penalty-for-missing-fairways game. He has finished inside the top 25 in three of his last four appearances at this event.

Why This Tournament Matters

The CJ CUP Byron Nelson carries 500 FedExCup points for the winner and a total purse of $9.9 million, making it a significant event for players looking to build their standing ahead of the summer playoffs. While it does not carry the same prestige as one of the major championships or the elevated Signature Events, it routinely attracts a quality field because of its place on the calendar — sandwiched between the RBC Heritage and the PGA Championship — and the fan-friendly experience at TPC Craig Ranch.

For any golf fan in the DFW area, this is the home tournament. The entry price is reasonable, the course is walkable, and the action is virtually guaranteed. Low scores, a world No. 1 chasing back-to-back titles, and a local fan favorite in Jordan Spieth lurking on the leaderboard — there is plenty of reason to tune in or show up all week. You can keep up with live golf odds throughout the week as the field develops and betting lines shift round by round.