Table of Contents
By Alex Lauzon from the “Course of Life” podcast
A Tribute to Lord Byron
We’re arriving at the precious of the year’s second major championship, and if it’s anything like the first at Augusta then we’re in for a treat. The major vibes lurk in the air and golf fans are bracing for more press conference quotables, LIV vs. PGA Tour storylines, and the game’s elite colliding on the course. Before we lock in on Oak Hill and Rochester, NY there’s one last opportunity for the world’s best to prepare on tour or for a lesser-known name to punch their ticket to the PGA at the AT&T Byron Nelson.
This event is a staple on the calendar in the springtime and it’s been played in the Dallas – Fort Worth area for the better part of six decades. It pays tribute to Byron Nelson, one of the legends of the game that amassed a record-shattering 1945 campaign with EIGHTEEN WINS on tour and eleven in a row. Not even Tiger could hold a candle to a season like that. The course has bopped around the metroplex and now is contested at TPC Craig Ranch, and there’s one player who couldn’t be happier for that move.
K.H. Lee for Three?
The PGA Tour player most excited about this week’s event is Korean K.H. Lee. The back-to-back defending champion has won the first two Byron Nelsons at TPC Craig Ranch, and they’ve served as his only two PGA Tour victories of his career. It’s clear there’s a horse for this course, as Lee won the 2021 event at -25 and the 2022 event at -26, beating hometown favorite Jordan Spieth by a shot in his successful title defense. He has birdie-blitzed this event in the last two goes and it’s a fairly scorable course with wide targets off the tee.
As for the field trying to prevent the three-peat, it’s led by Dallas area resident Scottie Scheffler, the highest-ranked player in the field (no. 2). He has a strong course knowledge and will be a popular pick as he seems to play well the week before majors. Tyrell Hatton and Tom Kim are other notables higher in the ranking, but for the most part golf’s elite will sit back and prepare at home for the PGA next week.
Forecasting the Byron Nelson
It’s a fascinating dichotomy for bettors this week, as you’ve got brand names that are local to the area and figure to contend, and then there’s one tier two player that gobbles this course up and is impossible to avoid despite recent struggles. This week, you’re either leaning into the three-peat or betting away from it. This course has a habit for longshots to contend so new names should find your betting cards this week in the DFW.
1. Who’s hot and trending – recent high finishes, top-10 streaks, and consistent play are never a bad thing.
2. Horses for courses – players love certain courses and course familiarity and experience are invaluable in a field of the world’s best.
3. What the numbers tell you this week – while I’m far from analytical, there’s always a tournament darling or two scattered across the golf talk stratosphere that stuns on paper.
4. Intangibles – while this allows for theater of the mind, there’s a mysterious optimism surrounding that feels “due” or if the price looks just right for buying.
The Wells Fargo picks were not good – definitely a hand-up, take accountability moment here. Only Max Homa was inside the top 10, and everyone else struggled but at least a majority played the weekend. It’s a D for the picks cause I’m a tough grader.
The Picks
(Wanna start a Pick-X pool with your friends? Learn more here! Or, if you’re looking to start your own PGA One-and-Done pool, check those out here) (Hint: the main difference between the two is how many players you’ll pick each week)
1: Scottie Scheffler – Hometown event, one of the best players in the world – has to be picked this week.
2: K.H. Lee – I’m a sucker for the three-peat storyline, but if nothing else he’s in love with this course and will surely play well into the weekend.
3: Adam Scott – Quietly finding some really nice form with his putter and river – a great combo. Top 5 finish last week in Charlotte as well!
4: Taylor Montgomery – After a break, I’m back on the Taylor train for the week, as a good finish could get him into the PGA Championship next week.
5: Tom Hoge – Another Dallas local that knows the course well and should put it together on this track.
6: Dylan Wu – Wu is finding his way and finished T-21 last week – solid ball striker that should have birdie opps on this open layout.
RYP One and Done Pick: Jordan Spieth
The Deets
Where to watch: Golf Channel and CBS have you covered, and they’ll be sure to remind you how great Byron Nelson was on and off the course – well deserve TV Time for a legend of the game.
Why to watch: It’s a staple PGA Tour event with two of golf’s most popular players in action, plus a chance for a rare three-peat on tour.
What to eat: Dallas’ BBQ wishes they could be as good as Austin’s, but I still can’t deny that it’s slow-smoked BBQ country regardless. Find yourself some brisket.
Purse: $9.9 million
Winner’s Share: $1.7 million
Golf FAQs
How do PGA Golf Majors Pools work?
In PGA Golf Majors Pools, member select six golfers to compete on a roster over the course of an event. The member with the best combined score from the six golfers wins.
Can you include all four majors into one pool?
Yes, but your commissioner can also customize these setting with RunYourPool. Pools can include up to all four majors, repicking golfers each time or adding bonus points for finishing positions
How do I assemble a roster?
Golfers are broken up in to six tiers, as members select one golfer per tier to be on their Major roster.
What happens to golfers who miss the cut?
Any PGA Player who does not make the cut will be given the highest score of Round 3 and Round 4, respectively.
What are the four golf majors?
The Masters is the first major of the season, in April. The PGA Championship and the U.S. Open follow, with the British Open ending as the final major.
How do PGA One and Dones work?
Members in a pool select one golfer to win a tournament, but can't pick that golfer again for the rest of the season. The member with the best score at the end of the season wins.
What is a PGA One and Done pool?
A PGA One-and-Done Pool is a contest similar to Survivor Pools, in which members can only select a golfer one time per season for events.
Which tournaments are played for PGA One and Dones?
Pool commissioners can set up the season for as many or as few tournaments as desired. Go crazy and do all of them! Or dial it back for the major events. As commissioner of a RunYourPool contest, you decide which events to play in!
How to run a weekly golf pool?
In order to run a golf pool, you must first crown yourself as Pool Commissioner. Begin by picking a game type like One and Done or Pick-X Pools. You'll want to establish rules before inviting friends, family, and colleagues to join. As commissioner, you make the rules and also need to enforce them equally and fairly.
How do golf Pick-X Pools work?
Members select a certain number of golfers per tournament, set by the pool commissioner. The member earns the total winnings that their selected golfer won for the tournament. Whichever member earns the most winnings over the duration of the season wins.
What is a golf Pick-X Pool?
A Pick-X Golf Pool calculates tournament winnings rather than strokes gained when deciding a winner. This amplifies the big name events that feature a higher prize purse.
How to run a golf pool?
How you decide to run a golf pool varies greatly depending on the game type. In each case, however, you'll want to determine the rules and settings before you begin inviting members to join you. You'll want to clearly establish how score will be kept, how tiebreakers work, and how winners are decided before anything else.
What is a prop bet?
Prop bets are any sort of pick or wager on a game that has nothing to do with the score or the final score outcome. Props can range from game types, to team types and even player types - such as who will score the game's first and last touchdowns? Other props, such as novelty or exotic, feature bets on things such as the coin flip or the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
How do Masters Prop Bets Pools work?
Pool members simply fill out a wide range of prop questions, each question worth a different value. Commissioners decide on the point value for each question, along with the amount of questions. Whichever member earns the most points based on corret answers wins the pool.
When is the Masters?
The Masters is typically in April and the first major of the golf season. The 2023 Masters is set for Thursday, April 6 and will run until Sunday, April 9.
Where is the Masters played?
The Masters is annually held at the Augusta National Golf Club located in Augusta, Georgia, USA.
