CJ Cup Byron Nelson Predictions: Noren Can Nail Nelson Title

• The Dallas tournament has another name change for 2024 

• TPC Craig Ranch hosts for the fourth year running

• Local resident Jordan Spieth is the joint-betting favorite

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson Odds

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The CJ Cup Byron Nelson Predictions

• Alex Noren each-way (1/4 1-5) at +2500 with bet365

• Mark Hubbard to beat Aaron Rai in 72-hole match at -110 with bet365

• Tom Kim for Top 10 at +320 with DraftKings Sportsbook

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson Intro

With AT&T ending its sponsorship in 2023, we have a new name for this week’s PGA TOUR stop in Dallas, Texas.

THE CJ CUP was originally an event played in South Korea before the two most recent editions were staged in Las Vegas (2021) and South Carolina (2022).

Now it’s found a new home after joining forces with the annual tournament held in memory of the great Byron Nelson.

Nelson, who passed away at the age of 94 in 2006, accumulated a massive 52 wins, including 11 in a row in one astonishing purple patch in 1945.

He was the first player to have a PGA TOUR event named after him and although sponsorship has changed multiple times, ‘Byron Nelson’ has been in the title of this tournament since 1968.

Always held in Dallas, the current location is a relatively new one.

TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney has staged just three editions, with Korean KH Lee causing a surprise when winning in 2021 and an even bigger one when defending in 2022.

Jason Day became the third straight international winner when capturing this tournament for a second time in 2023, 13 years on from his first.    

All three events at TPC Craig Ranch have been birdie-fests with a winning score from -23 to -26. We can expect the same again in 2024.

Those familiar Texas winds will blow at around 15mph on Thursday and Sunday and t-storms can’t be ruled out.  

Last 5 Winners of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson

*There was no tournament in 2020 due to the pandemic

Course Notes

• TPC Craig Ranch is a par 71 that measures 7,414 yards from the tips

• The course was designed by former Open winner Tom Weiskopf

• The layout features zoysia fairways and bentgrass greens  

• Sebastian Munoz and SY Noh have both shot 60s at this course

Favorites to Win the CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Jordan Spieth (+1600) at BetMGM

Spieth, the hometown hero, is the highest-ranked player in the field this week at 20th on the OWGR. He’s played at TPC Craig Ranch twice, finishing ninth in 2021 and runner-up in 2022. Always strong in his home state, Spieth was 10th at the Texas Open at the start of February although he’s had two disappointments since: MC at The Masters and 39th at the RBC Heritage.        

Si Woo Kim (+1600) at BetMGM

With eight top 30s in his last nine PGA TOUR starts, Kim has been one of the most consistent players of 2024. Tied 18th at the RBC Heritage last time, Kim was runner-up at this event last year after a closing 63. That came as no real surprise given that he’s a local resident with the quality to have won four times on the PGA TOUR.     

Jason Day (+2000) at BetMGM

The defending champion ended a five-year win drought when taking the title here last May. It was his 13th victory on the PGA TOUR. Ahead of his return, the Aussie is ticking over nicely. He’s had three top 10s this season and followed 30th at Augusta with 18th at the RBC Heritage.      

Back Noren for Breakthrough

Despite many near-misses, it’s a strange quirk of this event that no Texas-born player has ever won it.

There are plenty of contenders this week but I’m going to take that curse to continue by having a bet on Alex Noren to hoist the silverware.

The Swede has been in excellent form for some time now, finishing second in the Bermuda Championship in his penultimate event of 2023 and making all nine cuts so far in 2024.

He’s actually cracked the top 25 in each of his last five events and this looks like a great opportunity for Noren to grab his first PGA TOUR title.

The former Ryder Cup star opened 65-64 on debut in 2021 before finishing 21st and posted rounds of 63 (Friday) and 64 (Sunday) when 12th on his only other appearance in 2022.

A strong performer in Texas, Noren is 6th for Strokes Gained: Total this season so basically he’s doing everything well.  

Back Noren at +2500 at bet365 (each-way 1/4 five places).     

Hubbard Can Get Hot

For this week’s 72-hole match bet, I’m taking Mark Hubbard to outscore England’s Aaron Rai in a -110 pick ‘em.

This is a birdie-fest so Hubbard’s ranking of 18th in Par Breakers to Rai’s 65th is an early separator and the difference is even greater when comparing their standings in the Birdie or Better Conversion charts: Hubbard 26th to Rai’s 107th.

Hubbard has the better course form too with 32nd and 34th in two TPC Craig Ranch starts compared to Rai’s MC-46.

Finally, Hubbard was third in last week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans pairs event, finishing some way clear of Rai in 23rd.

However you come at it, Hubbard holds the aces so back the American at -110 with bet365. 

Tom Kim to Land Top 10

With Koreans having such a strong record in this event, it makes sense to get one of their contingent in the staking plan and Tom Kim fits the bill.

Already a three-time Tour winner at the age of just 21, he’s won those events with scores of -20, -24, and -20 so he clearly thrives in birdie-fests. 

Kim has finished 17th and 34th in two starts here and is rounding into form after following a top 30 at The Masters with 18th at the Heritage.

Back Kim to make the top 10 at +320 with DraftKings Sportsbook.

How to Watch the CJ Cup Byron Nelson

• Tournament: THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson

• Location: McKinney, TX

• Date: Thursday, May 2 - Sunday, May 5

• How to Watch: Thursday-Friday 4 p.m.-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel), Saturday-Sunday 1 p.m-3 p.m (Golf Channel), 3 p.m.-6 p.m. (CBS). And all four days on Sky Sports.