AT&T Byron Nelson Course Preview

TPC Craig Ranch

Greetings, DFS Army! Josh Thomas here, resident DFS Army PGA Expert and it’s time for the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson! This year’s event is taking place from May 11th to May 14th at the challenging TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. As the world’s top golfers gather to compete for a share of the $9 million purse, we’re here to provide you with all the relevant data, strokes gained insights, and tips you need to build your winning DFS lineups.

The Course:

TPC Craig Ranch tends to be a bit of a birdie fest but there are a few challenges that test various aspects of a golfer’s game. Key components of the course that players need to pay attention to include:

1. Water Hazards: Water comes into play on nine of the 18 holes, requiring strategic shot-making and solid course management. Players must be cautious with their club selection and placement to avoid costly mistakes.
2. Greens: The greens at TPC Craig Ranch are slick and undulating, made of bentgrass. Golfers will need to be precise with their approach shots and have a strong short game to handle these tricky greens.
3. Fairways and Rough: The fairways are made of Bermudagrass, and the rough is also composed of Bermudagrass, cut to a height of 2.5 inches. Hitting the fairways consistently will be crucial for setting up approach shots, while players who find themselves in the rough may struggle to maintain accuracy and distance control.
4. Course Layout: The course features a mix of five par 3s, nine par 4s, and four par 5s, demanding a balanced skill set from players. Golfers will need to excel in their long and short games to navigate the challenging layout successfully.
5. Length: TPC Craig Ranch measures 7,468 yards, which is relatively long for a par-71 course. Golfers with distance off the tee may have an advantage on some holes, but accuracy and shot placement will be just as important to avoid hazards and set up birdie opportunities.
6. Risk-Reward Opportunities: The course offers several risk-reward holes, where golfers need to weigh the potential benefits of aggressive shots against the potential penalties of errant shots. Successful decision-making and execution of a variety of shots will be crucial for players to score well.

 

Tournament Set-up: 

TPC Craig Ranch

• Location: McKinney, Texas
• Architect: Tom Weiskopf
• Year Opened: 2004
• Par: 71
• Yardage: 7,468 yards
• Greens: Bentgrass 11.5 Stimp
• Fairways: Zoysia Grass
• Rough: Bermudagrass (2.5 inches)

 

Links to DFS Army Tools

• PGA Research Station – Every single stat you could want for this week’s event!
• PGA Cheatsheets – Notes on all the viable players in the field
• PGA Domination Station – One-click Optimized Lineups in Seconds

Keys to Success 

Strokes Gained/Statistics

To succeed at TPC Craig Ranch, golfers need to excel in specific aspects of their game. Here are some key stats to consider when evaluating players’ chances of performing well on this course:

1. Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: This stat encompasses a player’s performance off the tee, on approach shots, and around the green. A strong tee-to-green game is essential at TPC Craig Ranch to navigate the challenging layout and avoid the numerous hazards.
2. Strokes Gained: Approach: Accurate iron play is crucial at TPC Craig Ranch due to the slick, undulating greens and water hazards. Players who excel in Strokes Gained: Approach are more likely to set themselves up for birdie opportunities and avoid costly mistakes.
3. Strokes Gained: Putting: The bentgrass greens at TPC Craig Ranch can be challenging to read and require a good touch on the greens. Golfers who consistently gain strokes on the putting surface will have a significant advantage on this course.
4. Greens in Regulation (GIR): Hitting greens in regulation is essential for scoring opportunities and avoiding bogeys or worse. Golfers who rank high in GIR are more likely to convert birdie chances and avoid costly mistakes.
5. Par 4 and Par 5 Scoring: TPC Craig Ranch features nine par 4s and four par 5s. Players who excel in scoring on these holes will have an advantage in the overall tournament. Focus on golfers who rank high in Par 4 and Par 5 Scoring Average on the PGA Tour.

These key stats can serve as a starting point for evaluating a golfer’s potential success at TPC Craig Ranch. When building DFS lineups or making predictions, consider each player’s current form, tournament history, and how their skill set aligns with these crucial areas.

 

DFS Strategy

When building your DFS lineup for the AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch, consider these tips:

1. Emphasize course history: Players who have performed well at TPC Craig Ranch in the past may have an advantage, given their familiarity with the course. Jordan Spieth, KH Lee, Hideki Matsuyama, and Scott Stallings are tops in terms of course history this week.
2. Target ball-strikers: One of the biggest separators this week is ball striking. if you can get it close and make birdies you will be in the mix. Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Luke List and Tyrrell Hatton are the best ball-strikers in the field over their last 24 rounds.
3. Seek value and low ownership: To differentiate your lineup from the competition, find value in underpriced golfers and those with lower ownership percentages who could outperform expectations. Often times value = high ownership though so you need to be careful. My current favorite value plays are Michael Kim, Dylan Wu, and Mark Hubbard. 

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Weather:

Right now it looks like we are going to get the standard Texas winds at least in the afternoon here. If there is any sort of wave advantage you can be sure that I’ll have that info for you in our VIP discord!

Final Thoughts:

The field this week is strong even though it’s not an elevated event. I’m excited to build some lineups! . I will break it all down for our VIPs with my weekly PGA Cheatsheets! Good luck this week!!

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