Scottie Scheffler Returns to Texas Spotlight

McKINNEY - Scottie Scheffler is back in Texas, and THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson suddenly feels like must-watch golf again.

The PGA TOUR returns to TPC Craig Ranch in the Dallas metroplex with Scheffler as the defending champion, world No. 1 and overwhelming headline act.

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Last year, he didn’t just win this tournament. He crushed it, going wire-to-wire at 31-under 253 and beating the field by eight shots.

Now comes the twist: TPC Craig Ranch may not be the same birdie buffet.

The course underwent a $25 million renovation led by World Golf Hall of Famer Lanny Wadkins, with reworked bunkers, new turf, reshaped greens, more pin locations and added length across key holes.

The goal is obvious. Make players think. Make low scores harder. Make the Byron Nelson bite back.

Scheffler has deep history here. He made his PGA TOUR debut at this event in 2014 as a 17-year-old amateur and finished T22. A decade later, he returned as the best player in the world and tied the lowest 72-hole score in modern TOUR history.

He won’t be the only local story.

Jordan Spieth, a Dallas native, is making his 14th start in the event. He debuted here as a 16-year-old in 2010 and has three top-10 finishes at TPC Craig Ranch since 2021, including solo fourth last year.

Si Woo Kim, another Dallas resident, enters with serious form after making every cut in 13 starts this season. Plano’s Pierceson Coody also brings momentum with seven top-25 finishes in 13 starts.

Brooks Koepka adds even more juice to the field, making his seventh Byron Nelson appearance.

Beyond the leaderboard, the tournament continues its Mental Health Awareness Month push. Players will wear green ribbons and clips, while Saturday’s “Green Out” returns.

The par-3 17th, known as “The Ranch,” will again feature a Bibigo hole-in-one challenge benefitting Momentous Institute. THE CJ Group will also donate $1,000 for every birdie at No. 17.

That gives this week a little more meaning.

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The Byron Nelson has always honored one of golf’s giants. But this year brings a sharper edge: Scheffler defending, Spieth chasing, Koepka lurking and a renovated TPC Craig Ranch trying to prove it can punch back.

Texas golf is about to get loud.

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