Golf fans are in for a treat this week as the PGA tour treks to the Lone Star State for the 2015 edition of the AT&T Byron Nelson tournament. It’s bound to be one thrilling competition as eight of the world’s top 25 golfers will be teeing it off at this event, led by reigning Masters champion and hometown favorite Jordan Spieth.
Who will emerge victorious and grab the $1.278-million top prize? Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this prestigious tournament and while you’re at it, you can check out our sleeper picks for this event.
Jordan Spieth looks to be back on form heading into the Byron Nelson after a solid performance at the Colonial last week. After finishing outside the top-10 in his last three starts, including a missed cut at the Players, the 21-year-old looks like he’s got his mojo back with a second-place showing at the Crowne Plaza Invitational. Spieth fired a final-round 65 to finish one stroke shy of eventual champion Chris Kirk. It has been a spectacular season thus far for Spieth who has finished first or second in five of his 13 starts this year.
[sc:Golf240banner ]He would want nothing more, though, than to grab a tournament win in his hometown event. Spieth had his first PGA Tour start at the Byron Nelson, finishing in a tie for 16th as a 16-year-old amateur five years ago. He has failed to set the tournament alight, however, since then. He finished tied for 37th at this event last year, carding a disappointing two-under-par total of 278.
The Spieth we are seeing right now, though, is a totally different golfer. Already a major champion, Spieth has the tools to make a solid run at the title this year. With the form that he is in right now, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Spieth dominate this coming weekend. He is pegged at +400 to do just that.
Another golfer who has had a solid season thus far is Jason Day. He already has four top-five finishes this year, including a victory at the Farmers Insurance Open last February. He has struggled of late, though, finishing tied for 52nd in the WGC Match Play and recording a missed cut at the Players Championship earlier this month.
With that being said, we can’t count out Day from grabbing the crown this week. What makes Day such an enticing pick is his recent success here. He won the Byron Nelson tournament five years ago, making Day the youngest Australian ever to win a PGA Tour event. With his experience, Day (+1,200) will be a definite threat for the title this week.
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High-Value Sleepers – Dustin Johnson and Jimmy Walker
One golfer who’s having a phenomenal season this year is Dustin Johnson. The 30-year-old has been on fire to start the season, finishing in the top-10 in five of his 10 starts. He emerged victorious at the WGC-Cadillac Championship back in March, edging past JB Holmes by a shot to grab his first PGA Tour title in more than a year.
Key to Johnson’s success this season has been his excellent driving. He leads the PGA Tour in driving distance, averaging 316.5 yards per drive. That will be a major asset when tackling the 7,166-yard, par-70 Four Seasons Resort at Las Colinas. Johnson has had some success in this tournament in the past, finishing in the top-10 in three of his last four visits here. Expect Johnson (+1,000) to be in the hunt come Sunday afternoon.
Another American who’s making waves in the PGA Tour this year is Jimmy Walker. He has already won two PGA Tour events this year, grabbing the Sony Open last January and the Texas Open last March. He has hit a rough patch, though, lately, finishing outside the top 35 in his last four starts including a missed cut at the Players Championship.
You can never count out Walker, however, from making a charge this week because of his excellent touch on the putting greens. He leads the PGA Tour in strokes gained with putting with an incredible .781 average. That will come in handy when tackling the undulating greens of this tough Las Colinas set-up. Don’t be surprised to see Walker (+2,800) in the mix come the back nine on Sunday.
Long Shot – Jason Dufner
Jason Dufner’s golfing woes continued last week at the Colonial where he finished in a tie for 43rd with a two-under-par total of 278. It has been a horrific season, thus far for Dufner who has yet to finish inside the top-15 this year. He has also missed the cut in four of his 11 starts this season.
But if there’s one tournament that can rekindle the fire in Dufner (+6,000), it’s got to be the Byron Nelson. He has fared extremely well in this event in the past, grabbing the victory here back in 2012. He made a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole in that edition for a nervy one-shot win against Dicky Pride. He shot a final-round 67 for an impressive 11-under 269 total.
That experience will prove vital especially when dealing with Las Colinas’ tough set-up. He may be struggling right now but don’t be surprised to see Dufner contend at the Byron Nelson this week.
