The world’s top golfers will head to Four Seasons Las Colinas this week for the 2017 staging of the AT&T Byron Nelson tournament. A cool $10.5 million is at stake for the elite field with the champion grabbing not only 500 FedExCup points but also the $1.35 million top prize. Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this prestigious event and while you’re at it, you can check out our sleeper picks for the Byron Nelson.
Favorites – Dustin Johnson (+450) and Jordan Spieth (+1,000)
It isn’t a complete surprise to see Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth installed as favorites to win this week’s AT&T Byron Nelson. Johnson and Spieth are the two highest-ranked players in the field and they’re both playing some outstanding golf of late.
Johnson has been on fire to start the year, posting top-six finishes in seven of his first nine starts. He finished strongly at the Players Championship, shooting a final-round 68 to climb up to 12th place. He is perfect in seven tries at the Byron Nelson with four top-10s. Johnson finished tied for 12th in this event last year, shooting an 11-under-par total of 269.
Spieth, on the other hand, has posted top-25 finishes in eight of his 11 PGA Tour starts this year, including a thrilling victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last February. Spieth will look to finally break through in his hometown event which has given him fits his entire career. His best finish in this event was a T16 back in 2010 which coincidentally was his Tour debut. A lot has changed since then and the two-time major champion will look to bring home the trophy this time around.
High-Value Sleepers – Ryan Palmer (+4,000) and Brooks Koepka (+1,600)
One golfer who loves playing here at Las Colinas is Ryan Palmer. Since a playoff loss here in 2011, the local is 4-of-5 with two top 10s. Palmer’s playing some solid golf of late, nabbing top-11 finishes in three of his last four starts. He will look to bounce back from his disastrous showing at the Players Championship wherein he finished in 97th place.
Another golfer who’s primed for a huge performance this week is Brooks Koepka. He came oh so close to winning this tournament last year, losing in a playoff to reigning Masters champion Sergio Garcia. Koepka’s playing some inspired golf at the moment, posting top-20s in each of his last five Tour starts, including a T16 at last week’s Players Championship.
Long Shot – Vijay Singh
One long shot who can definitely spring a surprise this week is Vijay Singh. The 54-year-old turned back the hands of time in the Players Championship last week, finishing tied for 16th with a one-under-par total of 287. That’s his best finish in the PGA Tour this year. Singh has had some success in this tournament in the past, claiming the championship back in 2003.
