The CJ Cup Byron Nelson tips: Stephan Jaeger targets second PGA title in Texas

Byron Nelson key stats:

• When: May 2-5 2024
• Where: TPC Craig Ranch, McKinney, Dallas, Texas 
• How long: 7,468 yards - par 72
• What to expect: Parkland course in rolling valley, tree-lined fairways with 13 water hazards, low scores expected
• Who won last year: Jason Day (-23) 

Jumping straight in at the deep end, our first nod of support goes to Stephan Jaeger, who has missed his fair share of cuts this season, but has also shown his ability to put himself in contention when he plays on the weekend.

The talented German shared third place at both the Farmers Insurance and the Mexico Open earlier in the year, but his current claim to fame is being the only golfer to finish ahead of Scottie Scheffler in the last five tournaments contested by the world number one.

Even then he was only spared a testing play-off when Scheffler missed a gettable putt on the 72nd green, but he had played excellent all week at the Houston Open in March and thoroughly deserved his first PGA Tour win, to add to his six Korn Ferry Tour successes.

Suggested bet: Stephan Jaeger (28/1) each-way in the Byron Nelson

At the top of the betting, Jordan Spieth has a very good recent course record, having placed here in both 2021 and 2022, but he is not in winning form and has been average at best in 2024. 

Spieth is a much-loved golfer in the States, of course, so in a field lacking the A-List stars of recent tournaments, he is the obvious choice of the bookmakers to go off as the 16/1 favourite.

Defending champion Jason Day is 18/1, and the Australian has been playing reasonably well this season without really contending, and his price might have more to do with last year’s win than this year’s form.

Si Woo Kim is saddled with the same price and the South Korean always plays consistently, but has no real course form to speak of. 

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Will Zalatoris has played well since his return from a long injury absence, picking up top-four finishes at the Genesis and the Arnold Palmer, as well as an admirable ninth at the Masters.

He missed the cut as third-favourite with Sahith Theegala in last week’s Zurich Classic pairs event, but he is a Texas native so that may benefit him this week, despite not normally being a birdie-fest performer.

Standing out deeper in the betting is Kyoung Hoon (KH) Lee, whose only two successes on the PGA Tour just happen to be at this very tournament, which he won back-to-back in 2021 and 2022. 

With that in mind, this is clearly his type of course, so at 40/1 it seems sensible to show an interest in him, despite him having missed more cuts than he would have liked so far this season.

Nevertheless, he has still managed to squeeze in a couple of top ten finishes at the Cognizant and the Valspar, so if he can bring that kind of form to a course he loves, then his starting price could look huge by Sunday afternoon..

Suggested bet: Kyoung Hoon Lee (40/1) each-way in The CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Others to watch:

• Adam Scott (20/1) - Place here this year, the former Masters champion has all the skills but needs to put better with his broomstick to contend here
• Alex Noren (22/1) - Hasn’t looked like winning recently, but he is consistent and can score low when conditions allow
• Sung-jae Im (25/1) - Another who can exploit easier course, the South Korean could turn his mediocre campaign around here
• Min Woo Lee (28/1) - Still looks for his maiden Tour win, he’s always a crowd-pleaser, but has lacked consistency this term
• Tom Hoge (33/1) - In great form so far this year, and as a native Texan he could raise his game in front of home support

Suggested bet summary:

• Stephan Jaeger (28/1) - 1.5 points each-way 
• Kyoung Hoon Lee  (40/1) - 1 point each-way

 

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