This week, the PGA Tour is back in Texas to host the 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson Race at McGinny's TPC Craig Farm.
World Number One Scotty Schaeffler will return with Fellow Texas compatriot Jordan Spieth to where they made their PGA Tour debut; seven of the world's top fifteen players will make their debut this week. Pan Zhengchun and Wu Biyuan are also in this week's lineup. This tournament is highly regarded as the outpost of next week's Grand Slam event, the PGA Championship.
With a total prize fund of $9.1 million, the winner will earn $1.63 million and 500 FedEx Cup points and qualify for the 2022 PGA Championship if not already qualified.
The "Three Musketeers of China" Dou Zecheng, Yuan Yechun and Zhang Xinjun (in order of this week's departure time) played this week at the Korn Ferry International Tour - Knoxville Open.
Lee Kyung-hoon returned to the first place of his career
South Korean player Lee Kyung-hoon won his first career PGA Tour title in last year's tournament, and TPC Klagg Farm is his "blessed land".
Lee Kyung-hoon is the third in the history of the tournament and the second consecutive champion from South Korea (the previous one was Kang Seung-hoon).
"Every time I push a successful goal or play a good goal, everyone applauds and motivates me, and I'm grateful to the fans here!" Lee Kyung-hoon recalls last year's trip to win the championship.
(Defending champion with pregnant wife)
"The P-bar on the 17th hole is very important. The bogey swallowed on the 16th hole made me feel like the momentum was interrupted, but I played very aggressively on the 17th and 18th holes, the momentum was good, and the end was good. Now I'm excited, I've been waiting for this championship for a long time, and I'm so grateful and excited, it's unbelievable. Lee Kyung-hoon talked about winning the championship.
This season, Lee Kyung-hoon has not yet finished in the top 10, but has reached the top 25 many times. These include T14 at the Holy Land Brotherhood Children's Hospital Open, T18 from the ZOZO Championship, and T25 at the Wells Fargo Championship last week.
Favorite player to win the championship
1. Scotty Schaeffler
(Schaeffler in the game)
The world's number one men's player, Scotty Schaeffler, returned to his PGA Tour debut at the age of 17 (more on that below), and he was a favorite to win the championship as long as he competed. He has won four of his last six individual games.
Schaeffler went to the South Hills Country Club, the site of next week's PGA Championship, and scored a good 64.
2. Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth
(Spieth and Thomas)
The pair will compete with their friends on and off the field this week. JT has yet to win since the Players Tournament 14 months ago, and this is his first visit to TPC Craig Farm, and perhaps he can get good advice from Spieth, a Texan native who made his debut here.
(Teenage Geniuses, Spieth and Schaeffler)
In 2010, the 16-year-old American Junior Amateur Championship champion Spieth stunned the audience under the attention of his hometown father and elders, not only successfully qualifying for the weekend competition, but even finishing in the top 10 after 54 holes. He ended up with a T16 for The Byron Nelson race that week.
It is worth mentioning that four years later, another local genius, 17-year-old Scotty Schaeffler, also completed his PGA Tour debut with a dazzling T22.
Spieth, who has taken a four-week break after his victory at Harbour City this season, is at number one in this week's four-hole scoring rankings for players, with JT tied for first.
3. Will Saratoris
(Saratoris in the game)
Saratoris is currently 19th in the FedEx Cup standings, the highest-ranked player of the season, and a timely victory could take him a step further.
The Dallas resident has achieved excellent results in the last three games in T5, T6, T4. In last year's competition, he got a good T17.
The PGA Tour hosts new members and does not have a playing spot in the off-season
TPC Klagg Farm, 7468 yards, par 72
(Bird's Eye View of TPC Klagg Farm)
TPC Craig Farm has hosted the AT&T Byron Nelson Race since last year, and it will remain home for the next four years.
TPC Klagg Farm, which hosted the PGA Tour for the first time last year, was previously home to the Regular And Qualifiers of the Korn Ferry Tour. The course designer was Tom Wisecoff and the consultant was D.A. Vibring.
The stadium opened in 2004 and, according to the course director, "Texas can play all year round, and our goal is to be one of the best hosts for the PGA Tour every year." We work on this for 12 months of the year, and the work does not stop. ”
Tournament record of 72 holes: 259, Steven Bodic (2015 in TPC seasons, last three rounds changed to PAR69 due to heavy rains); 261, Aaron Wise (2018), Jiang Shengxun (2019)
Course record of 72 holes: 263, Lee Kyung-hoon (2021)
Tournament record on 18 holes: 60, Alan Oberhauser (2006 second round at The Triangular Yeyang Valley Golf Course), Kiegan Bradley (first round 2013 at TPC Season)
Course record on 18 holes: Par 62, Sam Boones (2nd Round 2021)
Focus players' first round departure time
May 12 to May 13, Beijing time
20:45 Hideki Matsuyama / Jenson Day / McKinsey Hughes
20:56 Zander Sheophile/ Dustin Johnson/Kevin Kisner
01:44 Phan Ching/Rich Vronsky/Nate Rushley
01:55 Justin Thomas/Sam Boones/Tom Hogg
02:06 Jordan Spieth/Scotty Schaeffler/Lee Kyung-hoon
For the full publication, please open the PGA Tour Chinese official website link on the computer: http://pgatour.golfbox.cn/Leaderboard/TeeTimes
Golf Channel exclusive will broadcast this week's game for you, welcome to watch!