Tailgate Tuesday, CJ Cup Byron Nelson

The 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson tees off this Thursday, May 21, at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. Coming off last week's PGA Championship, the field is dealing with a massive contrast in style this week. 

TPC Craig Ranch is essentially a resort-style track that offers almost zero resistance to professional golfers. If you miss a fairway or a green here, you rarely get punished. For this year’s tournament, a recent renovation actually shortened the course by nearly 180 yards down to a 7,385-yard par 71, turning the par-5 18th hole into a long par-4.

Because the fairways are wide and the rough is pretty manageable, this week isn't about grinding out pars. It’s a pure "birdie-fest" where you need to hit crisp iron shots and catch a completely red-hot putter. For context, Scottie Scheffler absolutely destroyed this place last year, winning at 31-under par. 

Texas in late May usually brings humidity and a threat of storms, and this week fits the bill. [1, 2]