Overview of THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson
THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson is set to take place at TPC Craig Ranch, located in McKinney, Texas. This exciting tournament will be held from May 21-24, 2026.
Tournament Details
- Location: TPC Craig Ranch, McKinney, Texas
- Purse: $10.3 million
- First place prize: $1.85 million
- FedExCup points to winner: 500
- Defending Champion: The reigning champion is Scottie Scheffler, who won with a record score of 31 under par.
Course Information
The course, TPC Craig Ranch, underwent a significant $25 million redesign after the 2025 tournament, which included:
- Completely redesigned bunkers
- Resurfaced greens
- New grass turf
- Lengthened holes to curb low scoring
Course Snapshot
- Architect: Tom Weiskopf (Lanny Wadkins redesign)
- Par: 71
- Yardage: 7,385 yards
Historical Context
The tournament celebrates the legacy of Byron Nelson, a Texas golf legend who holds a remarkable record of 18 PGA TOUR victories in 1945, including 11 consecutive wins.
Recent Champions
The CJ CUP Byron Nelson has seen several champions in recent years, highlighting both international and domestic players:
- 2025: Scottie Scheffler (31 under)
- 2024: Taylor Pendrith (23 under)
- 2023: Jason Day (23 under)
- 2022: K.H. Lee (26 under)
- 2021: K.H. Lee (25 under)
2026 Player Field
This year's field features several notable golfers:
- Defending champion Scottie Scheffler and World No. 1
- Seven players ranked in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking
- Four players currently in the top 25 of the FedExCup standings
- Five major champions, including a standout player with five major titles
- Recent TOUR winners, including Aaron Rai
Player Highlights
Key players include:
- Scottie Scheffler
- Si Woo Kim
- Nicolai Højgaard
- Aaron Rai
- Jordan Spieth
- Michael Kim
- Marco Penge
For the complete field list and tee times, see the official PGA TOUR resources.
Scoring Records
Interesting scoring records provide context for the competitive nature of the tournament:
- Best 18-hole score: 60 (achieved multiple times by various players)
- Latest hole-in-one: Raul Pereda (2024, Round 1, No. 7)
- Largest 54-hole lead: 8 strokes (held by Sam Snead in 1957 and Scottie Scheffler in 2025)
- Largest margin of victory: 10 strokes (Sam Snead, 1957)
- Latest playoff: 2017 (Billy Horschel defeated Jason Day)
- Wire-to-wire winners: Notably, Scottie Scheffler in 2025
- Best come-from-behind win: Peter Thomson overcame a seven-stroke deficit in 1956
Last Year’s Highlights
In the 2025 edition of THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, Scottie Scheffler achieved a wire-to-wire victory, tying the lowest 72-hole score in PGA TOUR history. He maintained a commanding lead throughout with high scores in each round, including a powerful finishing round that significantly bolstered his position on the leaderboard.
How to Watch
Fans can follow the action live with the following broadcasting schedule:
- TV Schedule (ET):
- Thursday-Friday: 3-6 p.m., GOLF Channel
- Saturday-Sunday: 1-3 p.m., GOLF Channel; 3-6 p.m., CBS, Paramount+
- Streaming (ESPN+):
- Thursday-Friday: 7:45 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Saturday-Sunday: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
- PGA TOUR Radio:
- Thursday-Friday: 1-7 p.m.
- Saturday-Sunday: 1-6 p.m.
- Live Scoring: Available on PGATOUR.com and the PGA TOUR App.
