Updated:
May 20, 2026 , 09:26 AM ET
• 4 min read
Your one-stop shop for CJ CUP Byron Nelson predictions, picks, and analysis.
Photo By – Reuters Connect. Scottie Scheffler during his third round of the PGA Championship.
We’re now halfway through the major championship season, and the heart of the PGA Tour schedule continues with THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch.
Some home cooking could go a long way for Scottie Scheffler after winning this event by eight strokes last year. While the World No. 1 hasn’t won since January, Scheffler is a short betting favorite in THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson odds.
Check out our full CJ CUP Byron Nelson predictions and golf picks below, with additional information on TPC Craig Ranch, the field, and more.
⛳ THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson: Key takeaways
- Best early bet: Jordan Spieth (+1500) — The Texas native is coming off a T18 at the PGA and finished fourth here in 2025 as well as solo-second in 2022.
- TPC Craig Ranch: The 7,569-yard Par 71 fetches a ton of birdies. Sheffler won at 31-under last year, and the winning score has been -23 or lower in the last seven editions.
- Weather: On and off rain through the week will create soft scoring conditions, and there’s also potential for thunderstorm delays.
- Expected cut: The cut line has been between -4 and -6 over the last five years. It’s birdies or bust this week.
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📊 THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson odds: favorites & full field
THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson will be played at TPC Craig Ranch from Thursday, May 21, through Sunday, May 24, with 144 golfers in the field before a 36-hole cut to the Top 65 players and ties.
Odds courtesy of BetMGM — one of our best golf betting sites — on May 20.
Check out the full CJ CUP Byron Nelson field.
Best bets card
- Outright: Jordan Spieth to win (+1500): Ranked second in strokes gained tee-to-green at Aronimink and third at the 2025 Byron Nelson.
- Top 20: Brooks Koepka (+110): With a Top 20 in five of his past eight events while ranking third in this field in true strokes gained tee-to-green, this is a generous price.
Finishing position picks
Brooks Koepka Top 20 (+110)
This is a generous price. Brooks Koepka has carded a Top 20 in five of his past eight events while ranking third in this field in true strokes gained tee-to-green and second on approach. He just needs a few more putts to fall.
- Course Fit: Koepka has only played TPC Craig Ranch once competitively
- Recent Form: Elite tee-to-green play has been on full display
- Key Stat: 12th in adjusted scoring average in 2026
Risk: Putting woes have Koepka ranked 134th in three-putt avoidance.
CJ CUP Byron Nelson long shots
Here are Esten McLaren’s best CJ CUP Byron Nelson long-shot predictions this week:
Best long-shot bet: Eric Cole (+5000 at BetMGM)
Eric Cole comes off a T6 finish in the Myrtle Beach Classic, with that following a T14 in the Valero Texas Open. The 118th-ranked golfer in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) has been a victim of the PGA Tour schedule.
I believe he’s in position for his first PGA Tour victory due to an average of 0.87 strokes gained: approach across his last 12 rounds that ranks second in this week’s weaker field.
- Course fit: T5 finish in this event last year
- Recent form: Coming off his best two results since the fall swing
- Key stat: 28th on Tour in birdie-or-better percentage
Course breakdown: TPC Craig Ranch
TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, was originally designed by major champion Tom Weiskopf and plays as a Par 71 at over 7,500 yards.
It’s widely regarded as one of the biggest birdie-fests on the PGA Tour schedule. It has inviting fairways and huge greens that allow players to be aggressive and attack pins from any angle. With the famous Texas winds expected to be muted this week, the soft scoring conditions will likely lend another massive winning score.
- Easy access to these expansive, forgiving fairways means tee game is less critical
- Elite iron-play is required to pile up good birdie looks
- A hot putter also needed to cash in on those scoring chances and keep pace
Players to watch
- Scottie Scheffler: Putting cost the World No. 1 a shot at another major championship last week, but he ranked sixth in strokes gained putting during last year’s runaway victory.
- Jordan Spieth: Ball-striking form is coming back, and the familiar Texas tracks have been great to him in the past.
Key stats & player profiles to target
- Strokes gained approach
- Birdie-or-better percentage
- Strokes gained putting
- Adjusted scoring average
Odds movement & market notes
Scottie Scheffler’s +175 outright price is the shortest outright odds to win a PGA Tour event since at least 2019, but it’s not entirely outrageous considering he won this event by eight shots a year ago and was 11 shots clear of third place. This is also a particularly thin field for a signature event.
Si Woo Kim (+1400) is second on the board, but I see him getting passed up by Texas native Jordan Spieth (+1500) by the time Thursday morning comes around. Don’t be surprised if he’s as short as 12/1 by that time.
Aaron Rai opened at 33/1 to win this week, but he withdrew on Monday after winning the PGA Championship. That opened up even more value in the CJ CUP Byron Nelson odds.
How to watch THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson & tee times
How to watch:
- Thursday-Friday: 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
- Saturday-Sunday: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. ET (CBS)
Tee times:
- Round 1 and 2 tee times will be available later this week
THE CJ CUP Bryon Nelson betting FAQ
Who is the 2026 CJ CUP Bryon Nelson favorite?
World No. 1 and reigning CJ CUP Byron Nelson winner Scottie Scheffler (+175) is the betting favorite at BetMGM.
When is the 2026 CJ CUP Byron Nelson?
The 2026 CJ CUP Byron Nelson will be played from Thursday, May 21, to Sunday, May 24.
Where will the 2026 CJ CUP Byron Nelson be played?
The 2026 CJ CUP Byron Nelson will be played at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.
What are CJ CUP Byron Nelson FRL markets?
First Round Leader (FRL) markets center around which golfers will be in the lead following the first 18 holes of the tournament.
How do CJ CUP Byron Nelson matchup bets work?
When betting CJ CUP Byron Nelson matchups, you’re selecting which golfer will score better between the two golfers listed in that specific market. There are 18-hole, single-round matchups, in addition to tournament-long, 72-hole matchups.
What is the CJ CUP Byron Nelson cut line?
The CJ CUP Byron Nelson features a cut to the Top 65 players and ties following the completion of Round 2.
Are CJ CUP Byron Nelson odds the same across all sportsbooks?
You’ll see slight to significant variations in odds across sportsbooks for the CJ CUP Byron Nelson; it’s always good practice to check multiple sports betting sites for the best odds.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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