Power Rankings and Preview: THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch

The PGA TOUR rolls into McKinney, Texas this week for THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, where a field of 156 players will battle at TPC Craig Ranch for critical FedExCup points, PGA Championship spots, and a slice of golf history — all under the Texas sun and on turf that’s about to change for good.

Top Players to Watch

At No. 1 in the Power Rankings is Scottie Scheffler, who made his PGA TOUR debut at this event in 2014. Although winless in eight starts this season, he’s posted finishes of T2, 4th, and T8 in recent outings. He’s trending up.

Si Woo Kim (No. 2) and Sungjae Im (No. 3), both from South Korea, are also strong contenders. Kim boasts a stellar track record at TPC Craig Ranch (T2 and T13 the past two years), while Im is coming off a T5 at the Masters and T11 at the RBC Heritage.

Taylor Pendrith (No. 4) returns to defend his breakthrough win from last year, having posted seven top-10s since. Sam Burns (No. 5) seeks his first win in over two years, while Jordan Spieth (No. 6), who made his TOUR debut here 15 years ago, will draw huge local support.

Other notable names rounding out the top 10 include Byeong Hun An, Jake Knapp, Mackenzie Hughes, and Ben Griffin, who just earned his maiden TOUR win alongside Andrew Novak at the Zurich Classic.

The Course: Changes Now and Ahead

TPC Craig Ranch, a 7,569-yard par 71, is set up for scoring, having played as the easiest par 71 on TOUR in 2024. Players routinely average 8+ fairways and 12+ greens per round. Winners have posted 23-under totals in each of the last two years.

However, this will be the last Byron Nelson played on this exact version of the course. After this week, TPC Craig Ranch will undergo a full renovation:

• TifTuf Bermudagrass will replace ryegrass on tees, fairways, and rough.

• Ultradwarf Bermudagrass will be installed on greens.

• Bunkers will be reworked, new tee boxes added, and drainage systems upgraded.

In fact, players will get an early taste of these tweaks: five holes have already been extended for this year, adding 155 yards overall. The par-5 5th is now 635 yards.

Despite the added length, low scores are still expected. Wind could be a factor later in the tournament, though the opening round forecast is mild with highs in the low 80s.

High Stakes

This tournament is the final chance to earn points toward the Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5, which grant entry into next week’s Truist Championship, the sixth Signature Event of the season.

It’s also the final qualifier for the PGA Championship, awarding exemptions to the top 70 in PGA Championship Points. Additionally, world ranking spots this week may help players crack the PGA of America’s top 100 cutoff.