HP Byron Nelson Championship preview

A strong field takes on the TPC Four Seasons Resort course where Keegan Bradley won his first PGA Tour event last season

Keegan Bradley is defending champion

Lowdown:

With a yardage of 7,166 yards and a par of only 70, the TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving is not the easiest place to play golf. Put that alongside a location where the wind can blow and it's even tougher.

There are, however, some big name players in the field this week who could deal with this challenge. Adam Scott, Jason Day, last week's Players Championship winner Matt Kuchar, and Phil Mickelson. If the conditions are tough you would expect these four to feature up the top of the leaderboard come Sunday.

Keegan Bradley made his breakthrough win here last season before going on to win the USPGA Championship with a score of just two under par. Showing that when conditions are tough here the Major contenders seem to do well.

Venue: TPC Four Seasons Resort, Irving, Texas Date: May 17-20 Course stats: par 70, 7,166 yards Purse: $6,500,000 Winner: $1,170,000 Defending Champion: Keegan Bradley

TV Coverage:

Thursday 17 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm Friday 18 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm Saturday 19 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm Sunday 20 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm

Player Watch:

Matt Kuchar: Fresh from his win at TPC Sawgrass last week, he may enjoy the conditions here if they get tough.

Louis Oosthuizen: Missed the cut by one at TPC Sawgrass after his Masters play-off defeat. Has been striking the ball superbly this season and has the consistency to do well here.

Phil Mickelson: Has made four top 10s from 11 starts this season and if anyone is likely to be able to make birdies on a tough course then it is Lefty.

Key hole:

15th a fearsome par-4 of 504 yards, a slight dogleg from right to left with trees along both sides. Incredibly it produced only 16 birdies in last year's tournament and 167 bogeys.

Skills required:

Hit it long and straight and you should be able to find the large undulating putting surfaces. Miss fairways and you will have trees and water features to deal with.

Thomas Patrick Clarke
Sports Digital Editor


Tom Clarke joined Golf Monthly as a sub editor in 2009 being promoted to content editor in 2012 and then senior content editor in 2014, before becoming Sports Digital Editor for the Sport Vertical within Future in 2022. Tom currently looks after all the digital products that Golf Monthly produce including Strategy and Content Planning for the website and social media - Tom also assists the Cycling, Football, Rugby and Marine titles at Future. Tom plays off 16 and lists Augusta National (name drop), Old Head and Le Touessrok as the favourite courses he has played. Tom is an avid viewer of all golf content with a particularly in depth knowledge of the pro tour.