HP Byron Nelson Championship preview

This week, the PGA Tour returns to Texas for the HP Byron Nelson Championship at TPC Four Seasons in Irving

Sang-Moon Bae returns why are south koreans so good at golf
Sand-Moon Bae claimed a maiden PGA Tour title at the Byron Nelson Championship in 2013
(Image credit: Getty Images)

This week, the PGA Tour returns to Texas for the HP Byron Nelson Championship at TPC Four Seasons in Irving

This week, the PGA Tour returns to Texas for the HP Byron Nelson Championship at TPC Four Seasons in Irving.

As usual, a strong field - headlined by Players Championship winner Martin Kaymer and joint third-round leader Jordan Spieth - has assembled.

The likes of Dustin Johnson, Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner, Matt Kuchar and Charl Schwartzel are also on the starting sheet.

The event started life in 1944 as the Texas Victory Open, with Nelson, Sam Snead and Ben Hogan reigning supreme in the first three playings of the prestigious championship. It became the Byron Nelson Golf Classic in 1968 - named after the event's first winner.

Since then, the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Lanny Wadkins, Tom Watson, Payne Stewart, Ben Crenshaw, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods have all triumphed in the Byron Nelson Championship.

The TPC Four Seasons has staged the tournament since 1994, but it shared hosting responsibilities with the Cottonwood Valley Course until 2007.

It’s a 7,166-yard par-70 course characterised by tree-lined fairways, large putting surfaces and numerous water features

Venue: TPC Four Seasons, Irving, Texas Date: May 15-18 Course stats: 7,166 yards, par 70 Purse: $6,900,000; Winning share: $1,242,000 Defending champion: Sang-Moon Bae (-13)

Byron Nelson Championship Television coverage:

Thursday 15 - 8pm , Sky Sports 4 Friday 16 - 8pm, Sky Sports 4 Saturday 17 - 8pm, Sky Sports 4 Sunday 18 - 7pm, Sky Sports 4

Player watch:

Jordan Spieth - Will be determined to notch a second PGA Tour victory after close calls at The Masters and The Players Championship. He's also from Texas.

Jimmy Walker - Already has three wins on the PGA Tour this season. Finished 6th at The Players after a final-round 65 and currently ranks first on tour in Strokes Gained - Putting.

Ryan Palmer - The Texas native often plays his best golf on home soil. He lost in a play-off here in 2011 and finished inside the top 10 in 2012.

Key hole: 15th – this tough 505-yard par 4 is a slight dogleg from right to left with trees along both sides. Make four pars and you'll be delighted.

Skills required: Total driving. If you hit it long and straight, you should be able to find the large, undulating putting surfaces and avoid numerous trees and water features.

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x