HP Byron Nelson Championship: golf betting guide

Our tipster analyses the field and comes up with some top tips ahead of the PGA Tour's HP Byron Nelson Championship at the TPC Four Seasons Resort in Texas

Jason Day

The PGA Tour moves to Texas this week for the HP Byron Nelson Championship at the TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving.

The 7,166-yard course has staged the tournament since 1994, and it's traditionally one of the harder tracks on the PGA Tour roster.

This week, a number of the game's biggest names have made the trip from the Players Championship to take part in the Byron Nelson.

Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Keegan Bradley, Matt Kuchar, Jason Day and Jason Dufner - who holed a 30-footer on the 72nd green to claim victory last year - are all in the field.

The TPC Four seasons is a relatively tight track with tree-lined fairways and numerous water features.

It isn't the longest course in the world, but it's imperative to find fairways in order to attack pins on the large, undulating putting surfaces.

This week, Jason Day is the 12/1 favourite with Ladbrokes, and I think he'll take some beating. The Australian is in good form, coming so close at the Masters and finishing in a tie for 19th at last week's Players Championship. He won his first PGA Tour event at the Byron Nelson in 2010, finished alone in fifth in 2011 tied for ninth last year. Day currently ranks 14th in the All-around ranking and 21st in Scoring Average.

Marc Leishman, at 20/1 with Ladbrokes, is another who can't be ignored this week. After his impressive and unexpected performance at the Masters, the Australian finished ninth at Harbour Town and 8th at TPC Sawgrass. His record in the Byron Nelson Championship - where he's notched three top 12s in his last four starts - is also exemplary.

Jimmy Walker, at 33/1 with Ladbrokes, looks a good bet this week. The American has made 22 consecutive cuts and recorded eight top 25s this season, including a tie for 15th at last week's Players Championship. He currently ranks 17th on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained - Putting, 10th in Adjusted Scoring and tied first in Par-4 Scoring.

Greg Chalmers, at 80/1 with Ladbrokes, could threaten the each way places this week. The Australian's game - centred on course management, accuracy and an impeccable short game - is perfectly suited to the TPC Four Seasons, and he'll be encouraged after playing some good golf at the Players Championship. Chalmers currently ranks fourth on the PGA Tour in Total Putting.

J.J. Henry, at 100/1 with Ladbrokes, is generously priced this week. The American resides in Texas and his record at the Byron Nelson - where he finished third last year - is excellent. What's more, he currently ranks inside the top 30 on the PGA Tour for both Driving Accuracy and Greens in Regulation. HP Byron Nelson Championship advised bets:

3pts each way on Jason Day at 12/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on Marc Leishman at 20/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on Jimmy Walker at 33/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on Greg Chalmers at 80/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts each way on J.J. Henry at 100/1 with Ladbrokes

Nick Bonfield
Content 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, commissioning and feature writing. 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