HP Byron Nelson Championship preview

The PGA Tour remains in Texas this week for the HP Byron Nelson Championship. Adam Scott defends the title but will not be among the favourites at TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas.

Adam Scott defends
Fergus Bisset
By Fergus Bisset
published

Lowdown: The TPC Four Seasons at Las Colinas had a fairly dramatic overhaul for last season’s Byron Nelson Championship. D.A Weibring, with the assistance of J.J Henry and Harrison Frazar, altered every tee, green and fairway, rebuilt 70 bunkers and lengthened the par 70 course to 7,166 yards. As a result Adam Scott’s winning total in 2008 was considerably higher than in previous championships. In fact, you have to look back to 1984 to find a four round total higher than that of the Australian. Scott was matched on 273 in 2008 by Ryan Moore, but the talented Aussie came through a playoff at the third extra hole. Scott will be back at Las Colinas to defend his title, but he’s missed the cut in his last five starts and will not be considered amongst the favourites for this week. Ian Poulter will likely be in the running. The Englishman has enjoyed an excellent run of form in the States over recent weeks and he finished in a tie for third in this tournament back in 2007.

Venue: TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas, Texas Date: May 21-24 Course stats: par 70, 7,166 yards Purse: $6,500,000, Winner: $1,170,000 Defending champion: Adam Scott (-7) TV coverage: Thursday 21st – Live on Setanta Golf from 8pm Friday 22nd - Live on Setanta Golf from 8pm Saturday 23rd - Live on Setanta Golf from 6pm Sunday 24th - Live on Setanta Golf from 6pm Player watch: Justin Leonard – He’s on solid form and recorded another top-10 last week. He hasn’t missed a cut in this event since 2000. Ian Poulter – The Englishman is enjoying an excellent run of form that’s seen him into the top-20 of the Official World Golf Ranking. Next thing for Poults? A victory. Key Hole: 17th. A 198 yard par-3 played into an amphitheatre style green. The putting surface has been reshaped so more balls will filter down towards the cup, but water waits just off the green’s edge to collect slightly wayward shots.

Skills Required: Creativity D.A Weibring’s re-design has challenged the players to be more creative with their choices from tee to green. They’ll need a full arsenal of shots to end the week on top.

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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