2021 AT&T Byron Nelson: Top 10 picks at TPC Craig Ranch

The PGA Tour is in Texas for two of the next three weeks. We’re currently in McKinney, Texas, at the AT&T Byron Nelson’s new venue, TPC Craig Ranch.

The tournament was established in 1944. It’s been held at several courses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It was last at Trinity Forest in 2018 and 2019. The 2020 edition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

TPC Craig Ranch is a Tom Weiskopf design that opened in 2004. It hosted the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in 2008 and 2012 (Nationwide Tour and Web.com Tour at the time, respectively) and has also served as a KFT second stage Q school site.

This is the first time the Byron Nelson’s been held outside of Dallas County.

TPC Craig Ranch is a par 72 measuring 7,438 yards. Former PGA Tour player D.A. Weibring was a consultant on the design. The course has Zoysia fairways and Bentgrass greens. It has gentle, rolling hills and is along the limestone banks of Rowlett Creek.

Like most TPC courses, it’s designed with spectators in mind. Ampitheater like mounds and viewing areas will allow for the event to pack in plenty of fans.

This year, 10,000 fans per day are permitted in.

Winning scores for the two KFT events at TPC Craig Ranch were 16- and 17-under-par, respectively. Fifteen players exceeded 10-under in 2008 and seven in 2012.

There is a standard 156-player field for this week with top 65 and ties making the cut. There are two players in the top 10 in the Official World Golf Rankings teeing it up in Texas but still plenty of guys who will be in the field at the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island.

Cool and wet conditions early in the week look like they’ll clear up to get into the 70s and 80s by the weekend. The wind doesn’t look to be a big factor, but you never know in Texas.

Part one of the May Texas two-step begins Thursday. Here are 10 guys with a great chance to vie for the title.

This post has been updated after Dustin Johnson withdrew from the AT&T Byron Nelson on Monday.