2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson: Top 10 power rankings at TPC Craig Ranch

You know Jordan Spieth truly had an injured wrist this time last year for him to decide to pull out of his hometown event.

Well, his wrist unfortunately is still in tough shape entering this year’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

He was quoted by ESPN saying it's a “come-and-go thing” that needs rest and an offseason to fully heal. Yet, he’s still continuing on full steam ahead with his typical PGA Tour schedule.

If he’s good enough to give it a go this week at TPC Craig Ranch, the Dallas native will be there. If Spieth is playing, he’s a savvy pick given his course history and a weak field.

The former Texas Longhorn fired 63-69-72-73 for T-9th in 2021 and was a shot out of forcing a playoff to take solo second in 2022 (64-68-67-63).

“If the wind doesn't blow, you really are kind of looking at trying to go score,” Spieth said of TPC Craig Ranch in a 2021 ASAP Sports transcription. “Then when it does, you're almost kind of holding on and saying, all right, I want to take advantage of the par-5s but the rest of the course is going to be really tough. It's got really hard par-3s.”

Health and recent form are what keep Spieth from climbing higher in this week’s power ranking. A T-10th at the Valero Texas Open shows he can summon the magic (or at least close to it) in the Lone Star State, but it was his only top 10 since February.

Despite some doom and gloom that has arisen from a missed cut at the Masters among other puzzling results, Spieth is still hanging in there at 11th on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Total (1.003). The putter’s rolling well at 14th in SG and he’ll be comfortable with this week’s surface.

Not known for his distance, he can hit it out there long enough to rank 49th in driving distance (302.5). He’s got enough carry to bomb it around a big ballpark like this week’s and doesn’t have to worry if accuracy issues arise as they did at Harbour Town, where he finished T-39th.