Preview, stats and betting tips for this week's Byron Nelson Championship at TPC Four Seasons Resort.
Watch all four rounds of the Byron Nelson Championship on Sky Sports
For the 28th successive year the TPC course at Las Colinas plays host to the HP Byron Nelson Championship.
Renovated extensively ahead of the 2008 event, the layout offers undulating greens and tree-lined fairways.
Between 1994 and 2007 it shared tournament duties with the nearby Cottonwood Valley course before wresting back full control five years ago.
A par-70 that clocks in at 7,166 yards it provides a really tough driving test for competitors, while the large greens also ensure those wanting to contend will have to perform well with the flat-stick.
SELECTED PLAYERS with GOOD to REASONABLE FORM at LAS COLINAS
Last Eight Years
Player: '05 / '06 / '07 / '08 / '09 / '10 / '11 / '12
Arjun Atwal: - / MC / - / - / - / 7 / 8 / 56
Keegan Bradley: - / - / - / - / - / - / Won / 24
Chad Campbell: 56 / 5 / 13 / MC / MC / MC / 40 / 24
Ben Crane: 48 / 26 / 25 / MC / 45 / 7 / 63 / -
Brian Davis: - / 8 / MC / MC / 2 / MC / MC / 56
Jason Day: - / - / - / - / - / Won / 5 / 9
James Driscoll: 35 / 79 / - / MC / 35 / 59 / 8 / 19
Jason Dufner: - / - / MC / - / - / - / 8 / Won
Ken Duke: - / - / 7 / 35 / 23 / MC / - / 7
Robert Garrigus: - / MC / 62 / MC / 16 / 26 / 20 / 9
Brian Gay: MC / 19 / MC / 7 / MC / 2 / 14 / 56
JJ Henry: 10 / 13 / 13 / 57 / 60 / 32 / 27 / 3
Charley Hoffman: - / 8 / MC / 7 / 23 / MC / MC / 41
Ryuji Imada: 35 / 34 / 9 / MC / MC / 67 / 3 / 67
Freddie Jacobson: MC / - / 7 / MC / - / - / 27 / -
Dustin Johnson: - / - / - / 63 / 4 / 7 / 20 / -
Matt Kuchar: - / - / 39 / 42 / 39 / - / 6 / 15
Marc Leishman: - / - / - / - / 8 / 12 / MC / 3
Justin Leonard: 58 / 26 / 51 / 19 / 16 / 26 / MC / MC
Steve Marino: - / - / 10 / 42 / 16 / - / - / -
Scott McCarron: 35 / 34 / - / 13 / 4 / - / 49 / -
Joe Ogilvie: - / 21 / 62 / 73 / 35 / MC / 3 / -
Sean O'Hair: 2 / 19 / 25 / MC / - / 12 / MC / -
Jeff Overton: - / 73 / - / 35 / MC / 2 / 8 / MC
Ryan Palmer: MC / 73 / MC / MC / MC / MC / 2 / 9
Rod Pampling: 27 / 8 / 10 / MC / 23 / 53 / 8 / MC
Jesper Parnevik: 18 / MC / MC / 13 / 65 / - / - / -
Scott Piercy: - / - / - / - / MC / - / 26 / 15
DA Points: MC / MC / - / - / 3 / 7 / 40 / 19
Ted Purdy: Won / 45 / MC / 35 / 23 / MC / 55 / -
John Rollins: 14 / MC / 19 / 47 / 39 / MC / 6 / 24
Rory Sabbatini: 14 / 61 / 3 / MC / Won / 43 / MC / MC
Vijay Singh: 3 / 48 / 13 / - / 16 / MC / 27 / 9
Heath Slocum: 18 / MC / - / - / MC / 12 / MC / MC
Jordan Spieth: - / - / - / - / - / 16 / 32 / -
Kevin Sutherland: 27 / 34 / 29 / 7 / MC / MC / - / -
Scott Verplank: 6 / Wd / Won / 61 / MC / 5 / MC / -
Mike Weir: - / - / 19 / - / 16 / - / MC / MC
Charlie Wi: MC / - / 71 / 7 / 23 / MC / MC / -
Note: The revamped TPC Four Seasons course at Las Colinas became the exclusive host of the tournament in 2008, having previously shared control with Cottonwood Valley where the pros played 18 holes on either Thursday or Friday.
SELECTED PLAYERS with POOR to MEDICORE FORM at LAS COLINAS
Last Eight Years
(No Top-30 Finishes from three or more starts since 2005)
Player: '05 / '06 / '07 / '08 / '09 / '10 / '11 / '12
Ricky Barnes: - / - / - / - / 60 / MC / 32 / 49
Matt Bettencourt: - / - / - / - / MC / MC / MC / MC
Justin Bolli: MC / - / - / MC / - / MC / - / -
Chris DiMarco: - / 57 / - / MC / 45 / MC / 32 / MC
Martin Flores: - / MC / - / - / - / MC / MC / MC
Tommy Gainey: - / - / - / MC / - / - / 73 / MC
Tom Gillis: 58 / - / - / - / - / MC / 74 / -
Lee Janzen: - / MC / - / - / - / 67 / MC / -
Matt Jones: - / - / - / MC / - / MC / - / MC
Colt Knost: - / - / 67 / MC / 52 / MC / MC / MC
Hank Kuehne: Wd / - / MC / - / - / - / - / MC
Bill Lunde: - / - / - / - / MC / MC / - / 49
Nick O'Hern: - / - / MC / - / - / - / MC / 68
Jeff Quinney: - / - / MC / 31 / MC / MC / 63 / -
Chez Reavie: - / - / - / MC / MC / 63 / MC / MC
Tag Ridings: MC / 61 / MC / MC / - / - / 72 / -
Chris Stroud: - / - / MC / Wd / MC / - / MC / -
DJ Trahan: MC / MC / 55 / - / MC / MC / 60 / 63
Dean Wilson: MC / 34 / MC / MC / MC / - / MC / -
Yong-Eun Yang: - / - / - / 50 / 60 / 32 / - / MC
TOP-10 Finishers at LAS COLINAS in 2012 (Not Listed Above)
Dicky Pride: (2nd)
Jonas Blixt: (T-3rd)
Joe Durant: (T-3rd)
Jason Bohn: (T-9th)
Pat Perez: (T-9th)
LOWEST 15 STROKE AVERAGES at LAS COLINAS
(Last Four Years - 2009/12)
Average (Rounds)
68.50: Dustin Johnson (12)
68.67: Jason Day (12)
68.71: Marc Leishman (14)
68.75: Jason Dufner (8)
68.88: DA Points (16)
69.25: Robert Garrigus (16)
69.25: Matt Kuchar (12)
69.25: Scott McCarron (8)
69.25: Pat Perez (8)
69.30: Joe Ogilvie (10)
69.38: Keegan Bradley (8)
69.38: John Senden (8)
69.50: Ken Duke (10)
69.56: JJ Henry (16)
69.57: John Rollins (14)
Min. No. of Rounds = 8
LOWEST 15 AVERAGE TOURNAMENT POSITIONS in TEXAS
(Since Jan 1st 2008)
Average (Events)
29.90: Matt Kuchar (10)
30.00: Charley Hoffman (14)
34.00: Brian Gay (10)
37.08: Pat Perez (12)
40.85: Freddie Jacobson (13)
41.50: Ben Crane (12)
41.55: Jeff Overton (11)
43.31: Charlie Wi (13)
44.20: Scott Verplank (10)
45.67: Nathan Green (12)
46.10: Steve Marino (10)
46.55: John Senden (11)
46.91: Ben Curtis (11)
47.41: Justin Leonard (17)
48.00: Brian Davis (13)
Min. No. of Events = 8
LOWEST TOURNAMENT ROUNDS SINCE 2000
60: Arron Oberholser (2006 - Cottonwood Valley)
61: Justin Leonard (2001 - TPC at Las Colinas)
61: Cameron Beckman (2010 - TPC at Las Colinas)
62: Five times
63: 16 times
Note: The lowest score over the TPC course prior to 2000 was 61 - by Billy Mayfair (1993) and Charlie Rymer (1996). Since the course was updated ahead of the 2008 event, five players have carded rounds of 63 or lower during the tournament.
QUICK OFF THE MARK
Not one of the last 10 winners of the tournament has been more than three shots off the pace after 18 holes.
And not since 2000, has an eventual champion fired higher than 68 in his opening round.
Champion (Shots Off Pace Thru 18 Holes)
2003: Vijay Singh (2 shots behind)
2004: Sergio Garcia (2 behind)
2005: Ted Purdy (2 behind)
2006: Brett Wetterich (1 behind)
2007: Scott Verplank (2 behind)
2008: Adam Scott (1 behind)
2009: Rory Sabbatini (3 behind)
2010: Jason Day (Joint Leader)
2011: Keegan Bradley (2 behind)
2012: Jason Dufner (3 behind)
TPC Four Seasons at Las Colinas: Par 70; 7,166 yards
Winning Totals (Last Three Years):
2012: 269 (Jason Dufner)
2011: 277 (Keegan Bradley)
2010: 270 (Jason Day)
Betting conclusion:
Marc Leishman immediately jumps off the page as a man worth backing this week. The Aussie is arguably the form player on tour at present having followed his 4th place at the Masters with top-10s at Harbour Town and Sawgrass. If you add in finishes of 3/MC/12/8 at this event over the past four years, it's obvious the 29-year-old from Victoria has a liking for the course and will surely never arrive with confidence higher.
Texas resident
Jimmy Walker has been a model of consistency this season, making 13 cuts from 13, securing eight top-25s and four top-10s in the process. He is yet to push on and secure a maiden PGA Tour win, but is certainly playing well enough to make the breakthrough this week.
Like Walker, this week is a home fixture for
Jordan Spieth, although for the Dallas-born teenager it's very much in his own backyard. Spieth was invited to play this tournament as a 16-year-old and produced a fairytale performance as he contended, eventually finishing 16th. He easily made the cut again the following year and, after missing last year's renewal, will be relishing the chance to shine in front of his own again. With five top-10s to his credit already this season, he is more than capable of doing so.
2pts e.w. Marc Leishman at 18/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4,5)
2pts e.w. Jordan Spieth at 28/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4,5)
2pt e.w. Jimmy Walker at 30/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4,5)
