GOLF

Daily Fantasy Golf Course Primer: AT&T Byron Nelson

What should you know about the TPC Four Seasons, which hosts its final Byron Nelson event?

Even in a loaded field last week, Si Woo Kim won THE PLAYERS Championship, just going to show how volatile the sport of golf can be on a week-to-week basis.

Of course, Kim ranked inside the top 75 in the Official World Golf Rankings entering the event, but that was the toughest field all season, per FantasyGolfMetrics.

But we must move forward. This week, the AT&T Byron Nelson will play its final tournament at TPC Four Seasons before moving to Trinity Forest Golf Club.

What should you know for the final go?

Course and Tournament Overview

The par 70 runs 7,166 yards, so it's one of the shorter courses on the PGA Tour (though fairly average for a par 70).

The 54-hole leader has hung on to win just four times in the past nine iterations of the AT&T Byron Nelson, so be sure not to count your bankroll until all is said and done.

The 2015 version was wacky because of weather, and the 14th (a par 4) was shortened to a 104-yard par 3, making the course a par 69 for the final three rounds.

We'll exclude the 2015 makeshift event, but this course is generally one of the tougher on the PGA Tour since a redesign in 2008.

TPC Four Seasons Difficulty Rank Average Score Relative to Par
2016 32 -0.885
2014 14 0.541
2013 18 0.413
2012 14 1.087
2011 5 2.354
2010 12 0.790
2009 30 -0.315
2008 7 2.028


And there's a lot at stake here. Golfers ranked inside the top 60 in the Official World Golf Rankings will be guaranteed an invitation to The US Open.

Scott Piercy, Jhonattan Vegas, Jason Dufner, and Tony Finau are all just outside that mark among players in the field.

Recent Tournament History

Last season, Sergio Garcia (-15) opened with a 63 and followed it up with a 66 and two 68s on the back 36. He went into a playoff with Brooks Koepka (65, 64, 65, 71), and Koepka found the drink on the first playoff hole.

Matt Kuchar (-14) finished third, and Bud Cauley, Robert Garrigus, Charles Howell III, Colt Knost, Spencer Levin, and Tim Wilkinson tied for fourth at -13.

In 2015, the wonky season, Steven Bowditch won by four strokes at -18. He shot an opening-round 62 and led wire to wire. Charley Hoffman, Scott Pinckney, and Jimmy Walker were second at -14, and Zach Johnson stood in fifth alone at -13.

Brendon Todd (-14) won in 2014, with Mike Weir (-12), Howell and Marc Leishman (-10), and James Hahn and Boo Weekley (-9) rounding out the top five. Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, and Garaham DeLaet tied for seventh (-8).

Key Stats

Certain stats, such as strokes gained: tee to green, birdie or better percentage, and putting efficiency will always be worth monitoring, but these are some of the most important stats to look for when rostering golfers at TPC Four Seasons.

Key Stats for the AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Four Seasons Resort
Greens in Regulation
Good Drive Percentage
Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
Scrambling
Official World Golf Ranking


With this course being as tough as it is, getting to the greens on time is something we should prioritize. There are large, undulating greens here, and putting isn't a given this week. Still, getting close with the chance to make or break par is crucial.

Driving distance has actually correlated pretty well here for success, even though it's a short course, but good drive percentage -- which is baked in with greens in regulation -- should probably be the stat we prefer. Setting yourself up for good approach shots looks to be more important than either distance or accuracy alone. On the same note, strokes gained: off the tee and approach the green are key this week.

Good scrambling has also been on the checklist for strong performance at TPC Four Seasons in the past. This is a pretty broad list, but it encompasses the main points of emphasis this week.

And we know that the top 60 in the world get automatic bids to The US Open, so if you want, you can play that narrative, which impacts a good handful of golfers this weekend.

Course History Studs

Garcia won here in 2004 and in 2016 but played the course just once between 2008 and 2016, a T20 in 2011. In all, he has made 9 of 12 cuts and has 7 top 25s to show for it.

Matt Kuchar is a perfect nine for nine here in terms of making cuts. He has four top 25s, three of which were top 10s. That includes a 3 last season, a T7 in 2014, and a T6 in 2011.

Dufner has The US Open to play for and has also reeled off six straight cuts at this course: a T24 in 2016 after a T8 in 2015, a T48 in 2014, a T33 in 2013, a win in 2012, and a T8 in 2011.

Graham DeLaet was cut here last year after an opening-round 74 (followed by a strong 65). He was T22 the year before that, after a T7, T10, and T41 finish. That's three top 25s in six tries, and he bounced back strong in Round 2 last year.

Garrigus is seasoned here, with 11 total events. He missed three cuts in all but just one in his past eight tries. He's coming off a T4 but was T9 in 2012 before missing the cut the following year.

Ryan Palmer has overcome his demons at TPC Four Seasons, though he did miss the cut in 2016. Prior to that, he was T10, T22, T33, T9, and 2. That's after six missed cuts and a T73. He has experience here, and he has had some strong recent results, as well.

Charley Hoffman was T12 last year after one poor round (67, 66, 72, 64) after finishing T2, T8, T41 in his prior three attempts here. He struggled earlier in his career at this course but is in strong recent form.

Dustin Johnson has finished T12, T8, and T7 in the past three years here and was T20, T7, T4 from 2011 back to 2009. What else do you need to know?

Jimmy Walker has made 9 of 10 cuts here since 2006 but has just a single top-10 finish (T2 in 2015).

Keegan Bradley missed the cut last year, after a T22, T29, 2, T24, and a win the five years prior.

Gary Woodland has reeled off seven straight cuts but just three top 25s and a lone top 10, a T7 in 2014.