The PGA Tour rolls into McKinney, Texas, this week for the 2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, hosted at TPC Craig Ranch. With a birdie fest on tap and stars like Scottie Scheffler in the field, this event sets up perfectly for PGA DFS players looking to maximize scoring upside. Whether you’re hunting for the best CJ Cup Byron Nelson DFS picks on DraftKings or building balanced lineups, we have you covered. Here’s everything you need to know for CJ Cup Byron Nelson DFS, including course breakdowns, recent player form, early PGA DFS picks and the latest weather forecast.
CJ Cup Byron Nelson DFS Preview: Course History, Form & Weather
Course Overview: TPC Craig Ranch
- Location: McKinney, Texas
- Par/Yardage: Par 71 / 7,569 yards
- Grass: Zoysia fairways, Bentgrass greens
- Style: Parkland
TPC Craig Ranch is all about birdie making. Wide fairways, pure greens and minimal penalty areas create extremely low scoring conditions. Winning scores routinely push −25 or lower. Approach shots and putting will decide who separates on the leaderboard.
Notable Course History:
- K.H. Lee won back-to-back titles at -25 or better(2021-22)
- Jason Day (2023) and Taylor Pendrith (2024) won with -23
- Jordan Spieth was runner-up in 2022
Top DraftKings PGA DFS Teams by Pricing Tier
Top-Tier Targets ($10,000+)
Scottie Scheffler ($13,300) — The world’s best golfer tees it up in his home state. He’s first in strokes gained tee to green and birdie-or-better rate. Only a cold putter can stop him. Expect massive ownership (35% to 40%), but a Scheffler fade is risky.
Jordan Spieth ($10,500) — Runner-up here in 2022 and brings three straight top-20 finishes into the event. Texas native with crowd support. Elite birdie-maker but volatile — ideal for GPPs.
Sungjae Im ($10,000) — Coming off a top-5 at The Masters and top-11 at RBC Heritage. Consistent ball-striker with one of the highest birdie-or-better rates on “easy” courses.
Mid-Tier Options ($7,500 – $9,900)
Si Woo Kim ($9,400) — Finished second and 13th here the last two years. Fresh off a top-8 at RBC Heritage. Accurate, smart play fits perfectly at Craig Ranch.
Taylor Pendrith ($9,600) — Defending champion. Tremendous driver with improving putting. High-upside play with risk of volatility.
Byeong Hun An ($9,700) — Top 4 here last year. Gains big off the tee; if the putter is even average, he can finish top 10 again.
Keith Mitchell ($9,500) — Top 20 in strokes gained off the tee, on approach and birdie rate. Profile fits this course perfectly. Will be a popular GPP play.
Value Plays (Under $7,500)
Ryan Palmer ($6,000) — Veteran Texan who knows how to play in wind. Safer value for lineup stability.
Hayden Springer ($7,000) — Texas native and promising upstart. Pure punt with spike upside after a top-6 earlier this year.
PGA DFS Weather Outlook
Expect typical Texas spring conditions:
- Highs: 78°F to 83°F
- Winds: 10 to 15 mph, gusts possible
- Rain: Chance of isolated thunderstorms early
DFS Angle: If weather splits tee times, consider stacking morning/afternoon waves to exploit any scoring advantages. Soft conditions could push scoring even lower, favoring bombers and wedge specialists.
Early PGA DFS Strategy
- Lock in birdie makers who can take advantage of wide fairways.
- Focus on strokes gains on approach and putting hot streaks.
- Pair elite chalk like Scheffler with lower-owned upside mid-tier options.
- Consider punting with aggressive value plays to jam two studs.
TPC Craig Ranch almost always turns into a birdie barrage — build your lineups accordingly.
