AT&T Byron Nelson Expert Picks

Tournament Information

AT&T Byron Nelson
Date: May 9^th – 12^th
Course: Trinity Forest Golf Club
Purse - $7.7MM ($1.4MM to winner)
FedEx points – 500 to winner(s)
2018 Winner: Aaron Wise (-23)

Course

Trinity Forest Golf Club. Located in Dallas, this course was founded in 2014 but did not open until late in 2016. Built on a landfill and designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, this 7,450 yard par 71 course will make its 2^nd appearance as host for the AT&T Byron Nelson this year. Host to SMU collect, Trinity hosts Bermuda grass, large bunkers and some rolling hills. Attempting to mimic a links style course, it is far from the more native courses in northwest and Great Britain. This course will be open with lush grass but requires a tactical approach often deciding which side you want to pursue and allow gravity to aid each shot.

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

My Starting 4

Marc Leishman (2^nd selection this year) — His last two years have both been top 15 finishes. Currently 22^nd in official world golf ranking, he’s 16^th in strokes gained approaching the green.

Keith Mitchell (1^st selection this year) — He finished 6^th here under the new venue last year. In addition to that he’s 23^rd in FedEx points, he has missed just one cut in the last seven tournaments which includes a win (Honda Classic) and two other top ten finishes (including an 8^th place finish last week at Quail Hollow). He is 36^th in total strokes gained and 11^th in strokes gained off the tee.

Russel Knox (1^st selection this year) — He finished 16^th here last year. He has missed just two cuts in 15 starts this year so he’s safe from that front, the issue is that he rarely finishes in the top 10 (one 10^th place finish). He continues to fall in the 20-45 area.

Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

Kevin Tway (1^st selection this year) — He finished 20^th here in 2017 and ninth here last year. He has had quite the season, after a great stretch in Hawaii to start the year (including a handful of top 25 finishes) he went stone cold for a month and a half missing six consecutive cuts. He rebounded a few weeks ago at the Masters (36^th) followed by a 13^th place finish at the Zurich Classic. He’s been fantastic around the green sitting 24^th in strokes gained there.

My Bench 2

Nick Taylor (1^st selection this year) — He was ninth here in 2017 and 32^nd here last year. He’s playing well on the greens this year sitting 46^th in strokes gained putting. He has missed just three cuts in 18 tournanaments and now has nine consecutive cuts made. During that time he has one top ten finish and three top 25 finishes.

Scott Piercy (1^st selection this year) — He finished 20^th here in 2017 and 32^nd here last year. Scott has back to back top 15 finishes coming into AT&T finishing 3^rd at RBC Heritage and 13^th at Zurich Classic. Scott is 31^st in Birdie Average.

2019 Stats

Starting 4: Avg finish 44th (36th percentile)
Bench 2: Avg finish 58th (46th percentile)