Byron Nelson Championship Preview
The Tour swings back to Texas for the Byron Nelson Championship. TPC Four Seasons is traditionally one of the toughest Par 70’s on the Tour, and the last two champions (Keegan Bradley a year ago, Jason Day in 2010) won on their first visit to Irving. Here’s a look at who’s poised to break through this week…
Phil Mickelson (10/1): Lefty returns to the Byron Nelson for the first time since 2007, when he finished T3. He’s posted six top-15’s at the tournament, including a win in 1996. He finished T4 in the Tour’s last Texas stop, at the Shell Houston Open just 1½ months ago.
John Rollins (40/1): Rollins has been solid this year, with seven top-25 finishes. Considering how strong he’s been off the tee (first on the Tour in total driving), he has a real chance to contend this week. His T6 finish at Four Seasons last year was a career best.
Adam Scott (12/1): Scott won here in 2008 and finished T3 in 2006. He’s coming off a strong week at The Players, finishing T15 on a course where he usually struggles.
Carl Pettersson (30/1): He had a strong finish at The Players, the only one to break 70 on Saturday and Sunday en route to a T10 finish. Pettersson has been putting well all year (.598 strokes gained, 12th-best on the Tour), and he’s had some success at the Byron Nelson, including a T4 in 2008
Louis Oosthuizen (20/1): If it’s going to be another first-timer winning at Four Seasons, Oosthuizen has the best chance. He was wildly erratic in missing the cut at The Players, registering 11 birdies, but also 10 bogeys and a double. But when he’s on, he’s as good as anyone in this field.
