2025 CJ CUP Byron Nelson Golf Odds & Picks: Head-to-Head Matchups
A field of 156 golfers are set to compete in the 2025 CJ CUP Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch. Located in McKinney, Texas, a suburb of Dallas Fort-Worth, it makes sense that two locals, Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth, are the top two betting favorites in the outright winner market.
Scheffler is a much bigger favorite at +280 odds versus Spieth at +1800 odds. Scheffler, the World No. 1 ranked golfer, is still searching for his first win in 2025. He’s never won at TPC Craig Ranch but he’s coming off of back-to-back top 20 finishes. Spieth is in the same boat, never winning this event but carding a career best T2 finish in 2022.
We took the Zurich Classic off last week. Two weeks ago, I went 1-1 with my RBC Heritage PGA head-to-head matchups. Brian Harman cashed at +175 with his T3 finish, beating J.J. Spaun and Akshay Bhatia by nine strokes with a T3 finish at 14-under-par. Patrick Cantlay carded a T13 finish but Justin Thomas’ first outright win in three years yielded a loss on Cantlay to win his tournament group at +180 odds.
I’ve got a pair of Tournament Group matchup props to tail ahead of Round 1 at the 2025 CJ CUP Byron Nelson on Thursday. Follow me on X at Matt_MacKay_ for more PGA free bets and weekly analysis throughout the 2025 PGA Tour season.
2025 CJ CUP Byron Nelson Odds & Picks
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Tournament Groups – Group A Winner
No surprise here but I’m taking the chalk and backing outright favorite, Scottie Scheffler, to win Group A at -140 odds. Jordan Spieth (+500), Sungjae Im (+600), Byeong Hun An (+700) and Taylor Pendrith (+750) are all massive underdogs against Scheffler this week.
Scheffler is closing in on his first outright win in 2025. It’s simply a matter of time. He’s ranked second in total strokes gained, including sixth SG: Off-the-Tee, fourth SG: Approach, second in proximity and eighth at finding greens in regulation. Only the putting has been pedestrian for the World’s No. 1 golfer this season.
I like Im this week but he’s making his debut at TPC Craig Ranch. Scheffler carded a T5 finish here in 2024 and should be able to replicate that effort once again based on his current form.
I’d bet up to two units on Scheffler to win this Tournament Group A Winner matchup prop at -140 odds.
Pick: Scottie Scheffler (-140)
Tournament Groups – Group D Winner
Jake Knapp is a power hitter who is also ranked inside the top 25 for SG: Putting. This is the perfect recipe for success at a lengthy, wide course like TPC Craig Ranch.
Knapp carded a solo eighth-place finish at the 2024 CJ CUP Byron Nelson. He’s missed two cuts in the last three solo events played but remains a slight favorite in the Tournament Group D Winner market at +320 odds.
Knapp ranks 34th in driving distance, 23rd on approach shots from 200+ yards, 40th in putting average and 12th in birdie average. Going up against Ryan Gerard (+320), Nicolai Hojgaard (+350), Seamus Power (+350) and Harry Hall (+360) makes this a tightly contested Tournament Group to bet on.
Ultimately, I’m most comfortable backing the co-favorite, Knapp, due to his distance off-the-tee and ability to sink birdie putts on these Bentgrass greens. Let’s bet a unit on Knapp to win Group D at +320 odds.
Pick: Jake Knapp (+320)