The Course Report
TPC Craig Ranch
About TPC Craig Ranch
Tour players get a course that is going to be a birdie fest. How serious are the big dogs like Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama going to take it has yet to be seen. Remember, the PGA Championship is next weekend, and these players are not looking to add to much stress on their bodies or add any additional unneccessary fatigue. It’s always about the majors. Never forget that. Yet, it doesn’t mean that these guys won’t try right?
The course is “challenging”…for recreational golfers… as it has ranked among some of the top private courses in the U.S. The course is designed to utilize the topography of the land, as it winds through rolling hills, mature trees and players follow Rowlett Creek to add a touch a majesty. We saw competitive golf here at TPC Craig Ranch in 2012 at the Web.com Tour Championship and before that at the 2008 Nationwide Tour Championship. Of course, last year was the first time the PGA Tour saw TPC Craig Ranch, and the pros simply ripped it apart. How easy was it? Only 6 holes averaged over par last year, and three of those were the 200-yard par-3’s.
I have read that this is one of the more difficult courses in Texas, and I have no doubt that it quite possibly be one…for the weekend warrior. The fact is that the fairways are quite generous when looking at video streams, hole analysis, course layout and last year’s tournament. Yet, hitting fairways was not key for major success. Only three of the top-10 finishers hit the fairway over 70% of the time.
Ultimately, course success is directly related to the second shot these golfers take, and how well they can putt in scoring situations. Contrary to fairway accuracy, 11 of the 13 top-10 finishers from 2021 were hitting greens in regulation at 75% or higher.
In truth, the course is going to leave little to be desired in terms of difficulty. On the scorecard, longer players could potentially find some easy holes as four par-4’s are 430 yards or less. The 330-yard drivable 14th is going to be one fans will be lining up to see some eagle opportunities. This is the signature hole of the entire course simply because of the spectacle of driving a par-4 green.
Now this won’t be the last time I mention this, but his course was wet last year. It increased scoring opportunities and the ability for players to seek pins. It will be a little different this year.
Now depending on the height of the trees, players might even be able to cut angles by simply going over the sprawling hardwood. Tornadoes ripped through the area a few years ago, and rumor has it that the course lost nearly 30% of its hardwood. Since then, trees have been planted, but it is going to take a while for them to mature back to the stature of just a few years ago.
The course says 7,468 yards, but it was obvious that last year the distance didn’t matter. Too often we were looking at eagle opportunities on the par-5’s, and much of the length was thanks to the three of the four par-3’s measuring over 200 yards.
So how can this go wrong? Very simple. If the wind picks up, this course plays way different than it did a year ago. Truth be told, the weather forecast does not look foreboding, but that can always change and create an edge for lineup construction. Last year the cut was 5-under par, but if the winds don’t pick up we could potentially see the same or better. One thing to note, is that this course is getting bombarded by wind on Monday and Tuesday, and this could dry out the course a bit. I don’t think it is going to cause any additional difficulty, but the greens could play a little faster. Make sure you pay attention to interviews and to those who have boots on the ground on Twitter. Another aspect to consider is that it rained a ton last year. The course was soaked and prime for scoring. This week is different.
To make this course just a bit difficult, the PGA Tour adjusted hole number 12 as a par-4. The course will now play as a par-71.
This course will not be impossible for Tour Pro’s to navigate, and when you consider that next week is the PGA Championship, we just aren’t going to find a monster of a course right before a major. I just don’t find this course to be that intimidating when you often find that the practice facility is more highly regarded than the course itself. Anticipate higher scoring when you consider the talent in this event.
Architect: Tom Weiskopf
Greens: Bentgrass Greens
Stimpmeter: 10-11
Length: 7,468 – Par 71
Water Hazards: Rowlett Creek runs Throughout
Weather Forecast
Nuggets and Tidbits
- It isn’t a surprise that 13.5% of the approach shots were from 250+ yards away. Plenty of players are going to attempt to go after greens in 2 shots on the par-5’s.
- You’re looking for easy courses as comparisons to TPC Craig Ranch. You’re just not going to get a challenging track right before a major.
- KH Lee was dialed in on approach. Yet, he separated himself from the field with the hot putter. The closest to accomplish the same feat was Patton Kizzire.
- Of the top-5 in SG:OTT at last years Byron Nelson , only one player finished in the top-5. The rest finsihed T34th or worse.
- Many are going to rely heavily on players that can dominate par-5’s with potential eagles, but K.H. Lee won last year without recording a single one. Yet, nearly half of the players that finished in the top-10 recorded an eagle.
- Remember, only the last two years matter for this tournament. Prior to 2021, the tournament was played at Trinity Forest Golf Club.
Approach Shot Distribution
Past Winners
Is that a title defense? You bet it is. K.H. Lee came to Texas, once again, to claim the Byron Nelson title. Lee was able to join an elite group. He is one of 4 players in history to be a repeat winner at the Byron Nelson. This includes such esteemed players as Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. Lee did enough to hold of Munoz and Spieth, but it was hi Eagle on 12 that everyone will remember. A blistering fade set up an pefrect chance to take control of the tournament.
Lee won his first PGA Tournament, and did it in dominating fashion. He gained nearly 9 strokes on appraoch and dominated on the dance floor as well. Sunday’s rain delay didn’t cause concern for Lee, and finally the 30-year old was crowned a winner.
Kang won his first PGA Tour event scoring a 67 in the final round a 23-under total for the tournament.
He entered Sunday with a three-stroke lead, and he dominated the back-9.
*Played at Trinity Forest
Aaron Wise shot a 6-under on Sunday to shoot 23 under. Leishman was hot on his tail, but couldn’t score low enough to catch Wise.
Wise dominated off-the-tee to secrue his win, as he was first in the field. In winning, he became the second youngest winner since Tiger Woods.
*Played at Trinity Forest
Horschel beat Jason Day with a par on the first extra hole. This was Horschel’s fourth career win, as he picked up his first win in nearly three years.
Up to this point Horschel had been struggling. He had miss the cut in the last three starts, but luck was on his side. Day, who is very consistent on the putting green, ended up 3-putting the extra hole.
*Played at TPC Las Colinas
Garcia was anything but accurate on Sunday, but still somehow managed to scroe a 2-under 68. It was plenty to force a plaoff and match with Brooks Kopeka who shot a brutal 2-over 37 on the back 9.
On the first playoff hole, Koepka pulled his drive into the water, and that was enough for Garcia to win the tournament as he tied Seve Ballesteros for most wins by a Spanish-born player.
*Played at TPC Las Colinas
There was no doubt that Rory was walking away the winner in 2015. He even opened the tournament with 3/1 odds on favorite.
McIIroy smashed. Literally. He set the new course record. He broke the birdie record for the tournament, pouring in 26 for the weekend.
Holmes captured his second PGA Tour win, and his first since 2008.
No stranger to Quail Hollow, Holmes outlasted Mickelson and McIIroy with his 54-hole lead as neither could capitalize on scoring opportunities. Homles nailed back-to-back birdies to start the back 9 and never looked back.
Ernst’s win was certianly one of the best Cinderella stories many have ever heard on the PGA Tour.
22- years old and ranked near the bottom of the OWGR rankings, Ernst won in what was only his 9th career start. What made it more special was his win against a solid David Lynn in a playoff with a par on the first hole.
Rickie Fowler outduled McIIroy and D.A. Points to win his first PGA Tour event, and to what many considered at the time would be a career filled with multiple majors.
Fowler started Sunday 3-strokes behind the leader, but found ways to overcome adversity while others succumbed to pressure. The key mishap was McIIroy’s bogey on the 17th hole which allowed Fowler the opporutnity win his first PGA touranment.