The Core and More: PGA DFS Notes for the 2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Taking on TPC Craig Ranch this week, a full field of 156 golfers will compete at the 2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson. They are in McKinney, Texas, just outside of Dallas.

When in Texas we always need to look at the weather. Usually it’s wind that ruffles the feathers, but this week it’s rain that will soften the course. How could that impact how the course will play? It varies course by course, but one close comp comes recently at the Houston Open. Our course fit model called for distance and around-the-green to be important, which is the same as we see at TPC Craig Ranch. With very soft conditions that week it turned out to be distance and approach that had the largest impact on scoring. No two courses or weather scenarios are exactly the same, but I would lean in on distance this week while also demanding a golfer excel on approach or around the green.

Now, here are my top targets for DFS builds at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

Core Target

Jordan Spieth

We’ve talked plenty about how he’s trending up again. Spieth has also talked fondly about the state of his game, in press conferences. Now, he gets a home game to fully capitalize. When you look at the current profile of his game you see him being longer off the tee but also above average in all facets of the game. I think this is a great chance for him to get back to the winner’s circle like his good buddy JT did recently. Or at least, put his name on the first page of the leaderboard.