Dallas has long been a hotbed of golf with greats such as Bryon Nelson, Scottie Scheffler and this week’s favourite Jordan Spieth coming out of the city with this week’s tournament dating back to the late 1940s when it was once known as the Dallas Open.
Key Stats/Skill Set Required
- Strokes Gained: Putting
- Putting Average
- Birdie or Better
- GIR
- Proximity
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- Strokes Gained: Tee To Green
- Scrambling
TPC Craig Ranch is one of the easiest courses on the PGA Tour with a sub-60 score very much on the cards this week, meaning the player with the hottest putter most likely gets the money.
Key Correlation Courses/Tournaments
- TPC Scottsdale
- TPC Southwind
The three-time major winner and Dallas native has not been as prolific as once hoped but looks well placed here to win his third tournament in four years. Spieth loves it here, averaging 66.63, the second-best average of those in the field behind two-time winner KH Lee. His two starts here have seen him finish 9th and 2nd. His putting has been very good this year, ranking 2nd in Putting Average, 8th in Birdie or Better and 14th in Strokes Gained: Putting. Finished 6th at the last two Phoenix Opens and the last St Jude. Ticks a lot of boxes.
Tom Hoge
Hoge combines the two most important elements required for success here: an on-point approach game and a quality putter. He ranks 2nd in Strokes Gained: Approach and 2nd in Proximity as well as 6th in Birdie or Better and 10th in Putting Average. Posted a Top 20 in Phoenix this year. Form is good, finishing Top 20 in seven of his last 10 individual events.
Keith Mitchell
Mitchell is another consistent type who has five Top 20s in his last seven individual events. Putting is the concern for Mitchell but the rest of his game sets up nicely. Ranks 7th in GIR, 7th in Strokes Gained: Tee To Green, 11th in Proximity and 11th in Strokes Gained: Approach. Finished T-17 in Phoenix. Just needs to be average with the putter.
Taylor Montgomery
Elite putter Taylor Montgomery has struggled of late primarily due to a horrid game from the tee. Form from the tee means little this week though and at the price he has the upside with the flat stick to go well here. Leads the Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting while he ranks 6th in Scrambling. This is a tournament for roughies and he shapes as the pick of the longshots.
Aaron Baddeley
Australians tend to play very well in Texas and have an outstanding record in this event in particular. Aaron Baddeley is far from the biggest name Aussie but is a quality putter who can bob up here. Ranks 2nd in Strokes Gained: Putting and 4th in Scrambling. Finished T-23 here last year. Has three Top 25s in his last seven starts so playing well enough.
There is a strong Korean contingent here and that is no surprise considering four Koreans have won this event over the last decade. Happy to take a shot on two-time winner KH Lee at big odds. He won the first two editions staged at TPC Craig Ranch, has the lowest scoring average in the field here and form is on the up with three Top 11s in his last seven starts.
Alex Noren is primed for a big tournament and it is surprising to see him at black odds to be the Top Swede. He leads the Tour in Scrambling while he ranks 2nd in GIR and 15th in Strokes Gained: Tee To Green. Tremendous bet.