What to Watch For – AT&T Byron Nelson

We’re one week out from the PGA Championship, but first the PGA Tour heads back to the great state of Texas for the AT&T Byron Nelson. This is one of the favorite events with tour players and golf fans due to the name that’s attached to the tournament.

A general view of the clubhouse that overlooks the 18th hole during…

A general view of the clubhouse that overlooks the 18th hole during the final round of the AT&T Byron Nelson at Trinity Forest Golf Club on May 20, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

Byron Nelson was and still is a phenom of the game who practically developed how we play this sport today. Lord Byron’s achievements will be and should be the talk of the weekend, and deservedly so. 18 wins in 1945 to include 11 in a row is an accomplishment that will never be broken.

Aaron Wise poses with the trophy after winning the AT&T Byron Nelson…

Aaron Wise poses with the trophy after winning the AT&T Byron Nelson at Trinity Forest Golf Club on May 20, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

Trinity Forest Golf Club is now in its 2^nd year of hosting this tournament. Last year we got a different taste from the usual play on the tour with windy conditions, minimal penalty areas, and a look of links golf. The scoring was plentiful and Marc Leishman confirmed that with an opening 61 in the first round. Aaron Wise would be the eventual winner of the tournament with a final score of 23-under. We should get the same type of scoring this year, and with rain affecting the Wednesday Pro-Am the conditions should be quite soft for Thursday’s play. This will of course help the players get plenty of birdie looks.

Marc Leishman of Australia reacts following an eagle putt on the…

Marc Leishman of Australia reacts following an eagle putt on the fifth green during the final round of the AT&T Byron Nelson at Trinity Forest Golf Club on May 20, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

There are quite a few big names playing this week ahead of next week’s major championship to include Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, and Hideki Matsuyama. The defending champion Aaron Wise is also in the field as well as Marc Leishman who will look to finish what he started at this tournament last season. Then we have the controversial entry (or not if you’re a fan) in Tony Romo (a). I say controversial because this entry was taken from an actual PGA Tour pro, but maybe he’ll surprise us and make the weekend (though it’s highly unlikely).

Jordan Spieth celebrates with caddie Michael Greller after finishing…

Jordan Spieth celebrates with caddie Michael Greller after finishing the final round of the AT&T Byron Nelson at Trinity Forest Golf Club on May 20, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

Brooks’ game should fit quite well at this golf course as he can use his length to work around doglegs and shorten the longer par 4s. The question this week for the big name players as it usually is the week before a major is if they’re playing to win or work on weaknesses ahead of the bigger tournament. With the condensed schedule I have to think every player is playing to win rather than tune their game, but we won’t get a full grasp of that until the first round is complete.

So now we come to the point of who I think will come out victorious come Sunday evening. After a disastrous Masters pick I’ve been on quite a roll with three consecutive top-5s (Cantlay T3 at the RBC Heritage, Scott Brown T5 at the Zurich Classic, and Rickie Fowler T4 at Wells Fargo). I’m riding a bit of a high and I have no doubt that continues this week as I have Keith Mitchell earning his 2^nd tour win of the season.

Keith Mitchell plays his shot from the third tee during the third…

Keith Mitchell plays his shot from the third tee during the third round of the Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa on March 02, 2019 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

Mitchell played extremely well last week at the Wells Fargo Championship with a T8 and I believe that momentum rolls into a considerably easier golf course this week. He’s been riding a good wave of solid golf play since his win at The Honda Classic, and in the process of that win he outlasted Brooks Koepka which means a big name player at or charging towards the top of the leaderboard shouldn’t phase him.

Enough of my thoughts though, what do you think of the AT&T Byron Nelson and who do you think comes out on top before the PGA Championship? Let me know what you think on Twitter (@Sault0885). I always love to talk golf so please don’t be strangers.

 Enjoy the tournament and be sure to be good to the mother(s) in your life this weekend!

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