Byron Nelson preview: Scheffler looks to cash in on home game

The season's second major is fast approaching, with the TOUR's quick trip to Dallas for the AT&T Byron Nelson acting as the final event before the PGA Championship starts next week.

With the annual Dallas tournament wedged between last week's designated event at the Wells Fargo Championship and the PGA Championship, many of the game's top players are skipping this tourney. Scottie Scheffler is the only top-10 player teeing it up, with the Texan instantly installed as the heavy-betting favorite.

Expect boatloads of birdies this week in Texas. TPC Craig Ranch ranked as the third-easiest course on the PGA TOUR last season.

When: May 11-14
Where: TPC Craig Ranch, McKinney, Texas

How to watch

Last year's result

K.H. Lee grabbed a piece of history last year when he joined Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson as the only men to win the Byron Nelson in back-to-back years. The Korean scorched TPC Craig Ranch on Sunday, firing a 63 to claim the title by one stroke over Jordan Spieth.

Lee's two Byron Nelson wins remain his only PGA TOUR victories, with last year's total of 262 setting a new record for the event at the course.

While Lee will have a chance to go for the three-peat, it won't be Spieth playing spoiler this time. The Dallas native withdrew from the event earlier in the week due to a wrist injury. Hopefully, the ailment isn't too severe. Spieth's next shot at the career grand slam comes at next week's PGA Championship.

Recent winners

2022: K.H. Lee (-26)
2021: K.H. Lee (-23)
2020: Event canceled
2019: Sung Kang (-23)
2018: Aaron Wise (-23)
2017: Billy Horschel (-12)
2016: Sergio Garcia (-15)
2015: Steven Bowditch (-18)

Featured/Marquee groups

Reasons to watch

Scottie goes for home win

With Spieth out of the field, Scheffler instantly becomes the fan favorite at TPC Craig Ranch. It's a home game for the World No. 2, as he resides in Dallas and is an alumnus of the University of Texas in Austin. Scheffler hasn't finished outside the top 12 in an event since last October, with wins in Phoenix and the Players Championship highlighting the year. Don't be shocked if Scheffler scores his third victory of the season heading into the Oak Hill next week.

Korean dominance

There are 6,800 miles between Dallas and South Korea, but recent results at the Byron Nelson suggest the setting in Texas is very comfortable to the contingent from that country. Lee's back-to-back victories made it three in a row for South Korea after Sung Kang won the event in 2019. Sang Moon-Bae also claimed victory at the tournament in 2013 to make it four Korean champions in the past nine years. Led by Lee and 20-year-old Tom Kim, that could bode well for the eight Koreans in the field this week.

Aaron Wise returns

Aaron Wise, the 2018 Byron Nelson winner, is back after taking a break from the PGA TOUR to focus on his mental health. The former Oregon star hasn't made a start since the WGC-Match Play in March. Wise won the 2018 Rookie of the Year based largely on his win in Dallas, and his return to a city where he's achieved great success could be just what he needs.

Betting odds

Scottie Scheffler +330
Tyrrell Hatton +1,400
Jason Day +1,800
Tom Kim +1,800
Hideki Matsuyama +2,000
KH Lee +2,200
Adam Scott +2,800
Matt Kuchar +2,800
Min Woo Lee +3,000
Taylor Montgomery +3,500
Tom Hoge +3,500
Aaron Wise +4,000
Maverick McNealy +4,000
Si Woo Kim +4,000

Odds via theScore Bet