World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and other top-ranked golfers will tee off at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson, a PGA Tour event with a total purse of $10.3 million, to be held over four days from Wednesday Korea time at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.
The tournament is a full-field event on the PGA Tour's regular season, featuring 144 players. The winner will receive 500 FedEx Cup points, a two-year PGA Tour exemption, and qualification for signature events during the season. The champion will also secure entry to next season's Players Championship and major tournaments, making it a highly significant event for competitors.
The tournament's signature trophy, inspired by the Jikji Simche Yojeol—the world's oldest extant book printed with movable metal type—is inscribed in Hangul with the names of past Byron Nelson champions, including Tiger Woods, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus and Ernie Els.
The main storyline this week is whether defending champion and world No. 1 Scheffler can successfully defend his title. With 20 career PGA Tour victories, Scheffler is widely regarded as the world's best player. He has made the cut in all nine tournaments he has entered this season and claimed victory at the American Express in January, demonstrating dominant form. Having grown up in Texas, Scheffler is known for his deep affection for tournaments in the region.
Team CJ players are also expected to perform well. Among them, Kim Si-woo has shown the strongest form this year. Kim has made the cut in every tournament he has entered this season, finishing in the top 10 six times, including one runner-up finish and two third-place finishes.
"I'm satisfied with my overall feel and condition this season," Kim said. "Since The CJ Cup is hosted by our sponsor, I feel an even greater sense of responsibility and motivation. I'll do my best to continue this momentum and deliver good news to our fans."
Im Sung-jae and Lee Kyoung-hoon are looking for a rebound at this tournament. Im had a somewhat disappointing start to the season but turned things around last week with a tied-fifth finish at the Truist Championship, bringing his trademark consistency and big-stage experience into The CJ Cup. Lee made history by winning back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022, becoming the first Korean to successfully defend a PGA Tour title. He missed last year's event due to a back injury but returns this year to reclaim his honor at his signature stage.
Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka has also confirmed his participation. Koepka has a special connection with The CJ Cup, having won the 2018 event.
Players from the Korea PGA (KPGA) Tour are also drawing attention. Bae Yong-jun, Choi Seung-bin and Jung Chan-min have been granted spots in the tournament.
