? COURSE: TPC Four Seasons Resort, 7,166 yards, par 70.
Originally laid out by Jay Morrish in 1983, the course underwent a major
overhaul in 2007 by D.A. Weibring and Steve Wolfard. The new layout has
large, undulating greens, encouraging players to use slopes to work
their shots closer to the pin ? but with runoffs and closely mown areas
just off the putting surface that will penalize poor shots.
Weibring/Wolfard also did extensive tree landscaping that brings creeks
and ponds more into play. The 18th hole features a unique "water
cascade" that extends from the landing area to the green.
? FIELD WATCH: Dallas native Jordan Spieth, No. 7 in the world
rankings in his second PGA TOUR season, joins recent Nelson winners
Jason Dufner (2012) and Keegan Bradley (2011) in a lineup that features
nine of the top 25 in this week's rankings. No. 5 Matt Kuchar holds the
highest slot. … Dallas resident and 2007 champion Scott Verplank returns
for his 27th start in the event, tying Ben Crenshaw for third on the
all-time list. Lanny Wadkins and Tom Watson each have 28. … U.S. Junior
Amateur champ Scottie Scheffler, who lives in nearby Highland Park, gets
his first PGA TOUR taste at age 17.
? 72-HOLE RECORD: 261, Rory Sabbatini (2009).
? 18-HOLE RECORD: 60, Arron Oberholser (2nd round, 2006 at Cottonwood Valley GC), Keegan Bradley (1st round, 2013 at TPC Four Seasons).
? LAST YEAR: A roller-coaster final day left Sang Moon Bae
with his first PGA TOUR win, but only after squandering a four-shot lead
with 10 holes to play and steadying himself down the stretch. The South
Korean pro overtook Bradley with four birdies in a five-hole stretch of
the front nine, but a double bogey at No. 9 and bogey one hole later
closed the gap again. Bae's birdie at No. 16 broke the tie, finishing
with a 1-under-par 69. Bradley, who led each of the first three rounds
after an opening 60, closed with a 72.
? STORYLINES: Spieth, who made news in 2010 when he tied for
16th as a high-school junior, figures to draw the largest galleries at
Four Seasons. Though still seeking his first win of 2014, he's just a
month removed from finishing runner-up in his Masters debut. … Patrick
Cantlay, once the world No. 1 amateur, seeks to end an eight-month
layoff caused by a stress fracture in his back. The former UCLA standout
hasn't teed it up since taking runner-up at the Web.com Tour Finals
opener last August, good enough to earn a PGA TOUR card. … Former World
No. 1 David Duval, whose tie for 25th in New Orleans was his best in 2 ½
years, tries to build on that momentum.
? SHORT CHIPS: Nine of the Byron Nelson's past 14 winners have
done it while recording all four rounds in the 60s, including Bae last
year. Bradley was the last to take the crown with a round in the 70s. …
Bae's victory also denied Bradley a chance to become just the third man
to win the Nelson wire-to-wire. Mark Hayes did it in 1976, duplicated by
Tom Watson four years later. … Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel
accepted invitations to two Nelson pro-ams ? if the Cleveland Browns
free him up. Cleveland took Manziel with the 22nd pick of Thursday's NFL
draft.
Last week's winner OcalaNole99. Congrats!
Updated Standings
1. Bill - 6064
2. dfs - 5998
3. Ocala - 5078
4. 2952 - 5077
5. NMT - 4974
6. Sea - 4866
7. Bobcat - 4441
8. NiA - 3553
9. Lizard - 3486
10. Ed - 3370
11. 67810 - 3279
12. DL - 3180
13. g2f - 2143
14. pdubb - 1627
Good Luck!
This post was edited on 5/12 6:45 PM by DFSNOLE
This post was edited on 5/18 8:55 PM by DFSNOLE
Field
