The PGA TOUR returns to Texas this week for the CJ CUP Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch (par 71, 7,385 yards, bentgrass greens) in McKinney. TPC Craig Ranch has hosted the CJ CUP Byron Nelson since 2021 and Scottie Scheffler (-31) is the defending champion after winning by eight strokes a year ago. The CJ CUP Byron Nelson is hosting a field of 147 players and there will be a top-65 and ties cut following the first two rounds.

Below, I have featured my two favorite bets for the CJ CUP Byron Nelson on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Austin Eckroat for a top-20 finish including ties (+225)

Eckroat missed the cut at TPC Craig Ranch last season, but in his one other start at the venue in 2023, he nearly won, finishing runner-up to Jason Day by one shot. Eckroat shot an 8-under 63 at TPC Craig Ranch that week – which is one stroke shy of his career low – and he ranks fifth among this field in strokes gained per round at the course.

Eckroat got off to a poor start this season, but the two-time PGA TOUR winner is back to playing quality golf. Eckroat has made seven of his last nine cuts and he is in the midst of a great stretch, finishing T-10 at the Valero Texas Open, T-6 at the team-based Zurich Classic playing alongside Davis Thompson and T-19 at the Myrtle Beach Classic in his last three starts.

Eckroat has shot under par in 11 of his last 12 solo rounds and he has been outstanding with his irons this season, ranking 13th in SG APP. Eckroat also ranks 27th in par four performance, setting him up perfectly for his return to TPC Craig Ranch.

At this par 71, approach play and par four scoring are most crucial, as four of the five winners at TPC Craig Ranch have finished the event top-eight in both SG APP and par four performance. Eckroat should thrive this week and he is an awesome bet for a top-20 finish at these +225 odds.

Zecheng Dou for a top-30 finish (+210)

Dou has made 8-of-12 cuts this season and in his last three solo starts, he has finished T-21, MC and T-13. That T-21 came at another Texas-based event in the Houston Open and the T-13 came at the Myrtle Beach Classic two weeks ago. At the Dunes Golf and Beach Club, Dou gained strokes on approach and with his putter, and he fired off a season-low 6-under 65 in the third round.

Dou has gained strokes on approach at three straight events and he ranks 13th in the statistic this season. This bodes well for a second-shot course like TPC Craig Ranch and Dou has played well here before, finishing T-5 in 2023.

Dou has only competed at TPC Craig Ranch one other time, in 2024, and he missed the cut that week. However, Dou was just the No. 322 ranked player in the world at the time and he now returns to McKinney sitting No. 180 in the rankings. Dou is a far better player nowadays and he should be able to crack the top-30 this weekend.