Spieth seeks hometown win at AT&T Byron Nelson

Jordan Spieth seeks hometown success in AT&T Byron Nelson

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 17 May 2016

The PGA Tour heads for Texas this week and the AT&T Byron Nelson. Steven Bowditch is the defending champion and Jordan Spieth is looking to win in his hometown.

Jordan Spieth seeks hometown success, but his form in this event hasn’t been great in the past. His best result in this tournament is a tie for 16th, which he recorded as a teenager back in 2010. He’s still looking to win in Texas on the PGA Tour after three runner-up finishes.

Jordan Spieth putting drill:

Aside from Spieth, other star players looking to shine in the Lone Star State this week include Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson, Charl Schwartzel and Matt Kuchar.

The TPC Four Seasons course at Las Colinas was originally designed by Jay Morrish back in 1982 but, after the 2007 tournament, D.A Weibring and Steve Wolfard oversaw a major redesign of the layout – reshaping greens and bringing more water into play. The layout now poses a more strategic test and demands creativity and solid shot-making.

This tournament began life back in 1926 as the Dallas Open. It was renamed as the Byron Nelson Classic in 1968. Since then Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Payne Stewart, Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods have been champions.

Last year the tournament was completed despite torrential rain during the week. Steven Bowditch of Australia came out on top, aided by a 62 in the first round.

The weather forecast looks unsettled with thunderstorms a distinct possibility.

Venue: TPC Four Seasons Resort, Irving, Texas Date: May 19-22 Course stats: par 70, 7,166 yards Purse: $7,300,000 Winner: $1,314,000 Defending Champion: Steven Bowditch (-18)

TV Coverage: Thursday 19 – Sky Sports 4 from 9pm Friday 20 – Sky Sports 4 from 9pm Saturday 21 – Sky Sports 4 from 6.30pm Sunday 22 – Sky Sports 4 from 6.30pm

Player watch:

Charley Hoffman – He’s on solid form with a number of good finishes in recent weeks, including a victory in the Valero Texas Open. He has a good record in this event and was joint second last season.

Matt Kuchar – He hadn’t been showing his best form until a tie for third last week. That could inspire him to even better things this week at a venue where he has never missed the cut.

Ryan Palmer – He’s one of the most consistent performers on the PGA Tour and has made 12 straight cuts leading into this week. He has two top-10 finishes in this event since he lost a playoff for the title to Keegan Bradley in 2011.

Key hole: 16th. A par-5 of 546 yards, this is a definite birdie hole. It always ranks as one of the easiest holes on the course and, if a player fails to make birdie here down the stretch, he’ll feel as though he’s dropped a shot.

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Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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