The PGA Tour continues in Texas Thursday with the HP Byron Nelson Championship at the TPC Four Seasons in Irving for a $6.5 million purse. Dustin Johnson is the betting favorite with a fairly open field.
Johnson has missed the cut in two of his last five tournaments, but his power should do well on the Irving course. The World No. 13 has finished seventh and fourth in his last two years at the HP Byron Nelson.
Defending champion Jason Day is second in the odds after winning by two strokes in his debut last year. He has five top 10 finishes in 2011, including three of his last four events. Also at second in the odds is The Players Championship winner K.J. Choi. He has three straight top 10 finishes but has never finished in the top 25 in six times at the HP Byron Nelson. Nick Watney may be a better bet at the same odds in his hometown. He finished fourth at The Players Championship for his sixth top 10 finish of the year, which includes a WGC-Cadillac win.
2009 HP Byron Nelson champion Rory Sabbatini is a good each-way bet. He set the course record here two years ago and has a decent 2011 season going, where he most recently finished 16th at the Crowne Plaza Invitational. Brian Gay was runner-up here last year and has been the most accurate driver on tour this year.
HP Byron Nelson Championship Outright Odds (provided by William Hill)
Dustin Johnson: 14/1
Jason Day: 16/1
K.J. Choi: 16/1
Nick Watney: 16/1
Matt Kuchar: 20/1
Rory Sabbatini: 22/1
Brian Gay: 25/1
Sean O’Hair: 25/1
Sergio Garcia: 30/1
Brandt Snedeker: 33/1
Ben Crane: 33/1
Charley Hoffman: 33/1
Jeff Overton: 40/1
Robert Allenby: 40/1
John Senden: 40/1
Scott Verplank: 40/1
Charlie Wi: 40/1
Jason Dufner: 50/1
Gary Woodland: 50/1
Mark Leishman: 50/1
Brian Davis: 50/1