Dustin Johnson –
It’s time for Johnson to start winning again.
The world No. 1 came second at the Wells Fargo a fortnight ago – ending a run of three consecutive victories – and followed that up with a T12 at the Players on Sunday.
Considering that was a career-best finish at an event he has always struggled at, it’s fair to say he is playing well enough to win this weekend.
Johnson has finished in the top 20 in each of his last six starts at the Byron Nelson, and inside the top eight on four occasions.
This is a course for the long bombers, so Johnson – who ranks first in the PGA Tour in driving distance – has to be backed, even at this short price.
Brooks Koepka –
Koepka – the eighth-longest driver on the PGA Tour – is similarly well-suited to the TPC Four Seasons.
The 27-year-old has played at the Byron Nelson three times, missing the cut in 2014 before finishing 16th in 2015 and second in a play-off last year.
He is also in fine form, having finished 16th or better in each of his last five starts.
That includes a second-place at the Texas Open and fifth at the team-based Zurich Classic.
Given that he also ranks 14th in shots gained from putting this year, he certainly has a chance of earning his first win of 2017 here.
Jason Dufner –
Dufner is a former winner at the TPC Four Seasons, having beaten Dicky Pride by a single stroke at this event in 2012.
He has made the cut in all six of his appearances since 2011, finishing eighth in 2015 and 24th last year.
It’s a course he is clearly comfortable at, and, with four top-15s in his last seven starts, he is clearly playing well enough to contend again.
Sergio Garcia won this event last year having led after day one, and every winner since 1996 has been inside the top 10 after the first two days of play.
Dufner ranks eighth in first-round scoring this season, and if he gets off to a fast start again he should go close.
Ryan Palmer –
Texas native Palmer finished second here in 2012 and has only missed the cut at the Byron Nelson once in five starts since.
That run also included two more top-10s, and he’s in the kind of form that suggests he can win at one of his favourite courses.
The 40-year-old strung together a run of 11th, sixth and fourth-place finishes before missing the cut at the Players last week.
He’s worth a punt, considering he currently ranks eighth in shots gained from tee to green this season.
Best of the rest
Marc Leishman has been inconsistent since winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, but he has placed inside the top three here twice in the last five years.
Back him at to win over 72 holes against JB Holmes, who has made the cut here just once in 10 years, finishing 43rd in 2010.
Matt Kuchar came third here last year and has finished inside the top 15 in four of his last six starts in Dallas.
Back him at to beat Russell Henley, who has only played here twice, finishing 22nd in 2015 and missing the cut last year.
