PGA Tour 2023 - CJ Cup 2024

[Splatt]

G’day Golfers,

The CJ Cup is one of the newest tournaments on Tour with it roots only stretching as far back as 2017, it’s also one of the few tournaments that hasn’t really found a permanent home with this year being the 5th venue in 7 years.
Lets get into it.

But first, it’s been a few weeks since a terrible golf joke:

Why can’t aliens play golf in space?
*
Too many black holes

The CJ Cup began life back in 2017 as an offshore tournament held at Nine Bridges Golf Club on Jeju Island in South Korea, but was moved to America in 2020 to combat the Covid travel restrictions. Since then, there’s been talk of moving this tournament back to South Korea, but not this year as it’s still currently landlock to the USA.

 

The CJ Cup is played at TPC Craig Ranch which, due to the wide open fairways, large receptive greens, and few penalty hazards, has often been described as the easy course on tour.
Generally the winning score here will be in the 20’s under par and will come down to who ever putts the best that given week.
I’ve even heard this course described as a putting contest, so a much better chance for any player rocking a LAB putter this week.
TPC Craig Ranch is a par-72, 7,414-yard course featuring Zoysia fairways and Bentgrass greens.

 

Last year, Jason Day broke a 105 event drought for his first win in five years after a 9-under 62 in the final round at TPC Craig Ranch. He topped Si Woo Kim and Austin Eckroat by one on a hard fought final round. Kim made birdie on the 72nd hole to briefly tie Day, but Day had hit his third shot, a wedge from 79 yards, to just 2 feet and rolled in the birdie of his own to seal the victory.

Field Highlights

·         Jason Day – The defending champ and owner of the baggiest pants in all of sport, Day is sure to bring the fire and also questionable fashion choices this weekend. Day’s season has been typical of his last few years in that; he shows moments of his former brilliance but they tend to be few and far between. So far this season, Day has played in 10 events, missed 2 cuts and only had 3 top-10 finishes. His best finish of the season came at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AM where he finished T-6
 

·         Jordan Spieth – Like Day, Spieth’s season has been less than stellar so far. He’s had quite a few missed cuts, limited top-10 finishes, and even a DQ, but one thing that the loyal Spieth army know is that you can never count him out. One of the most entertaining players on tour that always seems to find himself in trouble and yet pulls himself out, the ease of this course should favour Spieth. He’ll at least be in less trouble less often which should lead to a more consistent round.
 

·         Tom Kim – Kim is already a such a regular feature on the PGA Tour that’s is quite easy to forget that he’s only 21 years old with 3 wins already under his belt. This season however, Kim has yet to get his season started properly with no top-10’s yet, 2 missed cuts and a withdrawal. I’ve read somewhere he’s battling a small injury or niggle so hopefully he comes good soon. His best finish of the season was a T-17 at the WM Phoenix Open back in February.
 

·         Will Zalatoris – After so many close calls and runner-up finishes, it can be hard to believe he only has 1 PGA Tour career win to his name. Now with a broomstick LAB putter in his bag, one of the most obviously and viral flaws to his bag (that signature wiggly putting stroke) has almost been completely eradicated. He’s already had a runner-up finish and 3 top-10 finishes so I’d be surprised if another victory wasn’t too far away. He missed the cut at his last event so he’ll be looking to bounce back quickly.

You can find the rest of the field here.

Another week and with Scottie Scheffler absent it’s another chance for someone else to add a notch to their bed post.

The field is a little weaker this week with the highest ranked player being Jordan Spieth at World number 20. It’s a good chance for a player who normally finishes mid-table to get a win and sure up their PGA card for the next few years.

Don’t forget to get your picks in.

 

SPLATT

[Josh Parker]

Should be a good opportunity for someone to step up. 

[Splatt]

Update: Willy Z has withdrawn

[Toby12W]

I reckon Spieth puts in a good performance this week!