The revamped TPC Craig Ranch witnessed a classic performance from Brooks Koepka during Thursday’s opening round of the 2026 CJ CUP Byron Nelson. The five-time major champion posted an 8-under 63, finally mastering his putting and positioning himself near the top of the leaderboard outside Dallas, Texas, trailing only Taylor Moore, who recorded an even better 62 late in the evening.
“It was simply a relaxed group,” Koepka noted. “Everyone was just feeding off each other’s energy, effortlessly. Everyone was enjoying themselves. It made it pleasant. I also feel at ease on the golf course.”
“My putter finally felt good. I had been feeling positive about it over the past few days while working in my studio. Then, upon arriving here, it felt incredibly comfortable. Rick [Elliott] confirmed this observation from his perspective. This also helps to build a bit of confidence, aligning what you feel with the reality of it. I’m just content with how everything unfolded today.”
Koepka’s 63, while not the lowest score of the day, was the best among his playing partners, which included Dallas local Si Woo Kim and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Kim finished one stroke behind Koepka with a 64, placing him at the head of a significant group at 7 under, while Scheffler showcased his usual steady form, carding a 66 in his initial attempt to defend his title.
“I sensed I was quite close. I executed some positive plays,” Scheffler commented. “I felt my iron shots were a bit short, requiring me to take a few more looks. It’s just a matter of getting nearer the hole and sinking a few more putts. Overall, I believe I performed well, simply needing to place the ball closer and convert more putts. But on the whole, many aspects of my game were strong.”
Even on his home course, Scheffler momentarily stole the spotlight from Koepka as the formidable right-hander recorded six birdies and an eagle on his score sheet. Koepka, who entered the week ranked within the top 10 for greens in regulation, strokes gained on approach, and proximity to the hole on the PGA Tour, had been consistently performing well, and his putting finally yielded significant results in Round 1, improving his score by over two strokes relative to the competition using that club.
“I believe victory is still quite distant at the moment, but indeed, it would be fantastic [to win],” Koepka remarked. “I recall that the last time I secured a win at [The CJ Cup], I regained my position as world No. 1. I sense there’s a significant disparity currently in terms of qualifying for major tournaments…as I make my return to the Tour.
“It would undoubtedly provide a substantial boost to my confidence because I feel my game has been strong, but the scores haven’t reflected that, primarily due to my putting. However, I sense I am on the verge of a breakthrough and am incredibly close. I truly hope to be in contention by Sunday.”
Wyndham Clark, a past U.S. Open winner, shares the 5-under mark with Scheffler. Also in this group are PGA Tour newcomers Johnny Keefer and Neal Shipley, along with 19-year-old Blades Brown, who aims to secure special temporary membership on the PGA Tour by achieving a sufficiently high placement this week.
Top Performers
1. Taylor Moore (-9)
T2. Brooks Koepka, Jesper Svensson (-8)
For the second consecutive week, Koepka opted for a different putter in his equipment. However, in contrast to the previous week’s PGA Championship, he experienced favorable outcomes at TPC Craig Ranch. Koepka’s putting prowess was evident from the start when he sank an 18-foot birdie putt on the par-4 11th, which was only his second hole played. This initial success merely set the stage for what followed.
Throughout his round, Koepka successfully sank further birdie putts from distances of 14 feet, 3 feet, 11 feet, 16 feet, 5 feet, and 3 feet. While achieving 14 greens in regulation, Koepka’s display was rendered even more remarkable considering he only found the fairway three times. Even with preferred lies in play, he didn’t have the freedom to clean and reposition his golf ball as frequently as he might have wished, yet he is expected to navigate this challenge effectively.
Key Challengers
T4. Emiliano Grillo, Keith Mitchell, Si Woo Kim, Stephan Jaeger, Michael Thorbjornsen, Tyler Duncan, Kensei Hirata (-7)
T11. Doug Ghim, Mackenzie Hughes, Hank Lebioda, Austin Eckroat, Lanto Griffin (-6)
It is quite plausible that Kim is the top performer on the PGA Tour this season who has yet to secure a victory, and he is now looking at another chance to claim a win following his initial round of 64. This achievement represents Kim’s eleventh round of 66 or better on the PGA Tour during the current year, a figure surpassed only by Scheffler’s twelve.
Much like Koepka, Kim has typically found his putter to be a limiting factor. Nevertheless, on Thursday, it transformed into a strength; he gained over 1.50 strokes while putting on the greens and an extra 1.30 strokes by sinking a birdie putt from just off the green on his very first hole. Given his statistics of hitting 13 fairways and 16 greens in regulation, Kim has the potential to continue advancing up the standings, provided his putting maintains this form.
“It was a strong round, and my putting was excellent,” Kim stated. “My ball striking was slightly inconsistent, but I can still accept that. Yes, it was a solid performance. The green conditions were a bit more challenging than I anticipated. However, my putting was really effective today, so it ended up being a good round.”
Sub-plot of the Tournament
Blades Brown’s crucial objective this week is securing a standalone 21st place finish or higher. Achieving this would grant him special temporary membership on the PGA Tour, enabling him to receive an unrestricted number of sponsor invitations to participate in PGA Tour competitions this season.
Brown’s score of 66 positions him within that crucial qualification threshold. His performances across both the Korn Ferry Tour – where he holds the 9th rank in the year-long competition – and the PGA Tour indicate his sustained presence in professional golf. To date in 2026, Brown has achieved six finishes within the top 25 on the Korn Ferry Tour, among which are two second-place results.
His performance on the PGA Tour has been even more remarkable; he competed in the final group alongside Scheffler and Kim at The American Express, concluding that event tied for 18th place. Brown also held the lead at the Puerto Rico Open during the weekend before ultimately finishing in third position, and his most recent appearance saw him secure a tie for 9th place at the Myrtle Beach Classic.
Current Betting Lines and Selections for the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Betting figures sourced from FanDuel Sportsbook
- Scottie Scheffler: +260
- Si Woo Kim: 13/2
- Brooks Koepka: 7-1
- Taylor Moore: 13-1
- Michael Thorbjornsen: 15-1
- Keith Mitchell: 18-1
- Stephan Jaeger: 20-1
Clark demonstrated strong play on Thursday, yet his betting odds have remained relatively stable, positioning him at 45-1, just a few shots behind the frontrunners. His driving was significantly improved compared to recent weeks, and crucially, his putting on the greens was highly effective. Throughout his career, it has been observed that once he establishes a comfortable feel for the green surfaces, he often maintains excellent form for the duration of the tournament. Should this pattern continue, he ought to have a legitimate opportunity for victory by Sunday.
