The Betting Bunker: Three golf betting tips for the 2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
In the latest addition to our tipping arsenal, Odds Now's golf expert Ross Kilvington (@Kilvington91) casts his eye over the 2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, which tees off on Thursday.
Ross is showing a healthy profit for the season so far and has three fancies for this week's action in Texas.
CJ Cup Byron Nelson 2025 – key betting insights
The PGA Tour returns to Texas for the third time this season with the CJ Cup Byron Nelson taking place in the Lone Star state.
First played in 1944 as the Texas Victory Open, the tournament has gone through various name changes. Since 1968, Byron Nelson’s name has been used in the title and the event has become one of the most popular on tour.
This year, the field is headlined by Scottie Scheffler, who will be hoping to claim his first win of the season. Although not the strongest field, the likes of Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim and defending champion Taylor Pendrith will all take part.
Taking place at TPC Craig Ranch for the fifth time, the par 71, 7,569-yard course is set up for low scoring. Indeed, the winning scores since 2021 are -25, -26, -23 and -23, proving that if the conditions are favourable, it could be a birdie fest.
There is plenty of water in play throughout the Tom Weiskopf design, but the best in world shouldn’t be fazed. The front nine features three par-four holes which measure less than 430 yards.
Over the previous four years, TPC Craig Ranch has been among the ten easiest courses on the PGA Tour and 2025 should see more of the same, despite being partway though a renovation by Lanny Watkins.
Scheffler is the obvious bet this week, but at 11/4, there isn’t much value – especially with how he has been playing of late.
Instead, I look further down the field at three selections for Odds Now who offer much greater value for money this week.
CJ Cup Byron Nelson 2025 betting tips
Selection #1 - Si Woo Kim 33/1 (LiveScore Bet - 6 places)
In 2013, Bae Sang-moon won the Byron Nelson Championship by two strokes over Keegan Braddley. Since then, the event has been won a further three times by a South Korean player.
Kang Sung-hoon won in 2019, before Lee Kyoung-hoon secured wins in 2021 and 2022, with his 26-under score a record to par.
Si Woo Kim could be the next Korean to add his name to this list. He has pedigree, winning the Players Championship in 2017 and claiming four PGA Tour titles overall, but he hasn’t won since the 2023 Sony Open. The same year he finished second at this very event.
With birdie chances aplenty this week, his abilities on and around the green will help him go low. This season, he ranks 25th for putts per round and 23rd for SG: Around the green.
The 29-year-old would have contended at the recent RBC Heritage if it weren’t for a final round 74, but a T8 finish was his best of the year. A big result is coming and TPC Craig Ranch could be the perfect place for him to return to the winners circle.
Selection #2 - Jake Knapp - 55/1 (Betfred - 5 places)
Jake Knapp and his partner Frankie Capan came close to winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last week, finishing third.
This was a welcome result for the 30-year-old, who had missed the cut in two of his previous three starts; the Valero Texas Open and the Valspar Championship.
After breaking through with a win at the 2024 Mexico Open, it is only a matter of time before the American claims his second victory.
Driving is perhaps a weakness, but he makes up for this with a sublime putting ability (ranking 21st for SG: Putting this season) and this could push him into contention at a course known for yielding birdies.
At 55/1, Knapp provides some good value towards the middle of the betting markets this week.
Selection #3 - Nico Echavarria - 125/1 (Unibet - 6 places)
At the first two events of the season in Hawaii, Nico Echavarria finished T32 at the Sentry before finishing second the week after at the Sony Open.
Four rounds of 67 or under prove that he can sparkle on a course where there are plenty of birdie opportunities and we could well see a repeat this week.
Four missed cuts in the following six events wasn’t anticipated, but he has bounced back fairly well. A T16 finish at the Valspar was a return to form, while he even made the cut at the Masters, although a final round 84 saw him drop like a dead bird down the field.
Nevertheless, a price of 100/1 is very attractive, especially as we know the 30-year-old has the ability to perform on a course like TPC Craig Ranch.
At his first attempt last year, he finished T24, shooting all four rounds under par. A bit more composure on the putting surface and he would have contended, no doubt about that.
Ross' three CJ Cup Byron Nelson 2025 betting picks
1.5pts ew - Si Woo Kim 33/1 (LiveScore Bet - 6 places)
1.5pts ew - Jake Knapp - 55/1 (Betfred - 5 places)
0.5pts ew - Nico Echavarria - 125/1 (Unibet - 6 places)
Total stake - 4pts (all place bets settled at 1/5 odds)
Seasonal Stats
Events tipped by Ross - 7
Total staked in 2025: 25pts
Total returns in 2025: 31.8pts
P/L in 2025: +6.8pts