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Power Rankings: Jordan Spieth Should Finally Find His Form in Texas

Spieth is the highest-ranked player set to tee off at this week's CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Here are 10 players our model likes this week.

Jeff Ritter

Apr 19, 2024; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Jordan Spieth waits to putt on the 15th green during
Apr 19, 2024; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Jordan Spieth waits to putt on the 15th green during / Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to Power Rankings, a weekly feature on SI Golf from our partners at KeyCompete. This week the Tour shifts from New Orleans to North Texas for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Here’s how our model sees the event event shaping up:

2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson Preview

The 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tournament will be staged at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. Designed by Tom Weiskopf, Craig Ranch opened in 2004 and quickly established itself as one of Texas's top golf destinations. The par-71 spans more than 7,400 yards and features wide fairways, sculpted bunkers and subtly contoured greens that demand precision and strategic thinking. The par-3 17th hole called “Ranch 17th” features a stadium environment that is reminiscent of TPC Scottsdale’s famed 16th. Here are the players our model likes this week.

KeyCompete’s 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson Power Rankings

1.  Jordan Spieth (+1400) - The local favorite and former champion, Spieth hasn’t been his best in 2024 but he’s due. This would be a comfortable place to get on track.

2.  Tom Kim (+3000) - Lurking. An’s explosive driving and precision on the greens make him a strong contender, as it feels like a win is coming soon.

3.  Will Zalatoris (+2200) - Continues to impress this season after a lost year following back surgery.

4.  Jason Day (+1800) - Experience and tenacity make him a threat on any course. Ended a five-year winless drought here last year.

5.  Byeong Hun An (+3000) - Powerful drives and deft touch around the greens will play well here. A dark horse.

6.  Si Woo Kim (+1800) - Plays a more unpredictable style, but knack for rising to the occasion could see him contend.

7.  Stephan Jaeger (+3000) - Solid all-around game and a player on the rise.

8.  Adam Scott (+2500) - Wealth of experience makes him a threat.

9.  KH Lee (+5000) - Still emerging, Lee's steady improvement and confidence-building victories position him as a contender here once again. Winner here in 2021 and 2022.

10.  Alex Noren (+2500) - Precision ball-striking and strategic prowess make him the 10th man on our list.

2024 Zurich Classic Recap

Our top-ranked pairing of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowrystaged a thrilling comeback to secure a victory in sudden death at the Zurich. McIlroy's powerful drives paired with Lowry's precise iron play and clutch putting made the difference for this team of great friends and fellow Irishmen.

KeyCompete had a solid week on our picks, bringing our yearly record to 73-52.

Published
Jeff Ritter

JEFF RITTER

Jeff Ritter is the Managing Director of SI Golf. He spent more than a decade at Sports Illustrated and Golf Magazine, and in 2020 joined Morning Read to help spark its growth and eventual acquisition by Arena Group, the publisher of Sports Illustrated. He has covered more than 25 major championships, and previously helped launch SI Golf Plus Digital, Golf Magazine’s first original, weekly e-magazine, and served as its top editor. He also launched Golf's “Films” division, the magazine’s first long-form video storytelling franchise, and his debut documentary received an Edward R. Murrow Award for sports reporting. His writing has earned first-place awards from the Society of American Travel Writers, the MIN Magazine Awards, and the Golf Writers Association of America, among others. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. A native Michigander, he remains a diehard Wolverine fan and will defend Jim Harbaugh until the bitter end.