A 16-1 Live Bet Looks Enticing After 36 Holes at CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Rookie Jake Knapp leads Troy Merritt and Matt Wallace by one shot after 36 holes, but a value bet is lurking just down the board.

Jeff Ritter | May 4, 2024

May 2, 2024; McKinney, Texas, USA; A general view of grandstands on the 18th green as Max Greyserman / Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports

Thirty-six holes into the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, Tour rookie Jake Knapp is at 14 under par and the leader by one shot over Matt Wallace and Troy Merritt.

Bettors looking to cash in this weekend might consider looking past those names, just down the down. Taylor Pendrith, currently three shots behind Knapp and +1600 at DraftKings, is a solid live bet for two reasons:

1. He was in good form leading into to the tournament, which is always a positive indicator. Analyzing his recent performances and considering factors like his driving distance and accuracy, putting stats, and course suitability, Pendrith on paper could have an edge over current contenders.

2. A look at the current leaderboard along with the conditions of the course offer more insight into Pendrith's potential. Specifically, players are going low at TPC Craig Ranch — Merritt shot a 62 on Friday — and Pendrith is well-equipped to keep pace, and perhaps sail right past, the current group of leaders. Knapp is a rookie but also a winner this year. He will likely be Pendrith's biggest obstacle.

At +1600, that's a nice payout if Pendrith hits, making it an attractive proposition for bettors looking for value heading into the final 36 holes of the event.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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Published May 4, 2024

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.