Mid-May golf in Texas usually means stifling heat, lots of humidity and the distinct possibility of it all being interrupted by a rain shower that will wipe out your best round.
However, thanks to a rare late spring cold front, the field at the HP Byron Nelson Championship this week in Irving will be treated to near perfect conditions, highs in the low 80s, lows in the 50s and 60s for one of the most competitive non-Major tournaments on the PGA Tour.
The tournament that was won by its namesake when it debuted in 1944, is being defended in 2014 by Sang-Moon Bae, the first Korean national to ever win a PGA title.
The tournament kicks off Thursday with Cameron Beckman, Tim Herron and Brian Harman on the front nine and Shawn Stefani, Brendon Todd and Greg Owen on the back. Bae takes the course at 7:40 a.m. on the back nine, paired with Harris English and Jordan Spieth, who will have plenty of local support as a Dallas native.
Last week’s champion Martin Kaymer is up at 12:40 p.m. along with current FedExCup leader Jimmy Walker and Brandt Snedeker.
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