Event: CJ Cup
Where: TPC Craig Ranch (McKinney, TX)
When: May 1st – 4th
Watch: The Golf Channel, CBS, ESPN+, Paramount+
The 2025 PGA Tour season features The CJ Cup, a prominent event that draws top-tier golfing talent. This tournament is known for its competitive field and high stakes, attracting some of the world’s best players vying for victory. The event is held at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.
The CJ Cup has become a key stop on the PGA Tour, showcasing exceptional skill and sportsmanship. Golfers compete over several days in a stroke-play format, navigating challenging courses and aiming for the lowest possible score. The event provides a platform for both established stars and rising talents to demonstrate their abilities on a global stage.
The tournament’s history includes memorable moments and thrilling finishes, solidifying its place in the world of professional golf. The 2025 edition promises to deliver more of the same, with intense competition and captivating performances.
Fans can anticipate a display of precision, strategy, and mental fortitude as players tackle each round. The CJ Cup is not just a test of physical prowess but also a measure of a golfer’s ability to perform under pressure. As the tournament unfolds, storylines develop, rivalries emerge, and a champion is crowned, adding another chapter to the rich history of this prestigious PGA Tour event.
About the Course
- Par 71
- Distance: 7,569 yards
- TPC Craig Ranch, designed by Tom Weiskopf, is known for having wide fairways and large greens
- 14th Hole: This is a drivable par-4 with a downhill tee shot and water on the left, offering a risk-reward opportunity
- 17th Hole: This par-3 features a stadium-like setup, creating an exciting atmosphere for both players and spectators
Who to Bet this Weekend?
Sam Burns – Top 5 Finish (+400)
A runner up in the event in 2021, Sam Burns has shown that he can excel in these Texas conditions at TPC Craig Ranch. While he has put up a bit of a rough stretch in March and April, this may be the perfect setting for Burns to get back into contention. TPC Craig Ranch is a wide open course with large greens that should see the field post absurdly low scores. As an accurate ball striker off the tee, Burns will have even more wiggle room to try and gain some extra distance, especially on the drivable par 4s. In my opinion, with a much higher margin for error across the board, this tournament will come down to play around and on the green. Burns enters the CJ Cup with 7 consecutive appearances in which he has posted positive strokes gained with his putter. I expect Burns to make the putts that others miss and find himself at the top of the leaderboard come Sunday.
Ryan Gerard – Top 10 Finish (+450)
Gerard has not even been a pro for 2 full years, but he has been on an absolute tear in 2025. In his last four events, he has two consecutive top 10 finishes and another in which he finished T12. Gerard has been climbing the FedEx standings rapidly and as we look to his performances at the Valero Texas Open and Texas Children’s, it is clear that he has all the tools needed to continue his run. On the year, Gerard is a top 15 golfer in total strokes gained and has demonstrated an ability to excel in different phases of the game as the courses dictate. He’s average off the tee box, but with a lot of extra room on the fairways, his second and third shots can be the difference makers this weekend.
Jordan Spieth – To Win (+1800)
I like Spieth in this spot a whole lot. Outside of his missed cut at Craig Ranch last year, he finished 2nd and T9. He knows the course well and has actually been playing some good golf in recent weeks. He comes into the weekend with three consecutive top 20 finishes but somehow is still being overlooked on tour. Spieth is a master off the tee and I expect him to find a good balance of risk/reward as he battles the field. If there is any golfer who is due for a victory, it’s Jordan Spieth.
