The second round of the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson gets underway on Friday at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.
Taylor Moore leads at 9-under par after the first round. But, of course, the tournament remains wide open with three days remaining.
Here are my picks and CJ Cup Byron Nelson Round 2 best bets.
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Round 2 Best Bets
Stephan Jaeger Top-20 (-142 at DraftKings)
Stephan Jaeger thrived in Thursday’s opening round, finishing T4 at 7-under par. At -142, he is worth backing to maintain that momentum and record his second consecutive top-20 finish following last week’s T18 at the PGA Championship.
TPC Craig Ranch stretches nearly 7,400 yards and plays as a long course by PGA Tour standards. As a result, roughly 40% of approach shots come from 200-plus yards, well above the Tour average.
Despite its length, the course is highly scorable due to its openness and lack of severe penalty areas. The receptive greens allow strong long-iron players to generate numerous birdie and eagle opportunities.
This type of birdie-heavy setup favors players with power, making Jaeger a strong candidate. This season, he ranks above the PGA Tour average in birdie-or-better percentage on approach shots from 200-plus yards.
Mackenzie Hughes Top-20 (+132 at DraftKings)
Another golfer worth targeting in this market is Mackenzie Hughes. He also got off to a strong start Thursday, finishing T11 at 6-under par.
Like Jaeger, Hughes fits this course well. Entering this week, he ranks above the PGA Tour average in birdie-or-better percentage on approach shots from 200-plus yards.
In a low-scoring event, efficiency on and around the greens becomes critical. Players must convert opportunities and avoid mistakes to keep pace.
Hughes’ short game supports that need. On par 3s and par 4s, he will need to hit precise approach shots to create birdie chances on these receptive greens.
On par 5s, his long-iron ability should create eagle opportunities, often leaving him with lengthy putts. Hughes is capable in those situations.
On the PGA Tour, he ranks in the 84th percentile in strokes gained: putting from 2-5 feet and in the 83rd percentile from 30-plus feet.
