There’s Horses for Courses.

There’s the preview.

You can get to both from here.

This is the superintendent at Trinty Forest Golf Club.

Make good choices this week!

AT&T Byron Nelson

Trinity Forest Golf Club

Dallas, Texas

Yards (per official scorecard):	7,380
Par:	71 (36-35)
Greens:	13,000 square feet; Champion Bermuda.
Stimpmeter:	11′
Rough:	Native prairie grasses; Trinity Zoysia grass on every surface minus greens.
Bunkers:	85
Water Hazards:	0
Trees:	0
Architect(s):	Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (2016).
Purse:	$7.9 million; $1.422 winner plus 500 FedExCup Points.
Defending Champion:	Aaron Wise (-23).
Notes:	Field of 156, stroke play, top 70 and ties play the weekend.

Previous Winners:

Year	Winner		Comment
2018	Aaron Wise	-23	Rookie defeated Marc Leishman by three shots after sharing the 54-hole lead with him.

2018-19 Winners

Event	Winner
Safeway Open	Kevin Tway**
CIMB Classic	Marc Leishman
CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES	Brooks Koepka
Sanderson Farms Championship	Cameron Champ**
WGC-HSBC Champions	Xander Schauffele
Shriners Hospitals for Children	Bryson DeChambeau
Mayakoba Golf Classic	Matt Kuchar
The RSM Classic	Charles Howell III
Hero World Challenge*	Jon Rahm
Sentry TOC	Xander Schauffele (2)
Sony Open in Hawaii	Matt Kuchar (2)
60th Desert Classic	Adam Long**
Farmers Insurance Open	Justin Rose
Waste Management	Rickie Fowler
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am	Phil Mickelson
Genesis Open	J.B. Holmes
WGC-Mexico Championship	Dustin Johnson
The Honda Classic	Keith Mitchell**
Arnold Palmer Invitational	Francesco Molinari
THE PLAYERS	Rory McIlroy
Valspar Championship	Paul Casey
WGC-Match Play	Kevin Kisner
Corales Punta Cana	Graeme McDowell
Valero Texas Open	Corey Conners**
83rd Masters Tournament	Tiger Woods
RBC Heritage	C.T. Pan**
Zurich Classic of New Orleans	Ryan Palmer & Jon Rahm (2)
Wells Fargo Championship	Max Homa**

(* unofficial event; **First-time winner)

Facts and Figures:

Last year was the first edition of this event at Trinity Forest. It is the ninth-longest running event on TOUR in the same city. The first one was in 1944.

Tournament Record:	261 (-23); Wise, 2018.
Course Record:	61; Leishman, Round 1, 2018.
Defending Champions since 2000:	N/A.
Multiple Winners (entered)	N/A.
First TOUR win (recent):	Wise
First Appearance:	Wise
Second Appearance:	N/A
Margin of Victory:	3 shots; Wise
Low Rounds 2018:	61; Leishman. 62; Brian Gay, Round 2; Branden Grace Round 4.
Odd Fact:	Built on a landfill and has exactly zero trees in play.
Odd Fact II:	Trinity Zoysia grass was developed exclusively for this track.
Odd Fact III:	Past performance in this event prior to 2018 will not be helpful when relating to course history.

 The Confidence Factor was the weekly column I wrote for PGATOUR.COM. It has evolved into Horses for Courses. I’ve included the link here for you.

Trend or Not a Trend?

Stats	2018	Runner-Up	T3	T3	T3
	Aaron Wise	M. Leishman	Branden Grace	K. Mitchell	J.J. Spaun
Score	261	264	265	265	265
All Drives	9	34	T15	6	T23
Accuracy	T6	T8	T23	T10	2
GIR	1	T8	T29	2	T21
Ball-Striking
Proximity	3	T14	24	1	11
Putting: Birdie or Better %	7	17	1	32	6
SG: Off-the-Tee	2	10	29	1	9
SG: Approach-the-Green	1	25	33	3	20
SG: Around-the-Green	34	48	1	35	5
SG: Putting	7	1	18	30	19
SG: Tee-to-Green	2	19	5	3	4
Scrambling	T18	T27	T35	17	T24
Bogey Avoidance
Par-3 Scoring	T24	T7	T2	T16	T2
Par-4 Scoring	1	T8	T17	T3	T3
Par-5 Scoring	T6	T6	T2	T20	T44

Horses for Courses

Each week I’ll put the major players in here. There are always exceptions to rules and “new” players every year so use this as a guide or tiebreaker.

2018 Results

Players entered for 2019

01 Aaron Wise

02 Marc Leishman

03 Branden Grace

03 Keith Mitchell

03 JJ Spaun

06 Ryan Blaum

06 Kevin Na

06 Jimmy Walker

09 Kevin Tway

12 Brian Gay

13 Rory Sabbatini

13 Matt Jones

16 Derek Fathauer

16 Russell Knox

16 Hideki Matsuyama

21 Martin Piller

21 Jordan Spieth

21 Peter Uihlein

26 Tyler Dunca

26 Anirban Lahiri

26 JT Poston

26 Shawn Stefani

32 Fabian Gomez

32 Cody Gribble

32 Beau Hossler

32 Nate Lashley

32 Nick Lindheim

32 CT Pan

32 Scot Piercy

32 Nick Taylor

32 Johnson Wagner

42 Abraham Ancer

42 Jonathan Byrd

42 Sung Kang

42 Denny McCarthy

42 Brian Stuard

53 Ben Crane

53 Troy Merritt

53 Robert Streb

59 Dominic Bozzelli

59 Peter Malnati

59 Adam Schenk

59 Hudson Swafford

59 Michael Thompson

59 Vaugn Taylor

66 Roberto Diaz

69 Sangmoon Bae

70 Tom Lovelady

70 Rod Pampling

MC

Matt Every

Bill Haas

Paddy Harrington

JJ Henry

Sam Saunders

Brandt Snedeker

Chad Campbell

Harris English

Stephan Jaeger

Kelly Kraft

David Lingmerth

Seamus Power

Ben Silverman

Aaron Baddeley

Ernie Els

Michael Kim

Ryan Palmer

DJ Trahan

Cameron Tringale

Richy Werenski

David Hearn

Smylie Kaufman

T V A

Martin Laird

Brendon Todd

Ricky Barnes (DQ)

Thoughts

It’s year two at Trinity Forest so that should give those who played last year a slight advantage but not much. As Rob Bolton pointed out, the course will play slightly shorter this year but they have also added some new tee boxes. The guys from last year will have the greens mapped and the routes figured out but that might not matter as much because of Mother Nature.

The wind isn’t going to blow from the same direction as last year.

The temperature is going to be 20 degrees or so cooler.

Dallas has taken on historic rain since last fall and is getting pounded on Wednesday.

This should level the playing field for the newbies, which are 80+ strong, and should open up some doors.

Last year the track was firm-ish and fast-ish and 31 players were 10-under or better. The wind blew exactly one day, Saturday, and that helped, but not much.

Of the players in the top 25, there were FOUR rounds above par so there’s not much time for making bogeys and others this week.

The wet conditions will widen already the widest fairways on TOUR so it SHOULD be a second-shot course.

Except the greens are HUMONGOUS and that suggests more folks will hit them = putting contest.

Couple of schools of thought this week but I’m going to have guys who make birdies and can putt break my ties.

You do you.

The Chalk

Brooks Koepka: Bombs away! The last time he played a new venue, THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES (yes, ALL CAPS is how they do it over there), he won and shot 21-under. Top 25 in both birdies and scoring works for me.

Marc Leishman: Wind player, links player and almost wired it last year. Let’s try again!

Keith Mitchell: He’s won and cashed two other top-10 paychecks in his last seven starts including last week. Pound it.

Scott Piercy: The last time we saw him on his own ball we saw him cash his fifth top-10 check of the season at Harbour Town. That ties his best haul for a season and it’s the first week of May! Saddle up!

Hideki Matsuyama: Use a broom. Use a rake. Try left-handed. Hit it closer.

Ryan Palmer: Winner last time out, Texan, wind player, birdie machine, etc.

Rory Sabbatini: The bubble will burst sometime but the former Dallas resident has rattled off eight straight on TOUR.

Kevin Na: Broken finger is well behind him as we saw with QF appearance at Match Play and T10 at RBC.

Rafa Cabrera Bello: T36 or better in all of his start on TOUR in 2019 provides a steady, if unspectacular, option this week. I’m just happy his name was shorted to Rafa and the hyphens were dropped!

Patrick Reed: Saw flashes last week (67-69) at Quail Hollow but couldn’t finish out the weekend. Without any trees to hit into, I hope he can concentrate! IF this place reminds him of Maui (big targets, work that putter), look out!

Branden Grace: Chambers Bay. 62 last year. No trees = no problems even with no form. I’m not splitting too many hairs in a field this short.

Sungjae Im: Knock. Knock. Knock. Every week is a new adventure on courses he’s never seen in competition. He’s 26th in birds, 25th in scoring and was T3 last week at a difficult QHC in birdies with 18. This could be the week as not many will have a leg up on him course-wise. I’m using him everywhere.

Ryan Moore: Younger Brian Gay checks in 16th SG: Total, 32nd TTG and 30th putting.

Charles Howell III: Showed off last year on Saturday with bogey-free 65 in the gusting wind. Awesome metrics but quiet form is chilly. Last time he could swing driver T15 at Bay Hill.

Scottie Scheffler: Yeah. Everybody SHOULD BE on him this week. Dallas native has made eight cuts on the Web.com and SIX have gone for top-10 results. If that’s not enough, the last four events he’s played have also checked that box. T20 at Valero shows it doesn’t matter. We’re all getting paid or bombing out together, haha. I know which one happens more frequently, sadly…

Seamus Power: T13 or better in his last three on TOUR.

Henrik Stenson: Do I think Seamus Power is a better value this week than Stenson? Of course. The general public always flock to the big names but I enjoy heat more than most. The Swede bounced back nicely for T28 last week at WFC after playing the final three rounds six under.

Next Tier

Brian Gay: The wet creeps me out a bit but his putter relieves most concerns.

Matt Jones: Anybody who racks up nine straight goes in here.

Russell Knox: T16 last year and has cashed in 12 of 14 this season.

Adam Schenk: Prison tool or bad golf shot? YOU DECIDE! Handled a long, strong TPC San Antonio (T7) and another big course last week (T13).

Trey Mullinax: Six straight paydays should have the confidence rolling. Bomb it, find it and wedge it close so that balky putter gets some relief!

Pat Perez: Oh, hey, T8 last week with 74 in the final round. Don’t want to be late to the party!

Lucas Bjerregaard: Last time we saw him he was T21 at the Masters. He also MC at Valero after knocking out Tiger Woods in Match Play.

Justin Harding: Cashing T12 at Augusta confirmed he can putt any greens anywhere. Carding a million with Branden Grace at Zurich in the final round means he can also hit it anywhere. Plenty of room this week for the less-than-accurate!

Brian Stuard: Won in a playoff in a rain-soaked Zurich Classic a few years back over a couple of big hitters. T4 at Valero and T16 at RBC in his last two are more than enough evidence for me. Move him up.

J.T. Poston: Big ballpark wasn’t conducive last week even though it was a semi-home game. I’m right back on him in this field as he’s 44th in scoring and has made 14 of 18 cuts.

Thomas Pieters: He’s made 29 of his last 33 worldwide. Nice counterpunch this week for contrarians.

I Have No Idea

Jordan Spieth: I never liked him in this event when it was at TPC Four Seasons but I thought last year might clean the slate. Nope. He should hang around based on the bottom-heavy field but I haven’t seen anything that suggests win or top five this week. In fantasy land, he’s worthless if he’s not in that conversation.

Form/Long Shots/Course Horse/DFS

Nick Taylor: 9 in a row and is an excellent putter.

J.J. Spaun: Walked in last year in dire form and threw up T3. He’s T28 and T22 after dealing with a back deal thingy.

Sebastian Munoz: Broke his streak of 5 straight MC at difficult Quail Hollow Club. Sometimes you gotta take a chance.

Roberto Diaz: 5 in a row.

Ryan Blaum: Led the field with 26 birdies last year. T17 at API is his best recent.

Wyndham Clark: Hits it a mile and can putt. More decent weeks than bad ones and should enjoy the open-ness.

Dominic Bozzelli: Tends to feast on easier tracks and is 16th in birdie average.

Hammerin’ Hank Lebioda: 6 in a row.

Jimmy “Hard K” Knous. 4 straight and 6 of 7. GIR machine could surprise.

K.H. Lee: Struggled with the putter but top 50 in both fairways and GIR. Speed of greens should help this week.

Peter Malnati: Had a run of 6 straight snapped on a big-boy track last week. Trending spectacularly before that and is a lights-out putter.

Alex Prugh: 9th in proximity and made 3 of 4. THESE ARE LONG SHOTS OK?

Troy Merritt: Last time he won was on a new track to him at Barbasol. Before that was a new track at RTJ Club. Needed plenty of birdies for both.

Vaughn Taylor: Blasted out 68-64 last year before fading. Played very solidly at Quail Hollow and can putt.

Shawn Stefani: Racked up 7 of 9 cuts and closed 65-70-67 last week after opening 76. Native Texan.

Colt Knost: Dallas Party Aunt balled out annually in this event before he got hurt and they moved it.

Brian Harman: One top 25 does not make a season but it was his first event with three rounds in the 60s since Scottsdale.

Beau Hossler: Anybody that fires 76-80 on the weekend has to bounce back the following week, right?

Kevin Tway: Anybody who breaks a streak of 6 straight by MAKING the cut at Augusta National deserves props.

Julian Etulain: Played at TCU and has made 9 of 11 because he’s a great putter.

Bud Cauley Section:

Time to see if his streak (T38 followed by T24) continues as his ball-striking should be useful this week. He’s 50th in birds and 38th in scoring. WHAT COULD GO WRONG!

Brendon Todd: Everyone else is on him as a past champion at this event and signs of life. Insider’s dream again this week. And next. And the week after that.

Fades

Aaron Wise: Sorry man! We talked about superstitions last week and one of mine is first-time defending champs. I tried my theory out on Jon Rahm last year AFTER HE WON and it blew up in my face. That doesn’t mean a very warm Wise won’t perform this week; it means I won’t be on board to worry.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat: Last time he made news he was WD while defending in Brunei. This is his first event back so I’m out until he gets the kinks out.

 

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out on Twitter (@MikeGlasscott) or email me mikeglasscott@gmail.com.