GOLF.com: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson Round 1 Pairings — Spieth Eyes First Win in Four Years Against Scheffler on Home Turf

Texas Showdown: Spieth vs. Scheffler

The 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson tees off Thursday, May 21 at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. The tournament's headlining storyline pits two famous Texans against one another: Jordan Spieth chasing his first PGA Tour victory in four years, and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler seeking redemption after falling short at last week's PGA Championship.

Spieth's Season So Far

Spieth enters the week with seven top-25 finishes this season, sitting 41st in the FedEx Cup standings and 47th in the Official World Golf Ranking. Despite a pair of T11s and a T12 at Augusta, he has yet to crack the top 10. He tees off Round 1 at 1:43 p.m. ET alongside Chris Kirk and Sungjae Im.

Scheffler's Redemption Tour

Defending champion Scheffler is hungry after being denied back-to-back PGA Championship titles. He opens his week at 8:33 a.m. ET alongside Brooks Koepka and Si Woo Kim — a marquee early morning grouping worth watching.

Japanese Players to Watch

Ryo Hisatsune tees off at 1:32 p.m. ET, Keita Nakajima at 3:11 p.m. ET, and Takumi Kanaya at 2:16 p.m. ET — three Japanese Tour members with opportunities to make noise on the leaderboard.

Strokeslab's Take

Spieth's consistency this season suggests solid approach play, but his SG: Putting numbers in pressure moments will likely determine whether he converts a strong round into a genuine title run at his home track.