pga tour player from kentucky

Top golfers from each state: Kentucky golf and Justin Thomas

By tim letcher | jun 1, 2020.

The latest entrant in our series, coming from the Bluegrass State and Kentucky Golf, is rising star Justin Thomas

When determining the best player ever in Kentucky golf, there are a number of good options. Cases could be made for quite a few players, including major champions Gay Brewer, Bobby Nichols and Justin Thomas.

A case could also be made for current PGA Tour player and Campbellsville native J.B. Holmes as well as current Champions Tour standout Kenny Perry, who is from Franklin. Stretching things even further, one could make a long-shot case for Russ Cochran (Paducah), Steve Flesch (Union), Jodie Mudd (Louisville) or amateur Johnny Owens (Lexington).

More from Pro Golf Now

• Golf Rumors: LIV set to sign Masters Champion in stunning deal
• Fantasy Golf: Grant Thornton Invitational DFS Player Selections
• Brutal return leaves Will Zalatoris looking towards 2024
• Stars You Know at World Champions Cup Starts Thursday at Concession
• Fantasy Golf: An Early Look at the 2024 Masters Tournament

However, we have determined that the best golfer ever from the state of Kentucky, even at just 27 years old, is Thomas. His complete resume has just enough to edge out both Brewer and Nichols.

For those who may not know about Brewer and Nichols, here is a brief overview of each. Brewer, a native of Lexington, won 10 times on the PGA Tour. Most notably, he was the 1967 Masters champion, edging out his fellow Kentuckian Nichols by one shot. The golf course he grew up playing in Lexington is now named in his honor.

Nichols, who hailed from Louisville, also won a major, the 1964 PGA. In addition to his runner-up finish at the Masters in 1967, he also finished third in the 1962 U.S. Open. Nichols won 12 times on the PGA Tour.

So how can Thomas, at such a young age, already be better than these two players? And how can he already be the best golfer ever from Kentucky?

The numbers, and the rankings, don’t lie. Thomas, a native of Louisville who played his college golf at Alabama, already has 12 PGA Tour victories, as many as Nichols and more than Brewer. He won his first major title in 2017, taking home the Wanamaker Trophy by winning the PGA Championship .

Thomas’ 2017 season was one for the ages

That same season, Thomas won five times, was the leading money winner on the PGA Tour, was named the PGA Tour Player of the Year and he won the FedEx Cup. Quite a season for a player who was just 24 at the time.

The next season, his progress continued. In fact, for four weeks during 2018, Thomas was the top-ranked player in the world, passing Dustin Johnson, who would pass him back for the top spot just a month later.

Thomas has already won twice in the 2020 season in just eight starts. He will get his season re-started next week at Colonial when he plays the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Ranking the 15 Best Tiger Woods Career Wins. dark. Next

When he’s done playing golf, Thomas may also have a career waiting for him as an on-course reporter . He showed a solid ability for that during the recent match between Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning against Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady.

Thomas has a lot of good golf ahead of him, but he’s already the best player ever from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. With all due respect to Brewer, Nichols and every other player from the Bluegrass state, Thomas’ accomplishments outweigh them at this point.

125 Years of Golf in America: Kentucky May 1, 2019

The USGA was founded on Dec. 22, 1894. With the 125th anniversary coming at the end of 2019, every week throughout the year we're highlighting how all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, make the game we all love a great one in the United States. 

Next Week: Illinois   125 Years of American Golf Home

Watch: 2013 U.S. Women's Amateur champion Emma Talley reflects on her junior/amateur golf days in the Bluegrass State

Thomas giving kentucky golf some cachet.

By Dave Shedloski

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, the 15th state to join the Union, in 1792, has produced its share of prominent golfers, but it’s safe to say that no player has accomplished more – and in just a few short years – than Justin Thomas.

Born in Louisville and raised in Goshen, Thomas at age 25 already has ascended to the top of the Official World Golf Ranking – becoming, last May, the 21st player to be No. 1 in the world – won a major, the 2017 PGA Championship, and that same year captured the FedEx Cup, the PGA Tour’s season-long competition. Thomas also carded a 9-under 63 in the third round of the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills, the lowest round in relation to par in the championship's history (it matched the lowest 18-hole score in a U.S. Open).

On the team side, he represented the United States of America in the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup. And team golf is something Thomas knows quite a lot about from his amateur days.

In 2010, he played for the USA in the Junior Ryder Cup in Wales. In 2012, he was a member of the USA World Amateur Team that competed for the Eisenhower Trophy. The following spring, Thomas helped lead Alabama to the NCAA Division I national championship, and later that summer went 2-0-1 for the USA Team in its 17-9 Walker Cup victory over Great Britain & Ireland at the National Golf Links of America in Southampton, N.Y.

That’s quite a list. But it shouldn’t be that surprising, considering that golf is in his blood. In addition to his father Mike, who is the PGA professional at Harmony Landing Country Club in Goshen, Justin’s grandfather, Paul Thomas, a native of Ashland, Ky., was a PGA professional in Ohio for nearly a half-century.

“I was very fortunate to have the kind of access I did to play golf. That’s not something a lot of kids have,” said Thomas, who now lives in Jupiter, Fla. “My dad as my coach was an advantage. My grandfather also being a PGA professional helped me. If anything, Kentucky does have a diverse number of courses, some very good ones.”

Thomas is putting those advantages from his formative years to good use. For the past three years he has hosted the Justin Thomas Junior Championship at Harmony Landing, an American Junior Golf Association event. The latest edition was held just after he finished tied for 12th in the Masters Tournament. Before the start of his tournament, Thomas announced the creation of the Justin Thomas Foundation, which will benefit, among other organizations, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana and The First Tee of Louisville.

“I love that I’m from Kentucky; it’s a beautiful state – the topography, the horses … and the people are so friendly,” Thomas said.

Was there an advantage growing up in the Bluegrass State? Depends which Thomas you ask.

“The best thing for Justin’s game being from Kentucky was the simple fact he couldn’t play golf in the winter,” said Mike Thomas. “We’d go to North Carolina or Florida for a junior event in the spring, and people would be asking me what he’d been working on because he was playing so well. I’d say, he’s been working on video games. The time off was good for him.”

“I didn’t think it was an advantage,” Justin said with a laugh. “But at that time, I did probably need to get away from it, whereas now I have no trouble putting the clubs away for a couple of weeks if I have the opportunity.”

The most prominent golfers born in Kentucky include two-time U.S. Senior Open champion Kenny Perry and 2005 Walker Cup competitor J.B. Holmes, who were home-state heroes for the 2008 USA Ryder Cup Team  at Valhalla Golf Club near Louisville. Left-hander Russ Cochran won a Senior Open Championship conducted by The R&A, and before turning professional, Emma Talley won the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur.

Other than Thomas, the lone major champion with Bluegrass roots is Bobby Nichols, who captured the 1964 PGA Championship at Columbus (Ohio) Country Club. The runners-up that year were Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

Thomas knows them all. It’s not an extensive list. Kentucky’s most prominent sports are horse racing (and the many horse farms that support it) and college basketball, with the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville often ranked among the best teams in the nation.

But he is helping put a golf face on the state.

“I mean, what is Kentucky really famous for? We’ve got the [Kentucky] Derby, and we’ve got bourbon, though I’m sure there are a few other things if I thought about it,” said Thomas. “I’d like to someday be even bigger. I want it to be undisputed. So, hopefully, I can do a few more things in the game.”

Dave Shedloski is an Ohio-based freelance writer who frequently contributes to USGA digital channels.

125 Years of American Golf

Louisville grad among 5 local golfers to play at Barbasol Championship

When the Barbasol Championship tees off next week in Nicholasville, there will be some familiar faces to local golf fans. 

The tournament announced Monday that Louisville grad Derek Fathauer and Owensboro product Matt Atkins will be a part of the only PGA Tour tournament in Kentucky. 

They join Lexington native and Morehead State grad Josh Teater and University of Kentucky teammates Cooper Musselman and Chip McDaniel in the 132-man field. 

Read more: Louisville-area AAU team witnessed RAW Athletics brawl with ref

See also: Louisville basketball takeaways: Chris Mack gives updates on new Cards

Fathauer, 32, appeared in three U.S. Amateur Championships while a member of the Cardinals' golf team, reaching the quarterfinals of match play in 2007 and 2008. He recorded two top-10 finishes during the 2016-17 season, and comes in on a hot streak, having made the cut in four of his last six tournament starts. 

Atkins, 27, graduated from Apollo High School in Owensboro in 2009 and went on to play for the University of South Carolina-Aiken. He gained eligibility for the 2015 Web.com Tour and recorded a 3-shot victory in the 2017 El Bosque Mexico Championship. 

Musselman and McDaniel both just completed their senior seasons at UK, leading the Wildcats to their 10th NCAA championship appearance. Both are turning pro at the Barbasol Championship. Teater, meanwhile, was the winner of the 2009 Utah Championship on the Web.com Tour and played on the PGA Tour during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. 

The tournament will be played Thursday through Sunday, July 19-22, at Champions at Keene Trace. Additional player commitments will be announced later this week. 

• LPGA Newsletters
• LPGA Travel
• Women's Network
• LPGA Professionals
• Members Only
• Lesson Zone
• Membership Information
• Find A Teacher
• Professionals Job Board
• Events Calendar
• LPGA Amateurs
• Become A Member
• Member Login
• LPGA Foundation
• LEADERBOARD
• Changing The Face of Golf
• C-Me Action Plan
• Diversity Policy
• Diverse Supplier Opportunity
• Celebrating the Green
• All Access Series
• Instruction
• Live Stream
• Award Winners
• Hall of Fame
• ROLEX FIRST TIME WINNERS
• ROLEX ANNIKA MAJOR AWARD
• 2024 Player Priority List (PDF)
• TOURNAMENTS
• Download Schedule
• Completed Tournaments
• Drive On Championship
• International Crown
• Solheim Cup
• CME Group Tour Championship
• LPGA Local Qualifying Rounds
• Hilton Grand Vacations TOC
• LPGA Senior Championship
• RACE TO CME GLOBE
• Season Standings
• Past Winners
• Explanation and Points Breakdown
• Projected Points Standing
• CME Group Cares Challenge - Score 1 for St. Jude
• Aon Risk Reward Challenge
• KPMG Performance Insights

PGA Tour Players React to Nelly Korda’s Success

Field breakdown: casino del sol golf classic.

• Nelly Korda

Nelly Korda’s five consecutive LPGA Tour victories have taken the golf world by storm in recent weeks, even catching the eye of some of her male counterparts on the PGA Tour. Take a look at what they had to say about the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1’s success over the past few months.

Scottie Scheffler

“One of the people here asked me, is this turning into a competition between you and Nelly, and I was like, I don't know, man. I think if it's a competition, she's got me pretty beat right now. Five wins in a row. She had that T16 at the beginning of the year, which was just terrible. I can't believe she did that. It's pretty special stuff. To win four times in a row and then show up at a major championship and win is extremely impressive. I'm extremely happy for her. I think we've all seen the golf swing. I wish I could see it more in person, but we don't really run into them too much outside of some TaylorMade shoots and stuff like that. Some great golf, some historic stuff, and hopefully she keeps it up.”

“She finished T16 in her first event this year and the other five she's won. I don't know if I can quite relate to that. That's some pretty serious golf. I'm extremely happy for her and proud of her. That's some pretty special stuff. It's been a treat to watch.”

Billy Horschel

“I had a three-week stretch where I finished second, first, first, and I thought I was something special at that time, but what Nelly and Scottie are doing is unreal. I can't imagine that. And over a period of time, not just five weeks in a row, they've done over six, seven, eight weeks. It's unreal golf. To think about who they're playing against in today's generation of more talented players and doing what they're still doing, I'd say we're not going to see anything like that again, but I'm sure we will. You have to stand up and applaud them because it's pretty special. As a golf fan, I'm just lucky to be able to see that because, at the end of the day, I'm a golf fan at heart.”

J.T. Poston

“I don't know her personally, but five in a row is pretty impressive, and that was a major (Sunday), right; is that correct? That's pretty impressive. Obviously, what Scottie has been doing has been pretty impressive, and for her to reel off five in a row, that's hard to fathom.”

Wyndham Clark

“To win five in a row is amazing. Especially one being a major that she just won. Kudos to her. She's playing amazing and clearly the best female in the world.”

Related Articles

Stark Practicing Patience; Records Second Runner-Up in a Row

Hannah Green wins JM Eagle LA Championship for 2nd straight year

Bunched Leaderboard Means a Hollywood Ending in Store at Wilshire

Australians Grace Kim and Hannah Green tied for lead in JM Eagle LA Championship

• Charitable Solicitation Disclosures
• Corporate Sponsors
• LPGA History
• LPGA International
• Sponsorship Opportunities
• Legends of the LPGA

Fan Feature

• LPGA Women's Network
• ADA Act Request
• Anti-Doping Information
• Feedback Form
• Gender Policy
• Integrity Program Information
• Media - Press Site
• Player Login
• Privacy Policy
• Professionals Member Login
• Terms and Conditions
• Ticket Terms and Conditions

Global Tour

• International TV Distribution

Mobile Apps

• Android App
• Top Stories

• About the Kentucky Golf Association
• KGA Member Clubs
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Staff Directory
• Employment Opportunities
• GOLF HOUSE KENTUCKY HOME »

Quick Links

LATEST NEWS & HEADLINES

UPCOMING EVENTS

Isco industries youth on course kentucky pro-am.

The ISCO Industries Youth on Course Kentucky Pro-Am is hosted annually at Valhalla Golf Club and is open to all amateur and professional golfers. The event benefits Youth on Course, which provides Kentucky youth with opportunities and affordable golf.

Golf House Kentucky Sponsors

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

With a new name and an uncertain future, PGA Tour golf remains in Central Kentucky in 2024

While the long-term future of the PGA Tour in Central Kentucky is uncertain, the event formerly known as the Barbasol Championship will remain on the schedule in 2024.

Earlier this month, the PGA Tour announced the return of professional men’s golf’s summer stop at the Champions at Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville.

Now called the Kentucky Championship, the tournament will be contested from July 11-14 at Keene Trace. The course has hosted this event since 2018.

“The tour all along really wanted to be committed to remaining here in the commonwealth,” Dan Koett, the director of media and public relations for the Kentucky Championship, told the Herald-Leader last week.

“So that’s how we’re moving forward, through the tour’s commitment.”

It wasn’t a given that the PGA Tour would be back in Central Kentucky. The event’s sponsorship deal with Barbasol, an American shaving brand, expired following the 2023 tournament.

Koett said work is ongoing to secure a title sponsor for this year’s event: The PGA Tour’s stop in Central Kentucky is only confirmed for 2024, with no further editions of the tournament guaranteed.

“Conversations continue to secure a title sponsor for both 2024 and beyond,” Koett said. “The hope would be to secure someone for the short play, but then also for the long term.”

The Kentucky Championship will also feature a new tournament director who hasn’t yet been announced.

Following the 2023 Barbasol Championship, Darren Nelson — who served as the tournament director for the 2022 and 2023 tournaments — was named the tournament director for the Myrtle Beach Classic, a new PGA Tour event that will be held in May in South Carolina.

Koett said a tournament director for the Kentucky Championship will be announced in the coming weeks, and that Nelson will be helping as a consultant for this year’s event.

Both the Kentucky Championship and the Myrtle Beach Classic are managed by Sportfive , a global sports marketing agency.

Despite the doubts that surrounded the PGA Tour’s return to Nicholasville, Koett told the Herald-Leader the PGA Tour was always going to have an event from July 11-14, which represents an alternate, opposite field event that is held at the same time as the Scottish Open (which is held the week before the final major championship, the British Open).

The only question was where that opposite field event would be held: The PGA Tour’s initial 2024 schedule contained the words “TBA” in that slot.

But ultimately, the PGA Tour opted to continue in familiar surroundings.

“The numbers have been great. Each year we’ve seen an increase in our crowds, in ticket sales,” Koett said. “We’ve enjoyed higher ratings each year as far as viewership goes of the event …

“I think there were just so many things being done right, that the tour said, ‘Hey, this could be a long-term venture, long-term partnership for us.’”

The Kentucky Championship will feature several similarities to its past editions.

The tournament will again provide a platform for players from both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to compete for benefits on both tours. The event will feature a field of 156 players (with 50 players from the DP World Tour) vying for a $4 million purse. The winner will receive 300 FedExCup points (PGA Tour) and 500 Race to Dubai Ranking Points (DP World Tour).

While plenty is still up in the air with the tournament’s opening tee shots less than six months away, Koett said Central Kentucky golf fans can expect several carryovers — such as themed event days like College Day and Family Day — from when the event was known as the Barbasol Championship.

“Like any year, I would say that there will be enhancements over the previous year’s event,” Koett said.

PGA Tour history in Kentucky

The event previously known as the Barbasol Championship moved to Kentucky from Alabama in 2018, and it has been contested five times at Keene Trace.

When the tournament arrived in Kentucky, it became the state’s first non-major PGA Tour event since the Kentucky Derby Open was held in Louisville from 1957-59. The 2024 PGA Championship will be contested in May at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.

The 2018, 2019 and 2021 editions of the Barbasol were all held at the same time as the British Open.

That changed in 2022, when the Barbasol was moved to the week before the British Open and was held as an opposite field event at the same time as the Scottish Open.

The winner of the 2022 Barbasol Championship — former University of Alabama golfer Trey Mullinax — received the final spot into the British Open field. Mullinax finished in a tie for 21st in the 150th edition of the British Open.

Vincent Norrman, who won the 2023 edition of the Barbasol in a playoff over Englishman Nathan Kimsey, didn’t receive a spot into last year’s British Open.

Recommended Stories

2024 nfl draft grades: denver broncos earn one of our lowest grades mostly due to one pick.

Yahoo Sports' Charles McDonald breaks down the Broncos' 2024 draft.

Formula 1: Miami Grand Prix sends cease and desist letter to prevent Donald Trump fundraiser during race

Race organizers say they'll revoke a Trump fundraiser's suite license if he holds an event for the former president on Sunday at the race.

NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams | Zero Blitz

Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab join forces to recap the draft in the best way they know how: letter grades! Fitz and Frank discuss all 32 teams division by division as they give a snapshot of how fans should be feeling heading into the 2024 season. The duo have key debates on the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and more.

NFL Draft: Packers fan upset with team's 1st pick, and Lions fans hilariously rubbed it in

Not everyone was thrilled with their team's draft on Thursday night.

New details emerge in alleged gambling ring behind Shohei Ohtani-Ippei Mizuhara scandal

It turns out the money was going from Ohtani's bank account to an illegal bookie to ... casinos.

The best RBs for 2024 fantasy football according to our experts

The Yahoo Fantasy football analysts reveal their first running back rankings for the 2024 season.

Does castor oil really help with hair growth? We asked the experts, and their answer may surprise you

It's inexpensive, but is it effective? Dermatologists' verdict is in — and it's unanimous.

Chiefs sign Travis Kelce to new contract that reportedly makes him highest-paid TE in NFL

Travis Kelce has reportedly gotten a raise.

The expanded 12-team College Football Playoff is here — and it already has problems

There is cause for excitement around the new playoff format. There's also lots of complaints and criticism to go around.

MLB Power Rankings: Braves move into the top spot followed by Dodgers, Phillies as injuries take a toll across the league

From the Braves to the Marlins, here's where all 30 teams stand after the season's first month.

Rivian put out a feeler to test buyers' willingness to spend on a new R2

Members of the Rivian subreddit posted details of a survey they received, asking how much they'd be willing to spend on different R2 configurations.

Mike Trout to undergo knee surgery, which isn't expected to be season-ending

Trout is currently tied for the MLB lead in homers.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones compared his 2024 NFL Draft strategy to robbing a bank

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made an amusing analogy when asked why the team selected three offensive lineman in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Joel Embiid not happy that Knicks fans took over 76ers home playoff games: It 'pisses me off'

"I don't think that should happen. It's not OK."

Panthers owner David Tepper stopped by Charlotte bar that criticized his draft strategy

“Please Let The Coach & GM Pick This Year" read a sign out front.

2024 NFL Draft: Fantasy football fits we love — and some we're questioning

With the NFL Draft in the books, fantasy football Matt Harmon breaks down the landing spots he loved to see, and those he's not a fan of.

Michael Penix Jr. said Kirk Cousins called him after Falcons' surprising draft selection

Atlanta Falcons first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr. said quarterback Kirk Cousins called him after he was picked No. 8 overall in one of the 2024 NFL Draft's more puzzling selections.

2024 NFL Draft grades: Minnesota Vikings risked a lot to get J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner

Yahoo Sports' Charles McDonald breaks down the Vikings' 2024 draft.

2024 NFL Draft grades: Green Bay Packers' stockpile of picks put to good use

Yahoo Sports' Charles McDonald breaks down the Packers' 2024 draft.

Polestar 5 prototype charges from 10% to 80% in 10 minutes

Polestar managed to charge one of its electric prototypes from 10% to 80% in about 10 minutes thanks to new technology.

Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More

Continue in Browser

Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts.

Please enter a valid zipcode.

PGA Tour announces plans for 2024 Kentucky Championship at Keene Trace Golf Club

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — The PGA Tour is returning to Kentucky in 2024. 

What You Need To Know

The 2024 kentucky championship will take place july 8-14 at champions at keene trace golf club in nicholasville, kentucky players from both the pga tour and dp world tour will compete for benefits  the event will include a field of 156 players vying for a $4 million prize  2023 pga tour rookie of the year nominee vincent normann won last year's event .

Formerly known as the Barbasol Championship, the Kentucky Championship will take place July 8-14 at Champions at Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky, just outside of Lexington. Players from both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour will compete for benefits. 

An official FedEx Cup event on the PGA Tour schedule, the first Kentucky Championship took place in 2015 in Alabama before moving to Nicholasville in 2018. The event will feature a field of 156 players vying for a $4 million prize, including 50 from the DP World Tour as part of its strategic alliance with the PGA Tour.

The winner will also be exempt from both tours through 2026 (through 2025 on PGA Tour for non-members), receive 300 FedExCup points and 500 Race to Dubai ranking points. 2023 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year nominee Vincent Norrman of Sweden won last year's event. 

According to the Kentucky Championship, more information about the event will soon be available, such as social media channels, volunteer opportunities and tournament staff and partnerships. The PGA Tour's complete 2024 schedule can be found on its website . 

Related Stories

Valhalla superintendent preparing course for pga championship barbasol championship gives back to area charities mullinax birdies final hole to win barbasol championship.

Kentucky Championship

Kentucky's annual pga tour event

For the latest Kentucky Championship news, sign up for our newsletter.

By submitting this form, you consent to receive news and marketing emails from Kentucky Championship & SPORTFIVE.

The Kentucky Championship – previously known as the Barbasol Championship – is an official FedExCup event on the PGA TOUR schedule. The 2024 event will be played July 8-14 at Champions at Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky, a suburb of Lexington. Champions is an Arthur Hills designed golf course conveniently located one hour from Cincinnati and Louisville. The Kentucky Championship will provide the winner with 300 FedExCup points, a winner’s exemption on the PGA TOUR and entry to the PGA Championship. The 2023 tournament was won by Vincent Norrman of Sweden.

2024 TOURNAMENT VENUE

• Champions at Keene Trace Golf Club
• 20 Avenue of Champions, Nicholasville, KY, 40356
• [email protected]

JULY 11 – 14, 2024

Kentucky Championship

Latest golf videos, rory mcilroy and shane lowry win the zurich classic in a playoff.

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Your US State Privacy Rights
• Children's Online Privacy Policy
• Interest-Based Ads
• About Nielsen Measurement
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
• Disney Ad Sales Site
• Work for ESPN
• Corrections

• CBSSports.com
• Fanatics Sportsbook
• CBS Sports Home
• Kentucky Derby 
• Champions League
• Motor Sports
• High School

Men's Brackets

Women's Brackets

Fantasy Baseball

Fantasy football, football pick'em, college pick'em, fantasy basketball, fantasy hockey, franchise games, 24/7 sports news network.

• CBS Sports Golazo Network
• PGA Tour on CBS
• UEFA Champions League
• UEFA Europa League
• Italian Serie A
• Watch CBS Sports Network
• TV Shows & Listings

The Early Edge

A Daily SportsLine Betting Podcast

With the First Pick

NFL Draft is coming up!

• Podcasts Home
• The First Cut Golf
• Beyond the Arc
• Eye On College Basketball
• NFL Pick Six
• Cover 3 College Football
• Fantasy Football Today
• My Teams Organize / See All Teams Help Account Settings Log Out

2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson odds, field: Surprising PGA picks, predictions by model that's nailed 11 majors

Sportsline's proven model simulated the cj cup byron nelson 2024 10,000 times and revealed its pga golf picks.

The 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson is set to get underway on Thursday, May 2, and several players will enter this week's event confident they can secure the victory. Jason Day is the defending champion and he's coming off a T-18 finish at the RBC Heritage. With another win at TPC Craig Ranch this week, he'll join K.H. Lee (2021-22) as the only golfer to win this event in back-to-back years. Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth, a 13-time PGA Tour champion, can add to his impressive resume with a victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson 2024. 

Spieth is going off as the 12-1 favorite according to the latest 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson odds. He's followed by Day (18-1) and Si Woo Kim (22-1) on the PGA odds board. Before making any 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson picks, be sure t o see the golf predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine .

SportsLine's proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, has been red-hot since the PGA Tour resumed in June of 2020. In fact, the model is up more than $9,000 on its best bets since the restart, nailing tournament after tournament.

McClure's model correctly predicted Scottie Scheffler would finish on top of the leaderboard at the 2024 Masters, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Players Championship, and the RBC Heritage this season. McClure also included Hideki Matsuyama in his best bets to win the 2024 Genesis Invitational. That bet hit at +9000, and for the entire tournament, McClure's best bets returned nearly $1,000.

The model also predicted Jon Rahm would be victorious at the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions and The American Express. At the 2023 Masters, the model was all over Rahm's second career major victory heading into the weekend. Rahm was two strokes off the lead heading into the third round, but the model still projected him as the winner. It was the second straight Masters win for the model, which also nailed Scheffler winning in 2022.

In addition, McClure's best bets included Nick Taylor (70-1) winning the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, Jason Day (17-1) winning outright at the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson, and Rickie Fowler (14-1) finishing on top of the leaderboard at the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic.

This same model has also nailed a whopping 11 majors entering the weekend and hit the Masters three straight years. Anyone who has followed it has seen massive returns.

Now that the CJ Cup Byron Nelson 2024 field is finalized, SportsLine simulated the tournament 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard .

Top 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson predictions 

One major surprise the model is calling for at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson 2024: Day, the defending champion and one of the top favorites, stumbles and barely cracks the top five. Day got off to a hot start this season when he posted three top-10 finishes in his first five tournaments, but he has struggled since then. He has finished outside the top 15 in his last five events, including a missed cut at the Texas Children's Houston Open at the end of March. 

Day ranks 183rd on the PGA Tour in approach shots from more than 200 yards, which will be a shot that he has to take throughout this tournament. He is also ranked 133rd in green in regulation percentage (63.62%) and 152nd in strokes gained: approach to green (-0.380). Day is not in strong form right now, so the model is looking elsewhere with its pick to win this tournament. 

Another surprise: Tom Hoge, a 28-1 longshot, makes a strong run at the title. He has a much better chance to win it all than his odds imply, so he's a target for anyone looking for a huge payday.

In order to score well at TPC Craig Ranch, players will need to be extremely accurate with their irons and few do it better than Hoge. In fact, the 34-year-old enters this week's event ranked second in strokes gained: approach to green (1.035). He also ranks sixth in scoring average (69.13), ninth in birdie average (4.58) and 10th in putting average (1.709). Those impressive statistics make Hoge a longshot worth backing this week at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson.  See who else to pick here . 

How to make 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson picks

The model is also targeting three other golfers with odds of 28-1 or longer to make a strong run at the title. Anyone who backs these longshots could hit it big. You can only see the model's picks here .

Who will win the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, and which longshots will stun the golfing world? Check out the CJ Cup Byron Nelson 2024 odds below and then visit SportsLine to see the projected CJ Cup Byron Nelson leaderboard , all from the model that's nailed 11 golf majors, including the last three Masters.

2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson odds, field

Get full 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson picks, best bets, and predictions here .

Jordan Spieth +1200 Jason Day +1800 Si Woo Kim +2200 Sungjae Im +2500 Alex Noren +2500 Adam Scott +2500 Tom Hoge +2800 Min Woo Lee +2800 Byeong Hun An +3000 Stephan Jaeger +3000 Keith Mitchell +3500 Tom Kim +4000 Thomas Detry +4500 Patrick Rodgers +5000 Maverick McNealy +5000 Mackenzie Hughes +5500 Adam Schenk +5500 Aaron Rai +6000 Beau Hossler +6000 K.H. Lee +6000 Davis Thompson +6500 Taylor Montgomery +6500 Seamus Power +7000 Mark Hubbard +7000 Luke List +7500 Doug Ghim +8000 Ryan Fox +8000 Kevin Yu +8000 Ben Griffin +8000 Jake Knapp +9000 Taylor Pendrith +9000 Daniel Berger +9000 Thorbjorn Olesen +9000 C.T. Pan +10000 Alejandro Tosti +10000 Matt Kuchar +10000 Sam Stevens +10000 Nate Lashley +10000 Peter Kuest +10000 Chan Kim +10000 Joseph Bramlett +10000 Michael Kim +11000 Greyson Sigg +11000 Andrew Novak +11000 Matti Schmid +11000 Justin Lower +11000 Max Greyserman +11000 Chesson Hadley +11000 Cameron Champ +11000 Charley Hoffman +11000 Garrick Higgo +11000

Our Latest Golf Stories

CJ Cup Bryon Nelson preview, expert predictions

Patrick mcdonald • 5 min read.

2024 PGA Championship odds, picks, best bets, field

Cbs sports staff • 5 min read.

McIlroy finding his smile may be exactly what he needed

Kyle porter • 4 min read.

How to watch 2024 Zurich Classic

Patrick mcdonald • 1 min read.

McIlroy, Lowry hang on to co-lead at Zurich Classic

Kyle porter • 3 min read, rory mcilroy, shane lowry leading after day 1 at zurich, share video.

2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson odds, picks, prediction, bets

CJ Cup Bryon Nelson preview, expert picks

Rory finds his smile in Zurich victory

Report: Woods, McIlroy set to receive loyalty bonuses

Rory McIlroy on expected return to PGA Tour board

2024 PGA Championship odds: Scheffler on top

Nelly Korda ties record with fifth straight LPGA win

Scheffler stays hot with fourth win in last five starts

Scheffler earnings up to $16.3 million since March

Davis Love III enthused about golf's young stars

2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson odds, picks, Fantasy golf power rankings: PGA Tour predictions, expert best bets

After the Rory McIlroy-Shane Lowry team won in a playoff at last week's Zurich Classic, the PGA Tour returns to its individual stroke play format for this week's CJ Cup Byron Nelson event in Texas. A full field of 156 golfers will compete for a $9.5 million purse for the third 2024 event in the Lone Star State. 

Jordan Spieth is the +1600 favorite, followed by defending champion Jason Day (+1800), Si Woo Kim (+2000), Will Zalatoris (+2200), Adam Scott and Alex Noren (+2500).

With a competitive field again this week, who can you trust for your CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf picks? Before you set your 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf lineups or make any PGA Tour bets, you NEED to see the Fantasy golf rankings from Fantasy expert Eric Cohen .

Cohen is an avid golf bettor who correctly predicted the pre-tournament outright winner of the 2024 Players Championship (Scottie Scheffler +550), 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic (Rickie Fowler +1400), 2023 PGA Championship (Brooks Koepka +2000), 2023 Honda Classic (Chris Kirk +3500), 2022 Open Championship (Cameron Smith +2200), 2022 U.S. Open (Matt Fitzpatrick +2500), and 2022 Phoenix Open (Scheffler's first career victory at +2800). 

Eric is a contributor to SportsLine's YouTube shows including "Early Edge" and is the host of "The Early Wedge" golf show (live on Tuesday, April 30 at 7 p.m. ET).  Anyone who has followed Cohen's predictions has made positive gains on their golf picks.

Now, Cohen has studied the field set to play at TPC Craig Ranch and revealed his CJ Cup Byron Nelson Fantasy golf rankings. 

We can tell you he is backing Alex Noren as his top choice this week despite having no PGA Tour victories on his resume. "The Swede has made the cut in 14 straight events, despite only finishing in the top 10 once since January. The ball-striking numbers have been good and the putter has mostly cooperated en route to a slew of top-20s of late. Between 2009-18, he won 10 events on the DP World Tour and might be the best player on the PGA Tour without a victory."

On the other hand, Cohen is fading Will Zalatoris at +2200. "Once again, the putter is plaguing Zalatoris, as he's lost strokes on the greens in four straight stroke play events. He's also not the type of player to thrive in birdie fest events."

Cohen also is backing several underdogs in his 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson Fantasy golf picks, including a triple-digit longshot who would be a nice piece for DFS lineups ! If this player can pull off a stunning result, it would bring a HUGE payoff and be a valuable piece for CJ Cup Byron Nelson Fantasy golf lineups. You ABSOLUTELY need to see who it is before locking in any fantasy golf picks.

Who wins the CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch ,  a nd which triple-digit longshots could bring a HUGE payout and be the difference for your Fantasy golf picks? Join SportsLine now to get Eric Cohen's Fantasy golf rankings and picks for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, all from the Fantasy expert who has delivered a positive ROI with his golf picks !

GET VEGAS EXPERT PICKS FOR NFL, MLB, NBA, CBB, GOLF, NHL, HORSE RACING AND MORE - PLUS ADVANCED COMPUTER SIMULATIONS, WINNING TOOLS, AND MORE!

Share This Story

How players can qualify for the 2024 US PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club

There are 15 exemption categories for this year's 2024 US PGA Championship, which takes place May 16-19 at Valhalla Golf Club.

One of those exemptions will come to a head at this week's Volvo China Open on the DP World Tour. DP World Tour Members who finish in positions 1 to 3 only in the final “Asian Swing ranking” (at the conclusion of the Volvo China Open on the 5th May 2024) will be exempt into the 2024 US PGA Championship.

US PGA Championship Exemptions

• All former winners of the PGA Championship.
• Winners of the last five Masters (2020 – 2024).
• Winners of the last five U.S. Opens (2019 – 2023).
• Winners of the last five Open Championships (2018 – 2023). Cancelled in 2020.
• Winners of the last three THE PLAYERS Championships (2022 – 2024).
• The top 3 on the International Federation Official World Golf Ranking List as of April 29, 2024.
• Winner of the 2023 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.
• The top 15 finishers and ties from the 2023 PGA Championship.
• The top 20 finishers from the 2024 PGA Professional Championship.
• The top 70 players who are eligible and have earned the most PGA Championship Points from the 2023 Charles Schwab Challenge through the 2024 CJ CUP Byron Nelson (ending May 5, 2024).
• Playing members of the last-named U.S. and European Ryder Cup teams (2023) provided they remain within the top 100 on the Official World Golf Rankings as of May 6, 2024.
• Winners of PGA TOUR co-sponsored or approved tournaments, whose victories are considered official, from the 2023 Charles Schwab Challenge through the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship and the 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic.
• The top 3 finishers on the DP World Tour Asian Swing event rankings, that include the Porsche Singapore Open, the Hero Indian Open, the ISPS Handa Championship and the Volvo China Open.
• The PGA of America reserves the right to invite additional players not included in the categories listed above.
• If necessary to complete the field, those players beyond the top 70 players who are eligible and who have earned the most PGA Championship Points from the 2023 Charles Schwab Challenge through the 2024 CJ CUP Byron Nelson (ending May 5, 2024), in order of their position on such list.

DP World Tour Partners

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Webb Simpson offers to resign from PGA Tour board. But only if McIlroy replaces him, AP source says

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during the second round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament, Friday, April 19, 2024, in Hilton Head Island, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, reacts after missing a putt on the first hole during the third round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Hilton Head Island, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Jordan Spieth lines up a putt on the second hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Patrick Cantlay waves after making a putt on the fifth hole during the second round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament, Friday, April 19, 2024, in Hilton Head Island, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Copy Link copied

A plan is in place for Rory McIlroy to rejoin the PGA Tour board, a move that would require the board’s approval and could be viewed as a chance to help to improve stalled negotiations with the Saudi financial backers of LIV Golf.

McIlroy resigned from the board in November , saying he felt he could no longer commit the time and energy required with the PGA Tour trying to finalize an agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.

The deal with PIF was not finalized, and the PGA Tour instead took on Strategic Sports Group as a minority investor in a deal that could be worth as much as $3 billion.

Webb Simpson, one of the six player directors on the PGA Tour board and PGA Tour Enterprises board, has submitted a letter saying that he wants to resign as a player director but only if McIlroy replaces him, according to a person who has seen the letter.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the letter was not made public. The board is expected to discuss Simpson’s request as early as Wednesday.

PGA Tour Enterprises is the new commercial entity, though six players serve on both boards.

McIlroy’s resignation in November required the other five player directors — Simpson, Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott and Peter Malnati — to elect a player to serve out the term through 2024. They chose Jordan Spieth.

Some of those players have been at odds with McIlroy over the last few months because the four-time major champion has changed his tune about LIV Golf and has suggested LIV players be allowed to return to the PGA Tour without penalty.

Spieth and McIlroy disagreed in February over Spieth’s comments that a deal with PIF was not needed because of the SSG investment, although it would help with unification.

The Simpson case, however, is different. He has not resigned from the board. The person said Simpson’s letter said he would resign if McIlroy could replace him; otherwise, he would stay on the boards.

The person said Simpson indicated the board currently does not have a European player — five are Americans and Scott is Australian.

SSG in a consortium of American sports owners, led by the Fenway Group, and McIlroy has an affiliation with Fenway through the new TGL team league due to start play in January.

The Guardian, which first reported McIlroy’s potential move back to the board , also noted McIlroy has a good relationship with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor.

Al-Rumayyan met with the player directors — he even played nine holes with Woods — in the Bahamas a week after The Players Championship last month. Spieth described that meeting as a chance to talk while figuring out the next step.

There have been no reports of progress since then.

A London financial newspaper, City A.M., reported last week that LIV had offered McIlroy $850 million to join, based on sources it did not identify. McIlroy quickly shot down those rumors and said he would play the PGA Tour “for the rest of my career.” But he also reiterated his hopes that golf could be unified again outside the four majors.

“The game is better when we’re all together,” he said last week at the RBC Heritage.

The hurdle for any kind of a deal has been how to unify the game. Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson are among players who signed bonuses said to be worth upward of $100 million that led to the divide.

McIlroy said last month at The Players Championship that Al-Rumayyan “wants to do the right thing” for all of golf and that LIV Commissioner Greg Norman and others have done the PIF leader a disservice.

“So the closer that we can get to Yasir, PIF and hopefully finalize that investment, I think that will be a really good thing,” McIlroy said.

SSG’s initial investment of $1.5 billion is for a first-of-its-kind equity ownership program. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a February memo that $750 million in aggregate equity would be granted to 36 players based on career performance, last five-year performance and Player Impact Program results.

Those players are to learn details of how much they receive this week.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Kentucky Championship

Keene Trace Golf Club (Champions Course)

Nicholasville, Kentucky • USA

Jul 11 - 14, 2024