The host of the annual CJ CUP Byron Nelson, TPC Craig Ranch, looks more iconic than ever thanks to Scottie Scheffler’s stunning performances. Will his potential win at the venue signal his return to peak form in 2024? We will see. However, aside from Scheffler, TPC Craig Ranch and the CJ CUP Byron Nelson have their own iconic history with both the PGA Tour and Dallas, including a historic course record set at the 2021 event. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

The iconic tournament first took place 99 years ago, in 1926, as the Dallas Open. Sixteen years later, in 1944, it became known as the Texas Victory Open, where Byron Nelson registered a win. In 1968, it was renamed again, this time after Byron Nelson himself, the golfer with the most consecutive PGA Tour wins. Since then, it has been a regular part of the PGA Tour. However, the relationship between TPC Craig Ranch and the CJ CUP Byron Nelson was established in 2021.

Since 2021, TPC Craig Ranch has hosted the tournament. This par-71 course, which is over 7,500 yards long in McKinney, also witnessed a course record during the 2021 season. Sam Burns set a historic score of 62 in the second round, establishing the course record, which remained unbroken until Sebastian Munoz achieved an even lower score of 60 in the opening round of the 2022 event.

Munoz finished T3, but his impressive first round included nine birdies and two eagles. He scored 28 on the back nine, ending his round with three consecutive birdies. Once again, Munoz appeared unbeatable; however, a year later, another PGA Tour pro challenged his record.

In 2023, Seung-yul Noh tied Munoz’s course record. He played a bogey-free opening round, which also became his personal best. Noh’s impressive performance included nine birdies and an eagle on the par-5 hole 9. While no other PGA Tour pro has broken the record yet, Scottie Scheffler came the closest to achieving this mark at TPC Craig Ranch.

Scottie Scheffler almost made history at TPC Craig Ranch

Ahead of the event in his hometown of Dallas, Scheffler admitted that a win at TPC Craig Ranch would hold “special significance” for him. It would not only mark his second victory in his home state but also take place at the site of his PGA Tour debut. As a 17-year-old amateur, Scheffler finished T-22 in his first appearance at this event in 2014. Now, he is on track to be the first high school golfer from Dallas to win THE CJ CUP since Scott Verplank in 2007. Now that his dream seems so close, he almost achieved it with flair.

“It would mean a lot. This tournament has been good to me over the years,” Scheffler said ahead of the event. So, what did he almost achieve? Well, a new course record, for instance.

On Friday at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, he made some personal history by achieving his lowest score after 36 holes on the PGA Tour. The world No. 1 shot a 61 on Thursday and followed it up with a 63 on Friday, finishing at 18 under and taking a six-shot lead over Sam Stevens. TPC Craig Ranch is known as one of the easiest courses on the PGA Tour and has seen low scores in all four years of its Tour event, with winning scores ranging from 23 under to 26 under since the event moved there in 2021. However, no one has ever started a 36-hole round like Scheffler did.

Scheffler kicked off his record-setting performance on Thursday with a bogey-free 10-under 61, marking his second-lowest round on the PGA Tour. On Friday, after a six-hour weather delay, he began with an even par through eight holes, bringing his total to 10 under.

Scottie Scheffler almost did it.