Betting expert advises against Scottie Scheffler in 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
With the tournament set to begin on Thursday at TPC Craig Ranch, experts highlight alternative value amidst Scheffler’s recent form dips.
Golf betting expert Brady Kannon has advised against backing Scottie Scheffler as the favourite for the 2026 PGA CJ Cup Byron Nelson, citing recent performance trends and the challenges of defending a dominant title. The tournament is scheduled to begin on Thursday at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, where Scheffler enters as the +155 favourite following his eight-stroke victory over Erik van Rooyen in 2025.
Kannon, a handicapper with more than 30 years of industry experience, highlighted Scheffler’s recent struggles with his putting as a primary concern. The golfer finished near the bottom of the field in putting at the previous week’s event at Aronimink, continuing a downward trend that began at The Masters and persisted at Doral. Kannon noted that the putter is likely to be a decisive factor in this week’s event, making the current odds unattractive for bettors.
The expert also pointed to the likelihood of regression from Scheffler’s historic 2025 performance, where he finished 31-under par. While acknowledging that Scheffler will almost certainly contend for the win, Kannon argued that the risk does not justify the short price. This perspective is shared by SportsLine’s proprietary computer model, developed by DFS professional Mike McClure, which has simulated the tournament 10,000 times to identify value opportunities elsewhere in the field.
The odds board reflects a competitive landscape with limited favourites. Alongside Scheffler, Si Woo Kim is listed at +1500, Jordan Spieth at +1600, and Brooks Koepka at +2500. SportsLine’s model has identified a parlay that could yield returns exceeding $100,000 on a $10 wager, leveraging data from the Dallas-Fort Worth area event to pinpoint high-value selections.
Kannon has also highlighted a longshot with odds higher than 80-1 who is described as excellent on approach and around the greens. His track record includes calling eight major winners since 2013 and hitting six PGA outright winners in 2025, including Harris English at 110-1 and Matt Fitzpatrick at 15-1. Bettors are directed to SportsLine for his specific picks, which avoid Scheffler in both outright and head-to-head markets.
