This coming week brings us to the CJ Cup which is played at TPC Craig Ranch. Craig Ranch is a long par 72 measuring out at 7,414 yards, ranking in the top 10 longest of all courses on the pga tour. Despite the length of this golf course it still produces very easy scoring conditions in what is a pretty bland, benign layout. I do think this is a pretty simple handicap as it should in theory reward a very specific skill set which I will highlight below.
Craig Ranch off the tee is awfully generous, with very wide fairway landing areas and rough that is not penal what so ever. This will obviously allow players to swing the driver with reckless abandon. This gives a clear edge to longer hitters off the tee who will consistently have shorter approaches into greens. While we have seen a lot of shorter hitters have a ton of success here, I think that’s more a product of the weak fields we see here year after year which ultimately have a lower driving distance average with a lot of the big guns taking the week off. This is not to suggest that shorter hitters can’t compete/win this event, but longer players do have a clear advantage that is hard to ignore.
Approach play also requires a specific skill set, with a ton of long irons into these pretty large green complexes. With three long par 3s all at 215+ yards and many other long approaches. This is a golf course that will reward elite long iron play above all else. If your not gaining strokes on approach at Craig ranch you’ll have a hard time keeping up. I will be targeting guys who are in form on approach and have a history of solid long iron play.
This is not a golf course that requires a serviceable around the green game. If your not hitting these big, straightforward greens consistently you are already dead. Contrary to that, you will have to hit a ton of birdie putts to contend here. With winning scores here at -23+ in each of the last 5 years guys will likely need to get hot with the putter to contend. Every year we see really good long term putters compete at this event including names like K.H Lee (2 wins here), Sam Burns, Jason Day, etc. I will keep this in mind although I still won’t put a lot of weight into putting as it can be a very volatile statistic.
Long iron play remains king at this golf course, as it is the great equalizer for players that don’t have the brute strength with the driver. I will be primarily looking for players with good short term and long term approach play specifically from 200+ yards, along with players who are above average in distance off the tee. This is exactly the skill set of the winner here last year, Taylor Pendrith, which further bolsters my opinion that this specific skill set is the clearest way to separate on this golf course. Just wanted to get this up, will post some plays when odds drop 
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