Matt Kuchar
The winner last week at the Players Championship made news on Tuesday, suggesting a basketball-style “shot clock” might be a good idea for the PGA Tour. The issue bubbled up at the Players where Kevin Na repeatedly double-clutched in his address, contributing to slow play.
Phil Mickelson
After the No. 5 Kuchar, the No. 10 Mickelson is the next highest-ranked player in the field. In his last appearance in the Byron Nelson in 2007, Mickelson tied for third behind Scott Verplank. Lefty won the event in 1996, finishing two strokes clear of Craig Parry.
Jason Day
Half of the 10 players in the field who have won Byron Nelson titles are from below the equator, including the 2010 winner who is from Australia. The others are Rory Sabbatini (2009/South Africa), Adam Scott (2008/Australia), Vijay Singh (2004/Fiji) and Ernie Els (1995/South Africa).
Padraig Harrington
With the Volvo Match Play held this weekend and the Byron Nelson falling the week after the Players and before the Memorial, few European drawing cards are in the field. Harrington is an exception. After placing eighth in the Masters, Harrington has missed the cut in his last two tournaments.
Patrick Reed
The former Augusta State standout shot a 64 to take medalist honors in Monday’s qualifying. It was the fourth time in the last five weeks that Reed has Monday qualified into a PGA Tour event. In his three other tournaments, Reed finished no worse than tied for 35th.
– Kevin Dunleavy
