New name, focus at The Greenbrier

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The Dallas area’s longtime PGA TOUR stop enters a new era with its move to Trinity Forest Golf Club, as Jordan Spieth hopes a change of venue might produce his first victory in his hometown event. Sergio Garcia, a two-time Nelson champion and now Texas resident, also returns to test the treeless new layout along with Marc Leishman and Matt Kuchar. Billy Horschel is defending champion, coming three weeks after teaming with Scott Piercy to win in New Orleans. FIELD NOTES: Hideki Matsuyama tees it up for the first time at the Byron Nelson, marking just his second start in Texas other than the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. He also played Colonial in 2014. … In all, Trinity Forest welcomes five of the top 25 in the world rankings to its coming-out party. … Chilean teen Joaquin Niemann is set for his third professional start. The last time he teed it up in Texas, he was sixth at the Valero Texas Open. … Maverick McNealy, also a former world No. 1 amateur, takes his first sponsor exemption since the West Coast Swing. He’s coming off a third-place finish at the Web.com Tour’s United Leasing & Finance Championship. FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 points. STORYLINES: The curiosity factor is high for Trinity Forest, once a landfill in Dallas’ southwest quadrant that was renovated by the renowned Ben Crenshaw/Bill Coore design tandem. It’s a dramatic change from its former home at TPC Four Seasons, with native grasses and push-up greens as dominant features. … Spieth, winless since last year’s Open Championship despite four top-3 finishes, again seeks his first Nelson win. His best finish remains a share of 16th as a 16-year-old in 2010; he missed the cut last year. … Garcia sets out again to join Sam Snead and Tom Watson as the only three-time winners of the event. … Horschel’s victory made it 12 of the final 18 winners at TPC Four Seasons to shoot all four rounds in the 60s. What will Trinity Forest bring? … The top 60 in the world rankings after Sunday’s conclusion receive automatic berths into next month’s U.S. Open. Charles Howell III is among those trying to break into the club at No. 61. COURSE: Trinity Forest Golf Club, 7,380 yards, par 71. Built over 160 acres of sand-capped landfill in Dallas’ southwest quadrant, Trinity Forest begins the tournament’s new chapter after leaving the northern suburbs. The name’s something of a misnomer, as there’s not a tree on the layout – resembling more of a windswept rolling meadow that gives off a links feel. Most striking is a double green serving Nos. 3 and 11, one of the largest in North America at roughly 35,000 square feet. Opened in 2016, Trinity Forest also is home to the SMU golf teams. 72-HOLE RECORD: 259, Steven Bowditch (2015 at TPC Four Seasons). Note: Rory Sabbatini’s 19-under-par 261 in 2009 is the lowest against par; Bowditch was 18-under after heavy rain turned TPC Four Seasons into a par-69 layout for the final three rounds. 18-HOLE RECORD: 60, Arron Oberholser (2nd round, 2006 at Cottonwood Valley GC), Keegan Bradley (1st round, 2013 at TPC Four Seasons). LAST YEAR: Horschel dispatched Jason Day in a playoff to end a 2 ½-year winless drought, secured when Day stunningly missed a 4-foot par putt on the first extra hole. Horschel, Day and James Hahn battled down the back nine at TPC Four Seasons, with Hahn briefly taking the lead until dropping back with three consecutive bogeys. Horschel’s 59-foot birdie at No. 14 brought him even with Day, only to see the Aussie chip in at No. 15 to regain the lead. Horschel pulled even again with a birdie at No. 16, and they parred out until Horschel birdied the playoff hole. Horschel’s fourth PGA TOUR victory might have been his most unexpected, having missed four straight cuts before arriving. It also was his most emotional, with news a day later that wife Brittany had just celebrated one year of sobriety after seeking help for alcoholism. HOW TO FOLLOW TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 4-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 1-2:45 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS). PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (featured groups), 4-7 p.m. (featured holes). Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (featured groups). RADIO: Thursday-Friday, 1-7 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com).

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HONOLULU, Hawaii – Matt Kuchar certainly isn’t looking to create another win drought. The affable veteran waited 1,667 days and 116 starts between winning the 2014 RBC Heritage the Mayakoba Golf Classic earlier this season. If he surges forward from his comfortable 36-hole position this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii it will be his second triumph in three starts on TOUR and come just 64 days apart. Kuchar has posted back-to-back 7-under 63s at Waialae Country Club to move to 14 under, currently four shots clear of Chez Reavie (65) and Stewart Cink (62) after the morning wave. Only Andrew Putnam (11 under total through 12 holes) appears a threat to his lead. “Just two great days. To shoot 7-under back to back is unexpected, but certainly awfully excited,â€� Kuchar said. While the wins went missing for the lengthy stretch, Kuchar’s form did not. At least not at first. He finished inside the top 20 of the FedExCup in 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2018 however Kuchar dropped to 76th in the season long race, his worst result since being 116th in 2008. The St. Simons Island resident says he may have tried too hard last season and having the early victory this season was certainly keeping him on a high. “I want to say last year I probably ground harder than I’ve done in the past,â€� he admitted. “Close to Ryder Cup I was on the outside of a couple things and felt like I hadn’t been used to being in that situation. “So now being in good shape it’s certainly a nice place to be. Freed up? I’m not sure. I still kind of attack the game the same way.â€� While his record of turning a halfway lead into a victory is far from stellar at two out of 12 the 40-year-old did close the deal from this spot in Mexico recently. He knows players can go low at Waialae but the course can also bite you if you’re not careful. “Love the golf course. It’s a challenging one. If you play well you can make birdies; if you don’t you’re going to make bogeys,â€� Kuchar added. “The golf course gets tough when you’re playing from the rough. Even if you have short clubs in your hand it’s challenging.â€�

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