CJ Cup Byron Nelson 2026: Who's Playing, When, and Where to Watch the Action

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Alright, let’s cut the crap. You want to know who’s playing, when they’re teeing off, and how you can actually watch this damn tournament. The 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson is heating up, and if you’re not glued to your screen, you’re missing out. We’re heading into Saturday, May 23rd, and TPC Craig Ranch in Texas is where all the magic, or the meltdowns, are happening. Forget fancy jargon; this is the lowdown you need.

Right now, the guy everyone’s talking about is Si Woo Kim. This dude’s been on a tear, putting up some seriously low numbers – a 64 and a 60. That’s an 18-under through two rounds. He’s got a five-shot lead, which is pretty damn comfortable, but in golf, comfortable is a dangerous word. You blink, and it’s gone. He’s showing everyone he’s not just a one-hit wonder, looking to snag his fifth PGA Tour title. Good for him, I guess. Makes the rest of us look like pathetic amateurs.

But it’s not just Kim. The chase pack is stacked. We’re talking Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Sungjae Im, Kensei Hirata, and Jackson Suber. All of them are sitting pretty at 13-under. That’s a damn good position to be in, ready to pounce if Kim stumbles. And you know someone’s gonna stumble. It’s golf. It’s what they do.

The Final Group: Who's Leading the Charge?

If you’re planning your viewing party, mark this down: The final group is going to be Si Woo Kim, Sungjae Im, and Kensei Hirata. They’re set to tee off at 12:45 p.m. ET. This is where the real drama will unfold. Watching these guys battle it out, under the pressure, is what makes this sport worth watching, even when it drives you insane.

Honestly, watching a five-shot lead disappear? That’s comedy gold. Or pure agony, depending on who you’re rooting for. You can bet your ass I’ll be watching. Probably with a drink in hand, muttering sweet nothings to the TV.

The pressure on Kim is going to be immense. He’s got the lead, sure, but everyone else is just waiting for him to slip up. And when you’ve got guys like Scheffler and Clark breathing down your neck, you can’t afford to make too many mistakes. It’s a mental game as much as anything, and Kim’s gotta prove he’s got the mental fortitude to close it out. If he doesn’t, well, that’s why we watch.

Where to Catch All the Action: TV and Streaming

You’re not going to miss a single shot, hopefully. The broadcast schedule is pretty standard, but it’s important to know. Saturday’s third round coverage kicks off on the Golf Channel from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET. If you’re a casual fan, that might be all you need. But if you’re like me, you want the full experience.

Then, CBS takes over from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET. That’s your prime-time golf viewing right there. Expect all the big names, the dramatic putts, the shanked chips that make you laugh your ass off. It’s the full package. CBS always brings that big-event feel, and they’ll be all over the leaders, especially that final group.

But wait, there’s more. For the true golf nerds, the ones who need every single angle, there’s PGA Tour Live on ESPN+. They’re streaming exclusively starting at 10:30 a.m. ET. That’s right, *before* the TV coverage even begins. You can catch featured groups and featured holes. This is where you see the stuff the main broadcast misses. The little moments, the practice swings, the guys who are just trying to make the cut. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s usually a lot less polished, and sometimes that’s the best part.

So, you’ve got options. Don’t tell me you can’t find a way to watch. If you’re complaining about not seeing enough golf, you’re just not trying hard enough. Or you’re too lazy. Pick your poison, but get informed.

The Full Saturday Lineup: Round 3 Tee Times and Groupings

Alright, here’s the nitty-gritty. These are the tee times and pairings for Saturday’s third round at TPC Craig Ranch. Get your scorecards ready, or just find your favorite player and track them. Remember, these times are ET.

Tee No. 1

10:44 a.m. – Steven Fisk, Chad Ramey, Patrick Rodgers
10:55 a.m. – Emiliano Grillo, S.Y. Noh, Erik van Rooyen
11:06 a.m. – A.J. Ewart, Patrick Fishburn, Mark Hubbard
11:17 a.m. – Chris Kirk, Max Greyserman, Sam Ryder
11:28 a.m. – Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Hank Lebioda, Pierceson Coody
11:39 a.m. – Luke Clanton, Brooks Koepka, Stephan Jaeger
11:50 a.m. – Mac Meissner, Luke List, Camilo Villegas
12:01 p.m. – Zach Bauchou, Chan Kim, Seamus Power
12:12 p.m. – Tom Hoge, Tony Finau, Taylor Moore
12:23 p.m. – Jordan Spieth, Tyler Duncan, Keith Mitchell
12:34 p.m. – Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Jackson Suber
12:45 p.m. – Si Woo Kim, Sungjae Im, Kensei Hirata

Tee No. 10

10:44 a.m. – Rico Hoey, Peter Malnati, Taylor Pendrith
10:55 a.m. – Lanto Griffin, Troy Merritt, John Parry
11:06 a.m. – Yongjun Bae, John VanDerLaan, Doug Ghim
11:17 a.m. – Mackenzie Hughes, Ben Silverman, Blades Brown
11:28 a.m. – Charley Hoffman, Jordan Smith, Ryo Hisatsune
11:39 a.m. – Jesper Svensson, Tom Kim, Rasmus Højgaard
11:50 a.m. – Zac Blair, Eric Cole, Johnny Keefer
12:01 p.m. – Jeffrey Kang, Adam Svensson, Austin Eckroat
12:12 p.m. – Garrick Higgo, Matthieu Pavon, Thorbjørn Olesen
12:23 p.m. – Danny Willett, Dan Brown, Jonathan Byrd
12:34 p.m. – Fabián Gómez, Justin Lower
12:45 p.m. – Neal Shipley, Adrien Saddier

Look at that list. Names you know, names you probably don’t. That’s the beauty of golf. You might discover your new favorite player out there. Or you might just see some absolute train wrecks. Either way, it’s entertainment.

It’s always interesting to see who gets paired together. Sometimes you get some real fireworks, guys who feed off each other. Other times, you get a bunch of silent types just doing their thing. The pairings can definitely influence how a round plays out. You’ve got big names like Spieth and Scheffler in the mix, ready to make a charge. And then you’ve got guys like Brooks Koepka, who you just know is going to be lurking. He doesn’t show much, but he’s always dangerous.

Betting on the Nelson? Here’s a Little Something…

Look, I’m not saying you *should* gamble. But if you’re into that sort of thing, and let’s be honest, who isn’t a little bit? There’s a special offer out there if you sign up for Fanatics Sportsbook with the code “SUBPAR”. Yeah, I know, fitting. Might be worth a look if you’re feeling lucky. Just don’t come crying to me if you lose your shirt. That’s on you, pal.

It’s always a gamble, right? You put your money on someone, and then they go and shank it OB on the first hole. Or they hit the shot of the tournament and you’re laughing all the way to the bank. That’s the thrill of it. Just remember to bet responsibly. Or don’t. What do I care? I’m just here to give you the info.

TPC Craig Ranch: The Stage for the Show

This tournament is held at TPC Craig Ranch. It’s a pretty solid track. Known for being a bit of a challenge, but also fair. It’s the kind of course where you can score if you play well, but it will punish you if you get careless. We’ve seen some incredible golf here, and some spectacular collapses.

The conditions out there in Texas can be anything. Wind, heat, maybe even a rogue tumbleweed. It’s part of the atmosphere. The players have to deal with it, and it often separates the good from the great. You can have the best swing in the world, but if you can’t adapt to the elements, you’re going to struggle. And that’s when the real fun begins for us watching at home.

The course itself is designed to test all aspects of a golfer’s game. You need length off the tee, but you also need accuracy. The greens can be tricky, and the rough can be penal. It’s not a walk in the park. Guys who are playing well, who have their game dialed in, will thrive here. Those who are struggling will likely find it a long day. And that’s exactly what we want to see as the weekend progresses.

So, as the players head into Saturday, they know what’s at stake. The leaderboard is tight, the pressure is on, and TPC Craig Ranch is ready to test them. It’s going to be a damn good day of golf, one way or another. Make sure you’re watching.