First Round Leader Odds at 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson

• The AT&T Byron Nelson tees off Thursday, May 12th from McKinney, Texas
• Scottie Scheffler is the +2000 favorite over Justin Thomas to be atop the leaderboard after day one
• See the best bets and odds to grab the first-round lead at TPC Craig Ranch in the article below 

The last tournament before the PGA Championship heads to McKinney, Texas for the AT&T Byron Nelson. Seven of the top-15 players in the world rankings are teeing it up in preparation for the second major tournament of the year. Scottie Scheffler, who is the reigning Masters champion, is the favorite to win in his home state over Justin Thomas.

Other top-15 golfers competing are Sam Burns, who was the 54-hole leader at the AT&T Byron Nelson last year, RBC Heritage winner Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Hideki Matsuyama and Xander Schauffele.

There are plenty of opportunities for sleepers and longshots to make some noise this week as well, with the last three champions at this event making this their maiden PGA Tour title.

2022 AT&T Byron Nelson First Round Leader Odds

Odds as of May 11th at DraftKings Sportsbook

The forecast is expected to be mainly sunny throughout the day. Temperatures will be the low 70’s for those teeing off first, reaching 90 degrees for the afternoon wave. There will be quite a bit of wind on Thursday, with it gusting to 13 miles per hour early in the round, reaching low 20’s for those completing their rounds in the early evening.

A benefit for those teeing it up in the morning is the exact same as it is every week – less bumpy greens with fewer players chewing them up.

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Joaquin Niemann Has Been Quick Starter

Of those teeing it up this week, Joaquin Niemann has the lowest first round scoring average on the PGA Tour this season (67.67). He’s posted a score in the 60’s in nine of his twelve individual medal play tournaments, including six of his last seven (72 being his worst opening score on the campaign).

He’s not far removed from his wire-to-wire victory at Riviera, and the Chilean sensation has posted brilliant ‘strokes gained’ numbers in his last four Thursday’s.

Joaquin Niemann’s Strokes Gained Stats Last Four Opening Rounds

For the year, Niemann is ninth in SG: tee-to-green, twelfth in scoring average and 16th in birdie average. He enters this week coming off a T-12th at the RBC Heritage, and has been T-35 or better in seven of his last eight worldwide starts, including three top-10’s.

• Pick: Joaquin Niemann (+4500)

Jhonattan Vegas Playing Consistent Golf

The last four tournaments for three-time PGA Tour winner Jhonattan Vegas have shown he’s close to really taking off, with the results as follows: T-27, T-4, T-18, T-15.

Like Niemann, Vegas has had a propensity to go low on Thursday’s, as he ranks eighth on the season with a 68.50 scoring average. He’s fired a first round in the 60’s in four of the last six times teeing it up, with a 72 his worst opening performance in 14 tournaments on the season.

2021-22 PGA Tour First Round Scoring Average Leaders

He had a very solid debut at this track in 2021, where he was tied for ninth. In his last twelve overall rounds, he’s first in SG: approach and third in total strokes gained.

• Pick: Jhonattan Vegas (+5500)

Adam Hadwin Firing On All Cylinders

Another player like Jhonattan Vegas who is excelling as of late is Adam Hadwin. His recent T-26th at the RBC Heritage actually stopped a streak of three straight top-10’s. In six of his last seven championships, Hadwin has been 26th or stronger to move back into the top-100 in the world rankings.

Specific to his last twelve rounds, Hadwin finds himself sporting rather impressive strokes gained numbers.

Adam Hadwin’s Strokes Gained Stats Last Twelve Rounds

The Canadian is a respectable T-27th in first round scoring, with three scores of 72 being the worst 18 hole score he’s put up in the last 16 times he’s put the peg into the ground.

• Pick: Adam Hadwin (+5500)