Featured groups at AT&T Byron Nelson: Jordan Spieth paired with peers

Alec Brzezinski

Featured groups at AT&T Byron Nelson: Jordan Spieth paired with peers image

The AT&T Byron Nelson has an intriguing array of young talent and proven veterans this week. There should be plenty of excitement during the first two rounds, as most of the big names are paired together in Irving, Texas.

Here are key groups taking on TPC Four Seasons' short, but tricky, layout:

Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka

The 25-and-under group is filled with bombers off the tee. Thomas and Koepka can send a golf ball into the stratosphere, but length isn't always the most important attribute here. Spieth and Koepka have already won on tour this season, and Thomas, a rookie, seems close with six top 12s. 

Jason Day, Brendon Todd, Keegan Bradley

All three of these guys have won this event, and for all three, it was their first win on tour. Todd and Bradley come into the tournament trying to find some form. Bradley has a win and a runner-up in his last four starts on this course, but it will be interesting to see how he maneuvers around these tricky greens with his new, shorter putter. Day has had a topsy-turvy season thus far; he has four top four finishes but has also finished out of the top 25 four times in 10 starts.

Dustin Johnson, Jimmy Walker, Sangmoon Bae

Johnson, with five top sixes in 10 starts this season, looks better than ever after a six-month leave from the game. His ball-striking has always been one of the best on tour, but it's his putting that has impressed since his return. Walker won twice and finished second in the early part of the season, but has since cooled off (no top 35s in his last four starts). Bae is the wild card of the group; he won here in 2013, but hasn't recorded a top 25 since February.

Zach Johnson, Brandt Snedeker, Matt Kuchar

Usually, this group would be a virtual lock to end up with at least one top five finisher. However, Kuchar only has one top 10 since early February, and Snedeker has been boom-or-bust with a win and a tie for second but only one other top 10 in 12 starts. Johnson has easily been the most consistent out of the three, with six top 20s in his last seven starts.

Alec Brzezinski