Canada’s Pendrith looking to lean on good memories to defend Byron Nelson title
The good memories are already flooding back for Canadian Taylor Pendrith as he returns to the scene of his maiden PGA Tour at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson while enjoying some of the special perks.
Taylor Pendrith arrived at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson and pulled into the general parking lot for players, not thinking much of it.
Turns out, as defending champion, you get a few special perks – including your own parking space.
Pendrith won last year’s CJ Cup at TPC Craig Ranch, just outside of Dallas, for his maiden PGA Tour title. He said this year, he, his wife Meg, and son Hayes are staying at the same rental home as a year ago, so the good memories are already flooding back.
“Just trying to do everything the same,” Pendrith said, “and see what happens.”
Pendrith fired a Saturday 63 last year to catapult himself into the 54-hole lead. He opened with a birdie on Sunday and had a steady enough finale as it inched closer to its conclusion, but Ben Kohles would just not go away. Kohles was 4-under for his first nine holes alone and then birdied Nos. 16 and 17, but he made a mess of the par-5 18th. Kohles hit his tee shot near a collection of fairway bunkers, leaving his approach short of the green before duffing his chip. He also missed a five-footer for par.
Pendrith, who was trailing by one on the 18th tee, played the hole to perfection, two-putting for an easy birdie and a one-shot win.
“I just felt in control for most of the tournament,” Pendrith said. “Standing on 18, I was trailing by one and thought I needed to make eagle and ended up making birdie, and it was good enough.
“I’d say there’s a lot of really good shots that I hit last year that I can kind of look back on and kind of see the result of it in my head. So, a lot of good memories.”
The win was the springboard Pendrith would need to push himself into the field at the PGA Tour’s season finale, the Tour Championship, for the first time – the lone Canadian to make his way there. He would also go on to be picked to join the International Team at the Presidents Cup in Montreal under captain Mike Weir.
The calendar turned and Pendrith got the opportunity to make his debut at The Sentry (formerly the Tournament of Champions) in Hawaii, and has a set schedule for 2025 that includes all the majors plus the big-money Signature Events.
Through the balance of this year (it may be hard to believe, but we’re already past the halfway point of the PGA Tour schedule), Pendrith has had a solid, if unspectacular season with three top-10s already but three missed cuts, including in his debut at the Masters at the beginning of the month.
There were plenty of positive takeaways from that week, Pendrith said, including teeing it up Thursday and Friday with past champion Fred Couples and playing Augusta National the week prior to the tournament on his own with just a local caddie alongside. But now he’s as motivated as ever to get back and try again.
“I feel like it’s a course that you need to play a bunch to really appreciate all the different shots coming into the greens and around the greens – and where to miss it,” Pendrith said. “I think Mitch (Pendrith’s caddie) and myself were both feeling a little overwhelmed with all the information.”
As far as this week is concerned, he has lots of good information filed away about TPC Craig Ranch. Pendrith said hitting driver well will be the key to success, but that should be no issue for the Canadian as he sits second on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: off the tee. His putting has been the big question mark so far in 2025, however, as he sits 118th in strokes gained: putting, the same stat he was fifth in a year ago.
There have been some changes made to the course – four holes have been lengthened and some new grasses planted for the fairways as the club prepares for a big design overhaul starting after this year’s event – but mostly, Pendrith said, he’s just going to be leaning on good memories all week.
Pendrith played nine holes Tuesday before a hearty rainstorm washed out the pro-am on Wednesday, but was able to see the shots he hit in 2024 and relive exactly what he did that got him to the winner’s circle.
“Obviously, it was the highlight of my golf career winning last year,” Pendrith said. “So, to be back feels great. Seeing all the familiar faces with all the volunteers, and a lot of people call you ‘champ.’ It’s kind of cool.”
And, of course, there’s the nice parking spot.
