After an exciting Players Championship, many big names are taking a little time off from golf. However, the Byron Nelson Championship will have a pretty solid field when it begins on Thursday, May 17. Matt Kuchar, fresh off of his victory at Sawgrass, is playing in the event. Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley are also here. Even though most of the highly ranked players aren't playing, this tournament will carry a lot of prestige.
Here is a look at five golfers that have a lot to gain by winning this event:
Adam Scott
It hasn't been the most thrilling start for Scott on the PGA Tour. A solid first two rounds at the Players Championship were erased by a rough weekend. In PGA events this year, Scott has just one top-10 finish. Lucky for him, that came at the Masters. This is a player that many think will break through at a major in 2012. He can certainly increase his confidence with a victory here.
Keegan Bradley
The 2011 PGA champion won this event last year. If he is going to get things going in 2012, this is a good place for him to do it. He does have three finishes in the top 10 so far in 2012, so things have been totally bad. Bradley is more than capable of putting together four strong rounds. If he can do it here, it will be a sign that he is in store for another fun summer.
Ernie Els
Els missed the cut at the Players Championship, but he has been a lot better in 2012 than he has been in recent years. He has three top-5 finishes, so you have to like his chances to break through sooner or later. Els is already popular among fans, but a win here would make him relevant on the golf course once again.
Phil Mickelson
You might not think that Phil has anything left to prove, and you're probably right. After all, he just got inducted into the Hall of Fame. But Lefty still has a ton of good golf left in him, and a win at the Byron Nelson Championship would be his second in 2012. Only Hunter Mahan has done that. With two wins, Phil will have a ton of confidence as he seeks a fifth major title.
Jason Dufner
Dufner won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in April for his first PGA victory. A second one would be pretty sweet for him right now. He has quickly become one of the better American players in golf. Dufner seems due for bigger wins in the future and his two straight top-5 finishes at the PGA Championship are evidence of that. If he can notch his second win in less than a month, he will really become a factor.
* - Mark Paul is an avid golf fan. He has watched and played the game since high school.
