Si Woo Kim Faces Scottie Scheffler in High-Stakes Sunday Finale at the CJ Cup
McKinney, Sunday, 24 May 2026.
South Korean Si Woo Kim defends a fragile two-shot lead against world number one Scottie Scheffler today, battling for a lucrative $10.3 million prize in Texas.
A Tightening Leaderboard at TPC Craig Ranch
Heading into the final round today, May 24, 2026, the dynamic at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, has shifted dramatically [1][3]. Si Woo Kim began Saturday with a commanding five-shot advantage, a lead built upon a spectacular 11-under 60 during Friday’s second round [3][5]. However, that cushion evaporated during the third round after Kim suffered a string of three bogeys across a four-hole stretch between the 8th and 11th holes [7]. Despite the mid-round stumble, Kim managed to recover with critical birdies on the 14th and 15th holes, ultimately signing for a 3-under 68 [4][7]. This performance left him at 21-under par for the tournament, clinging to a narrow two-shot lead over defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Wyndham Clark [1][7].
Financial Stakes and Course Transformations
The CJ Cup Byron Nelson represents a significant financial opportunity for the field, boasting a total purse of $10.3 million [3][6]. Today’s victor will walk away with a substantial $1.854 million top prize, representing exactly 18% of the total payout [6]. The high stakes reflect the robust corporate backing of the event, which is sponsored by the South Korean conglomerate CJ Group [6]. According to updated weekend odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, Kim remains the slight betting favorite at 11/10, closely trailed by Scheffler at 27/20 and Clark at 7-1 [7].