Cameron Champ didn’t find out he was in the CJ Cup Byron Nelson field until Wednesday afternoon.
A day later, he’s in early contention after firing an opening 7-under 64 at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, sitting just one shot behind the morning-wave leader.
“It’s definitely been an interesting two days, that’s for sure,” said Champ, who at 29 is a three-time PGA Tour winner, though he hasn’t claimed victory since 2021 and no longer holds full status.
Champ has played mostly on the Korn Ferry Tour this year, making four of six cuts with one top-20 finish. When Gary Woodland withdrew with a back injury on the eve of the Nelson, Champ, as the next alternate, quickly packed and hit the road, completing the drive from Houston to the Dallas area around 9 p.m. local time.
This marks just his third PGA Tour start of the year and first in a non-opposite event. He tied for 16th in Puerto Rico before missing the cut in the Dominican Republic.
“Coming into this week, in general, I had no expectations,” Champ said. “I think that’s how I need to be regardless. Just come out and play my game. Whatever I shoot, I shoot.”
Despite bogeying two of his first three holes, Champ also managed to birdie two of his first four. He then added seven more birdies to card his second 64 of the season, putting him just behind morning-wave leader Rico Hoey. Five of his birdie putts dropped from beyond 10 feet, and he currently leads the field in strokes gained putting.
That’s a significant development for Champ. After ranking well outside the top 100 in putting for his first few seasons on Tour, he improved to No. 37 with the flatstick last year. The problem was everywhere else. Despite ranking No. 1 in strokes gained off the tee, he was among the worst on approach and around the greens. The results were brutal: just seven made cuts in 26 starts, a lost Tour card after finishing 175th in FedExCup points, and a plunge to No. 457 in the world rankings.
But rounds like Thursday remind Champ what he’s capable of.
“Most of that for me is all off the course,” Champ said of his struggles. “Has nothing to do with my physical abilities. The last two years is probably the hardest I’ve ever worked. Feel like my physical abilities are there. It’s now for me it’s just getting back to the right mental state.”
So what’s the key for the rest of the week?
“I’ve been hitting it well, doing everything well, so at this point it’s just trying to stay out of my own way.”
