The CJ Cup Byron Nelson is a catalyst for impact, fueling the Momentous Institute, which exists to strengthen the mental health of children, families and communities, write Jon Drago and Jessica Gomez. In this photo, Scottie Scheffler prepares to hit from the 18th tee during last year’s tournament in McKinney.
Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News
In North Texas, you can feel the excitement before the first tee shot is struck. As days grow longer and warmer, the momentum from the Masters carries to TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, where preparations for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson are in full swing.
Grounds crews make final adjustments as a quiet course transforms to host tens of thousands of fans each day. Now in its 59th year, the tournament is hosted by the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, whose volunteers contribute more than 25,000 hours to bring it to life, creating a week defined by competition, celebration and shared pride.
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Since its inception, the CJ Cup Byron Nelson has stood for something larger than golf.
While the spotlight shines on the players and fan experience, another kind of work continues quietly but urgently. The tournament is a catalyst for impact, fueling the Momentous Institute, which exists to strengthen the mental health of children, families and communities.
Across the country and here in North Texas, more children are reporting anxiety, depression and emotional distress than ever before. Educators and parents see it every day in classrooms and at home. The severity and number of therapy referrals are climbing, and there are not nearly enough mental health professionals to meet these needs. Many children still feel the pandemic’s lingering effects of isolation and disruption. Social media and increased screen time have reshaped how they see themselves and interact with others. Academic pressures and an always-on culture leave little room to disconnect, reflect or simply be kids.
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While there is no single cause or solution to a critical and escalating challenge in youth mental health, we are making progress.
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For decades, the Momentous Institute has worked alongside children, families, mental health professionals and educators. One truth has remained constant: Safe relationships are the foundation of mental health. For a child, a trusted relationship is not abstract. It is the counselor or therapist who helps them name what they are feeling without judgment. It is the teacher, coach, caregiver or mentor who shows up consistently, listens fully and creates a sense of safety. These relationships offer predictability in moments of uncertainty, reassurance when emotions feel overwhelming, and confidence that they do not have to navigate challenges alone.
These connections teach children to regulate their emotions, communicate their needs and recover from setbacks. They learn that difficult feelings are manageable and temporary, and that mental health can be cultivated daily through intentional skills and practices. But this is just one part of the solution.
To address the root causes of today’s challenges, we must support children and communities by rethinking education. We need to equip youth for lifelong success, not just by teaching math and science, but also teaching them about their brains, emotions and healthy relationships. This type of education increases academic scores, graduation rates and higher education success. In fact, our research finds it leads to higher projected lifetime earnings. This is how we end the youth mental health crisis. Mental health and resilience can be cultivated, just like training for a marathon, one day at a time.
There is reason for hope. We know more than ever what helps children thrive. The challenge and opportunity are to invest in that knowledge at scale.
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Which brings us back to tournament week.
When the final putt drops and the crowds head home, the true impact of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson continues. It lives on in classrooms, in counseling sessions, in families and in the everyday moments where a child learns how to manage big emotions, build healthy relationships and see a path forward. To date, the CJ Cup Byron Nelson has donated more than $195 million to the Momentous Institute, allowing the organization’s work to scale across 34 states and nine countries, currently impacting more than 60,000 lives per year.
That is the legacy of this tournament, one its namesake, Byron Nelson, would undoubtedly be proud of. He once reflected that it had become “the best thing that has ever happened to me in golf, better than winning the Masters or U.S. Open or 11 in a row,” because, as he put it simply, “it helps people.” That spirit endures today. This is not just a week of world-class golf, but a meaningful and lasting investment in the well-being of the next generation.
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Jessica Gomez is a bilingual licensed psychologist and executive director of Momentous Institute. Jon Drago is Tournament Director of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson/Salesmanship Club of Dallas.
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