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Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

TPC Summerlin

Las Vegas

Yards (per official scorecard):	7,255
Par:	71 (35-36)
Greens:	Bentgrass, Poa annua; 6,200 square feet on average.
Stimpmeter:	11.5′
Rough:	Bermudagrass at two inches.
Bunkers/Water Hazards	92/4
Architects:	Bobby Weed (1991) with player-consultant Fuzzy Zoeller.
Purse:	$1.26 million ($7 million total) plus 500 FedExCup points to winner.
Defending Champion (event):	Bryson DeChambeau (-21; 263).
Fact of the Week:	Of the last 11 winners, six are first-timers on TOUR.
Fact of the Week II:	Jim Furyk is the only back-to-back winner of this event. Ever.

Notes:

• No more MDF.
• Top 65 and ties play the weekend.

2019-2020 Season Winners

*- First-time winner

**- First-time winner AND rookie winner

Event	Winner
A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier	*- Joaquin Niemann
Sanderson Farms Championship	*- Sebastian Munoz
Safeway Open	Cameron Champ

 The Confidence Factor is the weekly column I write for PGATOUR.COM. I’ve included the link here for you. Please read as I’m not going to write it all out here.

Event Winners:

Year	Player	Notes
2018	Bryson DeChambeau, -21	Playing out of the final group, he shot 66 to hold off defending champion Patrick Cantlay by a shot.
2017	Patrick Cantlay, -9	Highest winning score by SEVEN shots as the weather was windy all week; won a three-way playoff on the second hole. First TOUR win.
2016	Rod Pampling, -20	At 47, he’s the oldest winner at the event by SIX years and only the second winner in their 40s. Oh, set the course record of 60 in the first round.
2015	Smylie Kaufman, -16	Rookie closed with 61 to win on his second start on TOUR with a card.
2014	Ben Martin, -20	His 62 on Saturday gave him a two-shot lead that he made stand up for his first win on TOUR.

 

Facts and Figures:

Tournament Record:	260 (-24); Webb Simpson, 2013.
Course Record:	60; Rod Pampling, Round 1, 2017; J.J. Henry, 2014 (not entered).
Recent Defending Champion(s):	Jim Furyk (1998-1999)
Multiple Winners (event or course):	Furyk (3x) but not in this format.
First-time – TOUR:	6 of the last 11 including Cantlay, Kaufman and Martin
First-time Event:	Cantlay and Kaufman.
Low Round 2018:	Lucas Glover, 61 (Round 3); Sam Ryder, 62 (Round 4);
Odd Fact:	Of the last eight winners, seven are 28 or younger. #Pampling.

Quick Thoughts

Another week of resort livin’ on TOUR as BIRDIE-EAGLE fest returns to TPC Summerlin. The greens won’t run past 11.5 feet and are massive. The rough is just two inches. It’s time to score early and often for this 144-man field.

So yeah.

Get the ball in the hole as fast as possible and then make eight more birdies. That’s 62, not even the lowest score posted last year haha.

Season/Year	Eagles	Birdies	Course Rank
2019	53	1785	38th easiest of 49
2018	31	1429	10th hardest of 51
2017	61	1820	40th easiest of 50
2016	51	1701	34th easiest of 50

Bigger field than the usual 132 plus the calendar position that does NOT involve folks returning from a three-week Asia adventure = hard handicapping.

The other angle that makes this difficult is usually easier tracks break guys out of slumps.

Now, WHICH guys? Haha.

Every year with the exception of the Cantlay victory, this place is usually shredded and that continues this year. Weatherman Rob has assured us that there will be no wind and the course is in perfect condition.

Winners’ trends are highlighted in Horses for Courses above so no need to be redundant here.

Box Office

Patrick Cantlay: Has won and finished second in two starts here and posted 20-under last year; His 19-under torched Memorial (bent) for his win last season. Super everything.

Webb Simpson: Course record holder checks in at 68.07 from 30 rounds career. Exactly five are par or worse. This will be his seventh year running at this event so that’s also a clue. Playing him this week or saving him for Wyndham will fluster OAD dudes.

Bryson DeChambeau: Led after 36 holes last week so the rust is more than knocked off. This was victory No. 5 in his career last year so defending a title isn’t going to bother him. Destroyed this place last year and didn’t make anything on the greens.

Brooks Koepka: Before he turned into CYBORG MAJOR PLAYER, this was one of the spots gamers would take a look at him due to his MC-T4-MC-2nd-run of form. First time since 2017 he’s back but he hasn’t played anywhere since The TOUR Championship. Opened with 62 last time he played here.

Adam Scott: He’s in one of those runs where it doesn’t matter where as he’s on fire. Backed up three consecutive top-10 finishes in the FedExCup Playoffs with an opening round 65 at Safeway. Faded to T17 after a tough middle but closed with 68 to bounce back. First visit shouldn’t bother the ol’ UNLV boy!

Tony Finau: Should eviscerate this place with his ball-striking but he’ll need to find a hot putter to contend. With four top 10s in his last seven, including T10 last week at the Dunhill, I’m not concerned about his form.

Brandt Snedeker: Moving in the right direction as he’s playing three weeks running. Anytime I need putting I’m going here and with minimal rough off the tee and big greens, even better. He’s 25-under in three trips but none since the 2015-16 season.

Charles Howell III: Having five weeks off didn’t bother him as it his SZN. T4 last week knocked the rust off and he lands even softer this week. His last 30 rounds at TPC Summerlin have resulted in 28 in the red.

Collin Morikawa: Sorry if you’re late to this party but you’re REALLY late. Last two times playing on the West Coast he won at Barracuda and shot 64 in Round 2 last week before claiming T10.

Dylan Frittelli: After T6 and T7 the last two weeks on courses that required low scores, I’m back on this week.

Brian Harman: Another great putter who won’t have to keep up with the bombers, the left has cashed T14 or better in six of his last nine.

Joaquin Niemann: Let’s see how hot this fire can burn after he won three weeks ago. His week off last week should have reset everything nicely.

Adam Hadwin: Went close last week and has gone close in the California desert plenty of times before. Owns a 63 and 64 in 10 rounds here.

Scott Piercy: Vegas born and bred and knows exactly how to manage all the facets of a home game this week.

Hideki Matsuyama: Form is temporary, class is permanent. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

Golden Nuggets

Jason Kokrak: Played Greenbrier (MC) then disappeared and is now back. No top 15 in seven tries in the desert doesn’t inspire but his close to the 2019 season did.

J.T. Poston: Shot a million-under-par to win Sedgefield so that shouldn’t be an issue. T4 in the wind in 2018.

Lucas Glover: Last two times he’s shown up he’s cashed T7 and solo third and is 32-under.

Scottie Scheffler: I’m not over-thinking this one as his worst finish in six events was T16 LTO in Mississippi.

Lanto Griffin: Ok, I’m back for more after 13th, T11 and T17 last week to open the new season.

Matthew Wolf: Hasn’t played in six weeks but a wide-open birdie bonanza should have him drooling. 21-under won at 3M as he held off DeChambeau, Morikawa and Hadwin. Maybe I should move him up…

Tom Lewis: Has won, MC X 2 and cashed T5 in his last four starts worldwide.

Cameron Percy: Opened the season T11 at SFC and backed it up with T7 last week in Wine Country.

Jim Furyk: Cashed in 10 straight. Not sure in which format that doesn’t work.

Denny McCarthy/Andrew Putnam: Putters gonna putt.

Russell Knox: T38 or better in four of five with solo third in ’16. Picked up his first top 25 anywhere with T15 last week at the Dunhill.

Harold Varner III: Just four back after 54 last year and a pair of top 20s to start the new season.

Kevin Streelman: 9 for 9 here.

Kurt Kitayama: Hot in Europe and the slower greens shouldn’t bother him.

Long Shots

Branden Grace: Went close at Scottsdale last year but that’s been about it. Grab him EW.

Roger Sloan: Been playing very steadily since his national open that McIlroy won. A little nibble but nothing crazy.

Si Woo Kim: Man, I have no clue but like Streelman, he can show up one week and make 30 birdies.

Vegas Bombs

Home court advantage for residents

Kevin Na: His recent record here is similar to his recent record on TOUR. Big risk-reward play.

Nick Watney: T10 on Bent last week at Safeway will have more eyeballs on him this week.

Charley Hoffman: Tremendously all-or-nothing here with solo fourth and T18 interspersed between MCs in the last six years.

Ryan Moore: 2012 champ hasn’t found a ton of love here since 2014.

Aaron Wise: His only TOUR win was 23-under. He made 27 birdies last year to lead the field and cashed T15.

Com-Check

If you know what this means, you know what these guys mean below:

Phil Mickelson: Sucked me in last week! NOT HAPPENING AGAIN.

Gary Woodland: Kicks off his season this week after a quiet finish after his first major championship. Entirely new world for him and new baby!

Rory Sabbatini: I write this every year. I have no idea why he plays this event. In nine events he’s MC eight times.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out through Twitter or email me mikeglasscott@gmail.com.