Event No. 5 of 50 this season takes the TOUR to Las Vegas for the first of two consecutive events.
Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
TPC Summerlin
Las Vegas
| Yards (per official scorecard): | 7,255 |
| Par: | 71 (35-36) |
| Greens: | A1/A4 Bentgrass, around 7,400 square feet. |
| Stimpmeter: | 11.5′ |
| Rough: | 419 Bermuda at two inches. |
| Bunkers/Water Hazards | 92/4 |
| Architects: | Bobby Weed (1992). |
| Purse: | $7 million; $1.26 plus 500 FedExCup points to the winner. |
| Defending Champion: | Kevin Na, -23 (261). |
| Fact of the Week: | Last five winners all top 25 fairways found. |
| Fact of the Week II: | Average winning score the last two years is 22-under. #GoLowYo |
Notes:
- 144 players.
- Top 65 and ties play the weekend.
- Winner gets invitation to the Masters.
2020-2021 Season Winners
*- First-time winner
**- First-time winner AND rookie winner
| Event | Winner |
| Safeway Open | Stewart Cink |
| 120th United States Open | Bryson DeChambeau |
| Corales Punta Cana Championship | Hudson Swafford |
| Sanderson Farms Championship | Sergio Garcia |
Check out HORSES FOR COURSES for more details on those who play well here.
Event Winners:
| Year | Player | Notes |
| 2019 | Kevin Na, 23-under | Defeated Patrick Cantlay in a playoff to win for the second time here. |
| 2018 | Bryson DeChambeau, 21-under | Only made three bogeys on the week and held off Cantlay by a shot. |
| 2017 | Patrick Cantlay, 9-under | Won a three-man playoff in severe wind gusts. |
| 2016 | Rod Pampling, 20-under | Became the oldest winner at 47 plus set the course record of 60. |
| 2015 | Smylie Kaufmann, 16-under | Closed with 61 in his second event with a TOUR card. |
| 2014 | Ben Martin, 20-under | Won by two over Kevin Streelman. |
Facts and Figures:
| Tournament Record: | 24-under; Webb Simpson 2013, Ryan Moore, 2012. |
| Course Record: | 60; Rod Pampling, 2016. |
| Lowest Rounds – Last Year | 61; Kevin Na. 62; Kevin Na, Pat Perez, Tony Finau (WD, COVID). 63; Nine players. |
| Recent Defending Champion(s): | None this century. |
| Multiple Winners (event or course): | Kevin Na (2011, 2019). |
| Oldest Winner: | Pampling, 47. |
| First Time – TOUR: | Cantlay, Kaufman, Martin, Na and Laird. |
| First Time – Event | Cantlay, Kaufman. |
| Odd Fact: | TPC Summerlin became the exclusive host in 2008. |
| Odd Fact II: | Course sits 2,700 feet above sea level. |
Quick Thoughts
Much deeper field this week as 20 of the OWGR 50 tee it up including US Open stud Bryson DeChambeau.
The great news for gamers and TOUR pros is not much changes around on the Par-71, 7,255 layout except the height of the rough. It’s again at two inches for the third consecutive year so expect scoring to be low again.
Everyone gonna hit GIR this week so find those who can get it close and hole the most putts. Rounds in the 70s need not apply and bogeys will feel like -1.5 shots lost on the card.
| Season | Eagles | Birdies | Course Rank |
| 2020 | 63 | 2010 | 3rd easiest of 41 |
| 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 |
While a shootout usually opens the doors to many, it’s a great time to remind that really good players can play easy courses just as well as difficult ones. There’s enough timber in this field that straying far from the favorites might not be advisable.
But hey, you gotta do you.
Chalk – Betting Favorites (Bet365.com) under 30-1
Bryson DeChambeau (+750): Hey, whoa, look at THAT number! I don’t think anyone is arguing that valuation based on his US Open victory and his three consecutive top 10s here, including his 2018 victory. He won two events in the FedExCup Playoffs before winning that season so he’s not afraid to pile them up.
Webb Simpson (+1100): Second choice for some, first choice for others as his 2020 has been nothing short of excellent. Last time he was in a desert he birdied the final three holes to win WMPO in a playoff over Finau. Leads the TOUR in scoring and is a fantastic putter, obviously.
Patrick Cantlay (+1600): 67.44 scoring average comes with P2-2nd-WIN. He’s 43-under his last two visits and has won in less than optimal conditions. Only hiccup is recent form but this is a place of healing, not punishment.
Collin Morikawa (+1600): Las Vegas residence gets a home game and that should help free up the mind and putter. Well, at least the Bentgrass should! Should have won Colonial (Bentgrass), won Workday (Bentgrass) and won his first major TPC Harding Park on Poa/Bent. Simply put, it’s not Bermuda and he should be more than comfy.
Hideki Matsuyama (+1800): The engine is trying to turn over and is getting closer. Take him enough times you’re going to catch eventually! With no Asian Swing this season I’m not sure how this late 2020 will go. He was an automatic choice each week over there but that’s not happening this season. He’s 29-under in two visits with solo 16th last year. Always wonder if he’s going to hole enough putts over four days.
Matthew Wolff (+2200): Fearless. Kills it. Scores for fun. Majors haven’t bothered him. Neither has going low on Bent or TPC tracks. Hard to pass.
Harris English (+2500): Quick, name the last time he won! Times up. Top 20 in both SG:TTG and Putting so it’s just a matter of time. Of his last nine events, majors included, eight cashed T23 or better. Time to pick up a trophy.
Scottie Scheffler (+2800): Knocked the rust off last week in Mississippi with T37 after his three week break. Red-hot August and September will look to carryover. Sits 7th in birdie average. Kills it. T74 last year on debut.
Rickie Fowler (+3000): Tell me why. Ain’t nothing but a heartache. Tell me why. Ain’t nothing but a piss take. At +3000 tell me why. Last top 10 was Palm Springs and has four top 25s (2 top 10s) in four starts here. Save your money.
Jason Day (+3000): Old Jason Day would be a ripper this week. He used to make birdies for fun bombing and gouging and holing putts. Last time he posted 20-under was Whistling Straits to win the PGA Championship?
Select Next Tier (33-1 and up)
Louis Oosthuizen (+3300): Pre-tourney WD last week always makes me itch but four top 25s from his last five, including a podium at the U.S. Open intrigues.
Sergio Garcia (+4500): Free roll city! No pressure, no nothing except grip it and rip it. He’d sign up again this week for top 5 ball-striking numbers and middle of the pack putting. Yep, he hits it that well.
Longer Shots – Top 20 or Each Way Tickets
Kristoffer Ventura (+6000): Those of you familiar with my work know I’ve been tracking him since the new season started. He was second in birdies here last year as a rookie (T18) and has the OKST pedigree to go along with it. Two best TOUR finishes are in two of his last three events, including T6 last week. Striking whilst hot.
Cameron Champ (+8000): Too much meat on this bone to look the other way. This is his time of year as he’s won at Safeway and SFC the last two years.
Denny McCarthy (+8000): This is a recording. Taking the best putter on TOUR in a putting contest. Guess who led the field in birdies last year? Back to back top 15 finishes here doesn’t scare me off either.
Aaron Wise (+9000): If the premium players don’t win this week, I’m looking in this pod. Las Vegas residence flashed signs of life last week as he sat 12-under after 54 holes before fading to T17. Last time he was West on Bermuda he cashed solo eight at Barracuda. Led the event in birdies in 2018 with 27 and won an event on TOUR posting 23-under.
JT Poston (+9000): Putter putts and large greens this week will help the weakest part of his game. Game solo third last week won’t hurt his confidence. T4 2018.
Charley Hoffman (+9000): Don’t look up his course record here! With COVID also in town, I’m guessing golf returns the No. 1 focus this week. The entertainment director and former UNLV Rebel is playing great, 4 straight, six of eight, five top 25s or better. Yep.
Luke List (+11000): Hasn’t missed in three tries. All three T20 or better but none better than T13.
Maverick McNealy (+11000): Plenty of experts on him this week and they should be. Las Vegas resident is a super putter and made 25 birdies here last year (T37) and is 16-under in six rounds in the new season.
Adam Schenk (+16000): Cashed in nine straight and is T18-MC-T20 in three starts here.
Tyler McCumber (+175000): Back-to-back top 10 finishes and this number? I know he can’t putt but neither can Matsuyama!
Beau Hossler (+20000): He can putt and played in the final group when Cantlay won. T29-T23-T7 the last three years suggests he’s worth a look.
Max Homa (+225000): Last time he factored was TPC Twin Cities T3. Bent, big greens.
Justin Suh (+22500): Surely an each-way for the former UNLV man. T14 at Corales should have had your attention.
CT Pan (+30000): One round of 12 above par in three starts and making plenty of birdies. Catch it on the up as he was T12 last week.
Michael Gligic (+75000): Who doesn’t love a long shot in the city that never sleeps? MQ with nine birdies and 0 bogeys. Opened 65 last week at SFC. Something worth a nibble surely.
I’ll have others at Covers.com
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out through Twitter or email me mikeglasscott@gmail.com.
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