A field of 78 in a money grab in the desert?!?!
DON’T MIND IF I DO!
2021 CJ CUP @ SUMMIT
The Summit Club
Las Vegas, Nevada
| Yards (per official scorecard): | 7,431 |
| Par: | 72 (36-36) |
| Greens: | Dominator Bentgrass; 6,600 square feet on average. |
| Stimpmeter: | 12 feet. |
| Rough: | Tifway II Bermuda at 3 inches (over-seeded with Rye). |
| Bunkers/Water Hazards | 62-4 (Water in play on 7 holes). |
| Architects: | Tom Fazio (2017). |
| Purse: | $9.75 million ($1.775 winner) plus 500 FedExCup points. |
| Defending Champion (event): | Jason Kokrak (Shadow Creek) |
| Fact of the Week: | First TOUR event on property. |
| Fact of the Week II: | Collin Morikawa is a member. |
Notes:
- 78 players
- No cut event
2021-2022 Season Winners
*- First-time winner
**- First-time winner AND rookie winner
| Event | Winner |
| Fortinet Championship | Max Homa |
| Sanderson Farms Championship | Sam Burns |
| Shriners Children’s Open | Sungjae Im |
Check out HORSES FOR COURSES for more details on those who play well here.
Event Winners:
| Calendar Year/Player/Score | Notes |
| 2020 – Jason Kokrak, -20 | Shadow Creek hosted as he won by two shots over Xander Schauffele. |
| 2019 – Justin Thomas, -20 | Jeju Island Korea hosted as Danny Lee finished two shots back. |
| 2018 – Brooks Koepka, -21 | Defeated Gary Woodland by four shots on Jeju Island. |
| 2017 – Justin Thomas, -9 | Knocked off Marc Leishman in a playoff. |
I’ve been gamlin’ hearabouts for 10 good solid years…
Viva Las Vegas II
Tom Fazio back on the menu again in 2021 as Shadow Creek shifts to The Summit Club. Where no two courses are alike, some share similarities and there’s plenty of evidence on who enjoys his design style.
Par-5 holes, 7,400 yards and Bentgrass greens should have the field of 78 salivating at the chance to score. I was BAMBOOZLED last year by Shadow Creek but I’m not falling for that trick again. Fazio courses, for the most part, are scoring courses. Read Horses for Courses please to see what I mean.
So score.
That should open the door to more players but let’s BEEF HAIR:
Limited field events are for the cream of the crop and that’s that.
For every Russell Knox winning a WGC event there are 50 Tiger Woods/DJ/Rory.
Limited field winners 2020-2021
Jason Kokrak – CJ CUP
Patrick Cantlay – ZOZO
Dustin Johnson – Masters
Harris English – Sentry Tournament of Champions
Collin Morikawa – WGC Workday
Billy Horschel – WGC Match Play
Hideki Matsuyama – Masters
Abraham Ancers – WGC FESJI
Patrick Cantlay – FedExCup II BMW Championship
Jon Rahm/Kevin Na – TOUR Championship (low gross)
Not too many “wow, how did that happen?” on this list and that’s just last year.
Wind won’t be a factor, less than 10 mph daily and out of the same direction almost every day.
I’d expect another shootout on a prime track!
Last Week – Shriners Children’s Open
I can’t complain when the winner is highlighted in a field of 144 but I didn’t have much to go with him. Shootouts are like that, sadly.
Chalk
Abraham Ancer (+2200): Pair of T4 in 2 of his last 3; fantastic thru the bag as I wrote earlier. He’s my selection in Expert Picks this week. And now he’s 2 out of 4 after MC. Didn’t break par in two rounds so I’ll chalk it up to rust and a bad pick.
Viktor Hovland (+2200): If these are some of the easier greens to putt, his value increases because he’ll hit all of them in regulation. Hit plenty GIR but didn’t make anything (T70 putting). T44.
Sam Burns (+2200): We’ll see the killer instinct this week. Or we’ll let him enjoy his second win and a bit of nightlife on The Strip. Kids, eh? Guns blazing 66-63 to open and was just three back at the beginning of Sunday before 72 and T14.
Scottie Scheffler (+2200): Has a 59 to his name on Bentgrass at TPC Boston. Opened with 74 and that was that. MC.
Hideki Matsuyama (+2500): He’ll enjoy the challenge of flag hunting and funneled pin placements. Desert delight at TPC Scottsdale over the years. Stunk it up in all three phases T67. See you next week at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club!
Brooks Koepka (+2500): If he’s healthy, I’m always down. T2 and T4 from the “old days” here should bring back decent memories. BUT, will the focus be the match v DeChambeau in Vegas over Thanksgiving? I don’t know. I rarely play him in NON HUMONGOUS events anyhow. T67 did nothing to change my previous opinion.
Will Zalatoris (+2500): T5 here last year and a pair of top 15 results in the first two events. Go on son. I loved you last week and you found 61. Find two more this week! 2-under was three shots off making the weekend. Damp fart.
Webb Simpson (+2800): Gotta. Win ticket. Top 10. Top 20. One of many names who posted 4-under, one short of playing the weekend. Rip up 3 more tickets.
30-1 or Worse
Louis Oosthuizen (+3000): Hasn’t played in a month. Can’t have a breakfast ball round here if the cut is gonna hover around 4-under. Careful. All four rounds in the 60s suggests it is like riding a bike! T14.
Harris English (+3300): Sprinkled across the board, WIN, Top 10 and Top 20. Too many positives to ignore. Add 3 more losers. Sigh.
Paul Casey (+3500): Easiest greens to putt? I think I prefer him on faster ones. MC on 3-under.
Sungjae Im (+3500): Top 20 or bust. WINNER WINNER.
Si Woo Kim (+4500): Too bad it’s not Bermuda but it might not matter. Another top 10. Narrator: It DID matter. More like another MC…
Maverick McNealy (+5000): Super putter and home game. Already went close this season. Nibble win ticket, Top 20. Takes out wallet, which is now empty, lights on fire anyhow. MC.
Mito Pereira (+5500): Gets lost in this field but was T1 GIR last week on smaller greens. Find that flat stick! T40.
Aaron Wise (+7500): Resident and his only TOUR victory included posting 23-under at Trinity Forest. Top 10, Top 20. BANGER T8.
Marc Leishman (+8000): No problem on Bent or going low. Should have his full attention. T3 so I’d say so.
Funny Money
Sahith Theegala (+12500): Got a big-time taste of it last week. Bounced from T14 at Fortinet to 54-hole leader. Take the final step! Top 10, Top 20. Another 4-under victim, MC.
Nick Watney (+15000): Been a regret the first two weeks not having him in here. T56 cashes another check.
Cameron Young (+15000) Made 27 birdies, best in the field, last week. Made 9 more this week before MC on 4-under. Hahahaha.
Hayden Buckley (+15000): Roll on Uncle Mo'(mentum). Boom T8
Denny McCarthy (+17500): Wait, the greens and fairways are BIGGER this week! WAIT ANUDDA GUY ON 4-UNDAH!!!
Nate Lashley (+27500): Top 20 minimum. T35, bah.
Mark Hubbard (+27500): Guys who make cuts get attention. T44
This Week – CJ CUP @ SUMMIT
Nothing much separating the top players this week as it’s a PARKING LOT between the favorite and 28-1 (14!!!! players).
Let’s hope the golf is as competitive as the marketplace!
Chalk
Dustin Johnson (+1000): Very solid week at the Ryder Cup (5-0) pushes him to the top of the public pile. Doesn’t hurt he was T6 at Caves Valley either. Not sure his hangover is gone yet hahaha. No chance I’m playing the favorite in this field on a brand-new track.
Xander Schauffele (+1200): No value here and there shouldn’t be any! Wonder if his hangover is gone haha. No cut = no problems.
Justin Thomas (+1200): This number is surely based on his previous work at this event not his recent results.
Collin Morikawa (+1600): Will have more advantage than most if this is where he lives and practices! Worth a nibble!
Rory McIlroy (+1600): Emotional wiped out after a tumultuous Ryder Cup. The guaranteed four rounds will help get it back on track.
Jordan Spieth (+2000): Plenty of room to swing it and Bentgrass greens? Interesting, yes. Might get stroke-play healthy here.
Louis Oosthuizen (+2200): If we had a dollar for every time we said this is gonna be the week he finally wins on TOUR, we’d be rich. Top 10 and Top 20.
Sam Burns (+2200): Fire has to extinguish at some point. He’s had the pedal to the metal. Careful.
Tony Finau (+2500): The more Par-5 holes and unfamiliar greens the merrier! 63 to close at Caves Valley too. 3 way action.
Brooks Koepka (+2800): This field should get his attention. This number has gotten my attention. I’ll revisit this before Thursday tee times.
Scottie Scheffler (+2800): He hasn’t won, yet.
Shane Lowry (+2800): Easy top 20.
Viktor Hovland (+2800): No jet lag, no rust, no problem. 3 way action.
30-1 or Worse
Sungjae Im (+3000): Free roll this week but he’ll want to win the event based in his homeland and hometown. If the attention this week wasn’t enough, winning should will amplify it. If he putts like last week, it might not matter. Top 10.
Abraham Ancer (+3500): Too good to let a bad week get in the way of a two week road trip to Vegas.
Tyrrell Hatton (+4000): Rode into town HAWT last year after winning the BMW. Arrives this season off T2 at Dunhill. 3 way action.
Jason Kokrak (+5000): Not much happening recently but loves Las Vegas and Bentgrass. Top 20.
Marc Leishman (+5000): I believe in him and heat. 3 way action.
Russell Henley (+6000): Cashed T3 at Shadow Creek but led by three after 54 holes. Top 10.
Aaron Wise (+6000): Right back at it. Top 10.
Harold Varner III (+6500): #NappyFactor.
Talor Gooch (+6500): Top 20 as he rolls in T11, T4.
Alex Noren (+6500): Top 10, Top 20.
Funny Money
Jhonattan Vegas (+8000)
Kevin Streelman (+13000): Desert dawg
KH Lee (+13000)
Emiliano Grillo (+15000)
Tom Hoge (+20000)
Harry Higgs (+25000)
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out through Twitter or email me mikeglasscott@gmail.com.
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