BlogShriners Preview and Picks

The Buzz

Off to Sin City:

The oldest running fall event, Shriners Hospitals for Children has all of the glamour of Las Vegas on a course that a lot of players like to play on. For some, this will be a fun week with a little bit of golf mixed in with the fast-paced action of Las Vegas.

Founded in 1983 as the Panasonic Las Vegas Pro-Celebrity Classic, the event has undergone six name changes in the event’s history. Frys.Com became the title sponsor for the event in 2006, replacing its former title, the Michelin Championship at Las Vegas. 2007 was the final year of Fry’s involvement, and in 2008 Justin Timberlake took on the duties of becoming the tournament presenter with Shriners Hospitals for Children sponsoring the event. Timberlake is no longer associated with the tournament.

At the tournament’s inception, the tournament managers prided themselves on running a tournament that stood out amongst the slew of annual PGA events. It was the first event to offer a total purse of $1 million; at the trophy presentation, the winner used to receive his trophy with two showgirls by his side. Though these ideas help separate the event from others, the most drastic deviation from the norm is the tournament’s format, which in a way, “borrowed” the format at the Bob Hope Open.

In its inception, the tournament was played over five rounds at between three and four courses. However, in 2003, when the original tournament founders abdicated control to another volunteer organization, the event was immediately switched to the more conventional four-round format. Over the years, courses have been dropped, and for the 13th straight year, it’s only played on the TPC Summerlin.

One thing about this event, it’s always lovely winning an event, but for some of its past champions, they never got back to the winner’s circle again on the PGA Tour. Look at the 21 past winners since 2000, only eleven Bryson DeChambeau (2019), Patrick Cantlay (2018), Webb Simpson (2014), Ryan Moore (2012), Kevin Na (2011), Jonathan Byrd (2010), Martin Laird (2021 & ’09), George McNeill (2007), Troy Matteson (2006), Stuart Appleby (2003) and Bob Estes (2001) won again on the PGA Tour. The others, Rod Pampling (2017), Smylie Kaufman (2016), Ben Martin (2015), Marc Turnesa (2008), Wes Short Jr. (2005), Andre Stolz (2004), Phil Tataurangi (2002), and Billy Andrade (2000) never made it back to the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour, and some of them don’t even play anymore on the PGA Tour.

So why are so many players playing?

You have to play in the fall now. It’s not a “junk” section. We are talking about 9 official events in 10 weeks. That’s a fifth of the 47 events on the PGA Tour. Between the start of the season and the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January, there will be $60 million in prize money given away, which isn’t peanuts.

So that is why you are seeing more and more marquee players now playing. It’s a small fortune they are playing for these days. To think just 25 years ago, in 1996, the year Tiger Woods joined the PGA Tour, Tom Lehman won the money list with $1,780,159.  Woods won that year and earned $297,000.  This week is the.3rd PGA Tour event and Sam Burns and Max Homa have won $1,260,000. 53 years ago, Frank Beard won the money title with $164,707, about the same amount that Austin Cook, who is 24th on the money list, has won in 2 starts this year. It took Ben Hogan 16 years on the PGA Tour before he won his first $100,000. Going a step further, Gene Sarazen collected money on the PGA Tour between 1920 and 1976, and this may seem hard to believe, but in his 56 years of playing, he won 38 times, seven of them majors, and only won $77,787. Peter Malnati is 42nd on the money list with winnings of $82,567 in just two starts, oh how times have changed.

One last thing this week is the 25th anniversary of Tiger Woods’s first win on the PGA Tour. In 1996 he won the Shriners by beating Davis Love III in a playoff. For the victory, Tiger won $297,000. Hayden Buckley, Andrew Landry, Trey Mullinax and Henrik Norlander won $280,000 for finishing T-4th at the Sanderson Farms Championship last week.

Course information:

TPC Summerlin was designed by Bobby Weed and Fuzzy Zoeller in 1992. The Par 71 course measures 7,255 yards. It has a course rating of 74.3 and a slope rating of 139. The tees, fairways, and rough all comprise of 419 Bermuda Grass, cut at 3/8″, 3/8″, and 2″ respectively. The greens consist of a 1/8″ cut of A-1/A-4 Creeping Bent Grass. This shortcut mixed with the always speedy Bent Grass explains the rather Stimpmeter reading of 11 feet. As for hazards, the course features 99 sand bunkers (with 51 around the greens), and water comes into play on four holes.

The signature hole at TPC Summerlin is the short 341-yard par-four 15th hole. The sizeable elevated green is reachable from the tee; however, numerous bunkers guard the green, making the play risky, but possibly very rewarding. As for accolades, Golf Digest rated this as the fourth “Best in State” course for 1995-96, and the fifth-best for 1997-98. Also, GolfWeek awarded it 98th in the category of “America’s 100 Best Modern Courses” for 1997.

Last year was the 13th time that Summerlin was the only course used.  In 2009 they made significant changes, switching par to 71 by making the third hole a long par 4 at 473 yards. In addition to this change, trees were added along the fairways’ right side on Nos. 9 and 16, both par 5s. The rough also was grown longer than in years past, and for holes 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 16, the fairways are going to be between 3 and 5 yards narrower than in 2008. All of these changes were made to try and make the course play a bit tougher, but the key to this course playing tough is wind.  Without it the pros have a field day on it.

Lots of birdies are made on this course, last year, 1,979 were made along with 74 eagles. The finish is demanding with the par 3 17th hole played the 2nd hardest hole at 3.143, while the 18th hole was the 10th hardest at 3.910.

DraftKings tips

*Here are the guys that cost the most on DraftKings this week:

• Brooks Koepka – $11,100
• Sam Burns- $10,900
• Viktor Hovland – $10,600
• Abraham Ancer – $10,400
• Webb Simpson – $10,200
• Will Zealotries- $10,100
• Louis Oosthuizen – $9,900
• Scottie Scheffler – $9,700
• Hideki Matsuyama – $9,500
• Harris English – $9,300
• Sungjae Im – $9,200
• Kevin Na – $9,100 WD
• Si Woo Kim – $9,000

Another great field for this week.  After two events with weak fields, we will see strong fields this week, next, and the week after.  A bit puzzling why Brooks Koepka is at $11,100.  In five starts he was 2nd in 2017, T-4th in 2015, and missed three cuts.  Also puzzling, Koepka had a 2-2-0 Ryder Cup record so I have no idea why he is ranked first with such a big price.  Guess I don’t have to write anymore, you can see I am not going to pick Koepka at such a big price.  The same with Sam Burns at $10,900, I know he won last week but that doesn’t mean he will play well this week.  His TPC Summerlin record isn’t great when you consider in four starts his best finish is T-20th in 2018, so he is a no for me.  The same with Viktor Hovland at $10,600, he is coming off a terrible Ryder Cup where his record is 0-3-2. Will that spell over to this week, probably not but still don’t think the course and greens are good for Hovland.  I do like Abraham Ancer – $10,400, he was 4th in 2019 and last year and finished the season strongly.  Webb Simpson at $10,200 is also to be considered, was a winner in 2013 and been in the top ten four times.  Will Zealotries at $10,100 is my choice for the guy that will win this week, he is really playing well and looking to win.  The same with Louis Oosthuizen at $9,900, think he will do well, Louis has only played once in this event and was T-19th last year.  But the course is perfect for him and feel he does play well in the fall.  Scottie Scheffler is $9,700 and the big question will be if a win is close.  He is probably the best player on tour without a victory, could this be a good week for him?  I fear not, his play at TPC Summerlin hasn’t been very stellar, still, he is good and could possibly surprise us all.  Hideki Matsuyama at $9,500 is another that could do well this week, but in three starts his T-10th back in 2015 is his best finish, so I don’t think this will be a good week for him.  Harris English at $9,300 is a no for me, in seven starts played well once finishing T-4th in 2017 but I just don’t think his game suits a desert course.  Now the next three are big yes for me, love Sungjae Im at $9,200 think he will get a top ten, and who knows maybe even better.  Kevin Na at $9,100 is a good prospect, but he withdrew on Tuesday due to rib injury.  The same with Si Woo Kim at $9,000, he plays well at TPC Summerlin and can see it carry over this week.  Remember this, he was T-11th at Napa and T-8th last week in Mississippi, so he could be a top pick.

*Players in that $7,500 to $8,900 price range, which ones are worth the money?:

Like Cameron Tringale at $8,500 since he has played well on the course finishing T-2nd in 2016, remember he was T-22nd at Napa and T-11th last week in Mississippi.  Joaquin Niemann at $8,300 is always a good buy, he has played well at TPC Summerlin but I like the fact that he makes a lot of DraftKings points, in the last 12 months’ averages 69.91 per event.  Matthew Wolff at $8,200 is another good choice, can see his game come together he was T-2nd last year and can see another great finish this week.  I also like Mito Pereira at $7,800 even if he is playing TPC Summerlin for the first time.  Maverick McNealy at $7,700 is a good choice, can see some good things come out of him in the future.  Patton Kizzire at $7,500 is also a great buy, he has played well at TPC Summerlin and can see some good golf come out of him.

*Some of the “bargains” this week at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

Taylor Moore at $7,300 is a very good pick considering that he does make a lot of Draftkings points and can see that happening this week.  Rickie Fowler at $7,300 is worth a gamble, we know his story and how he has struggled the last two years.  But can see him making a comeback, he has to play better soon or else started losing exemptions, he loves hanging out with the likes of Jordan Speith, Justin Thomas, and Smylie Kaufman so he needs to start playing better.  Joseph Bramlett at $7,200 is a good choice because he played well on the Korn Ferry Tour and can see that carrying over.  Also, Stewart Cink at $7,100 is a great buy, he won’t win but he will make the cut and earn you a lot of points for a small fee.  Hard to not say yes to Ian Poulter at $7,000, he can earn a lot of points.  Also maybe Draftkings didn’t get the memo at Cameron Young was runner-up last week at the Sanderson Farms, he is only $7,000 this week.  Matthew NeSmith is $6,700 and he was T-8th last year in this event and T-18th in 2020,   Also watch Nick Watney at $6,600 he used to play well in this event, he was runner-up in 2011 and has played well this year, he was runner-up last week in Mississippi.  The best buy could be Andrew Landry at only $6,300.  He was T-4th last week in Mississippi.

Here are some of the secrets of what it takes to play well at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open:

The key stat for the winner:

• Making lots of birdies is important.  The average for the last 17 winners since the course reverted to a 72 hole affair is is 22 under and the winners average making 24 birdies per event or six per round.  So the secret is to make a lot of birdies.

Here are some more key stats to look to for this week:

• With fairways that are wide open, fairways with lots of rolls, dominating the par 5s has been a key.  It’s also interesting to note that in the last 16 years the winners have averaged 10 under par on the par 4s.  Last year Martin Laird was 9 under on them, in 2020 Kevin Na was 10 under the year before Bryson DeChambeau was 12 under the best of anyone in the field.  In 2018 Patrick Cantlay was 1 over the only time a winner has been over par but remember it was very windy.  In 2017 Rod Pampling was 13 under on the par 4s, in 2016 Smylie Kaufman was 6 under on the par 4s while Ben Martin was 9 under in 2015 and in 2014 Webb Simpson was 12 under the same as Ryan Moore was in 2012. Jonathan Byrd was the best at 14 under in 2010 while the least low was 6 under by George McNeill in 2007.
• Being an accurate driver, a long driver or a person that hits a lot of greens doesn’t give you a big advantage.  Scrambling is very important, TPC Summerlin ranked 29th on the PGA Tour last year.  If there ever was a tournament that favors the newcomer, this is it.
• Most of the time the weather is wonderful, it should be that way this year, with very little wind the first two days but getting breezy over the weekend..
• You have to realize where your are at, in Las Vegas “lady luck” is very important in winning, a lot of players that you would never think would win have found the “luck factor” in victory.