The PGA Tour takes a trip to the Sin City this week for the 2024 Shriners Children's Open at TPC Summerlin. The Shriners Children's Open has been a staple on the PGA Tour since 1983 but has been held at various locations in the tournament's history. Located less than 25 miles from the Vegas Strip, TPC Summerlin is entering its 28th consecutive year as the host.
With the bright lights and non-stop action, Las Vegas typically draws out the top field of the fall swing year after year. This season won't be any different, as fourteen of the top 70 in the Official World Golf Ranking are part of the field, headlined by Tom Kim, Davis Thompson, Cameron Davis, Taylor Pendrith, Eric Cole, and last week's winner Matt McCarty . Seamus Power, Beau Hossler, Keith Mitchell, Harris English, Stephan Jaeger, and J.T. Poston are other notable players in the field.
It's also worth noting a handful of Vegas-based Tour players are in the field this week, and many of them call TPC Summerlin their home course. Kurt Kitayama, Harry Hall, Justin Suh, Charley Hoffman, Doug Ghim, Taylor Montgomery, and Scott Piercy are some notable players (to name a few) who reside in Las Vegas.
THE ODDS
Tom Kim (+1200), Taylor Pendrith (+2200), Seamus Power (+2200), Beau Hossler (+2800), Kurt Kitayam (+2800), Keith Mitchell (+2800), and Davis Thompson (+2800) enter the week as the betting favorites, according to BetRivers Sportsbook.
Eric Cole (+3300), Harris English (+3300), Tom Hoge (+3300), Stephan Jaeger (+3300), Cameron Davis (+4000), Ben Griffin (+4000), Adam Hadwin (+4000), Matt McCarty (+4000), J.T. Poston (+4000), Andrew Putnam (+4000), and J.J. Spaun (+4000), round out the group of players listed below 40/1 odds.
Doug Ghim (+5000), Harry Hall (+5000), Chan Kim (+5000), Maverick McNealy (+5000), Matti Schmid (+5000), Adam Svensson (+5000), Jhonattan Vegas (+5000), Kevin Yu (+5000), Nick Taylor (+5500), Daniel Berger (+6600), Patrick Fishburn (+6600), Rickie Fowler (+6600), Ryan Fox (+6600), Emiliano Grillo (+6600), Patton Kizzire (+6600), Matt Kuchar (+6600), Justin Lower (+6600), Andrew Novak (+6600), Ben Silverman (+6600), Alex Smalley (+6600), Sam Stevens (+6600), Michael Thorbjornsen (+6600), and Erik van Rooyen (+6600) fill up the jam-packed middle tier of the betting board.
Jacob Bridgeman (+8000), Austin Eckroat (+8000), Nick Hardy (+8000), Lee Hodges (+8000), Charley Hoffman (+8000), Taylor Moore (+8000), Henrik Norlander (+8000), Chandler Phillips (+8000), Greyson Sigg (+8000), Webb Simpson (+8000), Brendon Todd (+8000), and Gary Woodland (+8000) are the rest of the players under 100/1.
For the complete tournament odds board, click here .
*ODDS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*
PAST WINNERS
2023: Tom Kim (-20)
2022: Tom Kim (-24)
2021: Sungjae Im (-23)
2020: Martin Laird (-23)
2019: Kevin Na (-21)
KEY STATS
SG: Approach
Fairways Gained
Birdie Or Better Gained
SG: Putting (Bentgrass)
Par-4s Gained: 400-450 Yards
SG: Par-5s
Proximity 100-125 Yards/125-150 Yards
THE COURSE
TPC Summerlin (par 71) is a classical desert golf course in the Las Vegas suburbs that stretches 7,255 yards with two-inch Bermudagrass rough, 92 sand bunkers, and flat Bentgrass green complexes. Designed by historic golf architects Bobby Weed and Fuzzy Zoeller in 1991, TPC Summerlin plays approximately 2,700 feet above sea level and features canyons, valleys, arroyos, and four holes with water hazards.
With the dry Las Vegas heat, firm course conditions, and high elevation, players have no issue with distance at TPC Summerlin. Tag along wide fairways and receptive greens, and it's easy to see why PGA Tour pros obliterate this course every year. TPC Summerlin has ranked inside the top 10 easiest courses on Tour in four of the last five years. Additionally, a list of past winners including Kim, Martin Laird, Webb Simpson, and Kevin Na proves that accuracy is far more pivotal than distance for this event.
All three par-5s are reachable for most players with the elevation and carry a birdie rate of over 41 percent. Nos. 9 (563 yards) and 16 (560 yards) annually rank as the easiest holes on the course. While the 13th hole does stretch over 600 yards, most players still tend to capitalize on the opportunity and make birdie (or better).
Out of the 11 par-4s, seven of them play between 400-450 yards. Most second shots on the par-4s come from 100-150 yards, meaning players frequently hit wedges into the greens here. Sturdy wedge play and a hot putter are prerequisites for contending this week. Lots of birdies can be made on the par-4s.
The four par-3s are where TPC Summerlin shows its teeth, as three rank among the five toughest holes on the course. All three (Nos. 5, 8, and 17) play over 195 yards and have a bogey rate of over 14.5 percent. The 168-yard 14th hole tends to play under par for the tournament.
The winning score has been at least 23-under par in three of the last four trips to TPC Summerlin and hasn't been below 20-under since the winds howled in 2017. We'll likely have another birdie fest on our hands this time, which means putting is crucial in determining the winner. The path to victory is relatively simple: Hit fairways to avoid the desert elements, have an exceptional wedge/short-iron week, take advantage of the par-5s, and get hot with the flat stick. Pars aren't going to cut it at TPC Summerlin.
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