Say what you want about TPC Summerlin being nine miles from the Las Vegas strip, but scores at the Shriners Children’s Open in past years have shown that golf – and not the nightlife – have been the top priority.
Ten of the last 12 winners of this event have posted a score better than -20 under par, a trend which is expected to continue in 2022 Shriners Children’s Open betting.
Shriners Children’s Open History
Sungjae Im took home the win in the 2021 Shriners Children’s Open, firing a -24, which was the lowest winning score since Webb Simpson shot the same to get the win in 2013. This tournament was a five-day, 90-hole event prior to 2004, which is why you see Stuart Appleby shooting a -31 in 2003 and Andrew Magee posting the same score in 1991.
This event was known as the Justin Timberlake Shriners Children’s Open from 2008-2012, with Kevin Na and Martin Laird picking up wins over that five-year span. Na would repeat in 2019 and Laird in 2020 as the only multiple winners of this event (Jim Furyk won the Las Vegas Invitational three times in the 1990s).
About TPC Summerlin
TPC Summerlin has been the solo host of the Shriners Children’s Open since 2008, and the trademark of this course is its location. The elevation of 2,700 feet gives long drivers an edge, especially in the firm desert, which leads to dozens of yards extra on the bounce.
The closer a player can get, the better their chances are of sticking a GIR, as the greens are about 1,000 square feet larger than the Tour average. The average is roughly 73% GIR, but Im was dialed in last year at 86.1%, 10% better than runner-up Matthew Wolff.
The environment and the layout lead TPC Summerlin to rank in the top 10 on the Tour in terms of ease; in fact, it was the third easiest in the 2020-21 season. Scores are going to be very low this week, especially with calm winds – the only enemy of TPC Summerlin – in the forecast.
This Weekend’s Field
The Shriners Children’s Open field will be the best of the three events on the Fall part of the Tour so far. On paper, this looks like Patrick Cantlay’s (+700) tournament to win, as his four starts at TPC Summerlin have resulted in a 1st, 2nd, 2nd, and 8th place finishes. He didn’t play this event last year and is ready to return to where he dominates.
Cantlay’s Presidents Cup teammate Max Homa is also up there on the odds at +1800, but TPC Summerlin has been his Kryptonite as he’s gone 30th, MC, MC, MC, MC in five trips here.
Im (+1200) tries to join Laird and Na as the only multiple winners of the Shriners Children’s Open, and his 63 on Thursday, followed by a 62 on Sunday last year, were within striking distance of J.J. Henry’s course record 60.
You can’t downplay the Las Vegas ties in this one, as it has worked for Na with two wins here. Taylor Montgomery (+2800) was born in Vegas and graduated from UNLV, while Scott Piercy (+15000), Garrick Higgo (+8000), Kurt Kitayama (+5500), and David Lipsky (+20000) are those with local ties who have great long shot potential this weekend.
