PREVIEW: 2021 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

2021/2022 US PGA Tour
Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada
7th-10th October

Sam Burns be hoping to make it back-to-back titles after his successful showing at last week’s Sanderson Farms Championship. He is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with after claiming his 2nd PGA Tour title. The PGA Tour travels from Mississippi to Nevada for the beginning of two consecutive events to be held in the Silver State. There is always a celebratory feeling to this event. Taking place in Sin City, there always seems to be a carefree air to the golf in this event. Players are freewheeling it as we head towards the end of the calendar year. Having said that, eleven of the world’s top 25 players will be in attendance this week. That includes Martin Laird, who won his second Shriner’s last year playing off a sponsor’s exemption. This event also has the distinction of being the first title won by Tiger Woods. This year marks the 25-year anniversary of Woods’ playoff victory over Davis Love III.

Designed in 1992 by Bobby Weed and Fuzzy Zoeller, TPC Summerlin really incorporates the natural desert terrain of the area into its design. Laid out at 2,700 feet above sea level, TPC Summerlin is perennially one of the most free-scoring courses on the entire tour. The Bentgrass greens are larger than average while the Bermuda fairways are almost comically wide. Plus, you are playing at altitude. Six of the last eight winning scores have been 20-under or lower. Everyone has a chance this week. Monster hitters such as DeChambeau and Cantlay have conquered Summerlin previously. But surgical types like Kevin Na and Webb Simpson have also tasted success.

There’s a three-way tie at the top of the markets. Viktor Hovland, Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler are all currently trading at 22/1. Koepka is always a tough guy to fancy in these non-Major events. I would be more inclined to lean towards Hovland or Scheffler this week. Louis Oosthuizen will have welcomed his long break following the Tour Championship. All those Major Championship near misses must have weighed on the psyche of the brilliant South African. Elsewhere, course specialists such as Webb Simpson and Kevin Na are hard to ignore. This week’s field is actually super competitive and should make for great viewing. Spare a thought for Patrick Reed as he returns to action this week after missing out on his beloved Ryder Cup.

Past Winners

2020: Martin Laird (-23) *playoff
2019: Kevin Na (-23) *playoff
2018: Bryson DeChambeau (-21)
2017: Patrick Cantlay (-9) *playoff
2016: Rod Pampling (-20)

To Win Outright:

Viktor Hovland 22/1 | Brooks Koepka 22/1 | Scottie Scheffler 22/1 | Sam Burns 25/1 | Abraham Ancer 25/1

Value Bets

Si Woo Kim- To Win 40/1 | To Place 17/2

I think that Si Woo Kim is a great combination of course history and recent form. He finished T15 at TPC Summerlin in 2018 before an improved T8 last year. He has enjoyed a solid start to the wraparound season, finishing T11 at the Fortinet Championship before a T8 at last week’s Sanderson Farms Championship. The former Players Champion is still just 26 years of age and he is due a solid campaign.

Matthew Wolff- To Win 45/1 | To Place 19/2

I hate backing the same player in consecutive weeks. It shows a real lack of imagination. But I just have to go for Wolff this week. This is an event that really rewards familiarity. Just look at the records of Kevin Na and Patrick Cantlay. Wolff barely made the cut last week but he shot 65-68 to collect a top 20 finish. But look at his record in this event. In 2019 he shot rounds of 67-69-68-65 on debut. He then lost in a three-man playoff last year. His monstrous strength off the tee allows him to murder this course. The wide fairways don’t really punish his more errant drives. Sure, he has been underwhelming this year, struggling with personal demons and erratic form. But this course is just ideal for Wolff.

The Man to Beat- Scottie Scheffler- To Win 22/1 | To Place 48/10

This is a slightly risky option, especially considering that he missed the cut here last year. But I just think that his solid Ryder Cup performance may give him the confidence to capture that elusive PGA Tour title. He was just so consistent last season. He finished inside the top 20 in all four Majors last year, with three top 10 finishes in his last three. He also finished 3rd at Memorial and 5th at the WGC-Mexico Championship. I think he may be more motivated than anyone this week to capture the title.