It’s hard to believe, but the PGA Tour is already in the fourth week of the wrap-around portion of its 2020-21 season as golf’s traveling circus treks to Las Vegas for the 38th annual Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
Contested at TPC Summerlin, the field in Sin City will be headlined by world Nos. 5 and 6 – the reigning PGA Champion Collin Morika, and newly-minted U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, respectively.
In total, seven of the the top-20 ranked names will be teeing it up this week, including strong>Webb Simpson (No. 7), Patrick Cantlay (13), Tony Finau (16), Louis Oosthuizen (17), Matthew Wolff (18), and Hideki Matsuyama (19).
Other familiar names in the field include Scottie Scheffler, Sergio Garcia, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Francesco Molinari, and defending champion Kevin Na.
The Skinny
Tournament: Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
Dates: Oct. 8-11, 2020
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada
Course: TPC Summerlin
Distance: Par 71, 7255 yards
Architect: Bobby Weed
Format: 144 players, 72 holes/36-hole cut, stroke play
Purse: $7,000,000
Winning Share: $1,260,000
FedExCup/OWGR Points: 500/54
Defending Champion: Kevin Na
TV & Online
Round 1, THU
9:40 am – 8:00 pm (PGA TOUR LIVE)
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm (GOLF)
Round 2, FRI
9:40 am – 8:00 pm (PGA TOUR LIVE)
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm (GOLF)
Round 3, SAT
9:40 am – 8:00 pm (PGA TOUR LIVE)
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm (GOLF)
Round 4, SUN
9:40 am – 8:00 pm (PGA TOUR LIVE)
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm (GOLF)
LINKS: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Tournament History
The PGA Tour’s yearly excursion in Las Vegas once had a reputation for big payouts, as the event regularly drew impressive fields by offering one of the largest purses on Tour. First teeing off in 1983, the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open has the distinction of being the first Tour event to offer a purse in excess of $1 million – doing so in 1984, its second edition.
Originally, a five-round tournament, the inaugural 1983 title was captured by 10-time PGA Tour winner Fuzzy Zoeller.
Over the years, notable winners of the Sin City event include Curtis Strange, Greg Norman, Paul Azinger, Davis Love III, Bob Tway, and three-time champ Jim Furyk, who’s the only player to win the tournament multiple times.
Perhaps its most notable winner, however, was Tiger Woods, who won notched victory No. 1 of his illustrious 80-win career in Vegas, way back in 1996, defeating Davis Love III in a playoff as a then 20-year-old.
The Shriners Hospitals for Children Open has always contested its tournament in the Las Vegas area, but originally rotated between several area courses, before settling on TPC Summerlin as the permanent host venue in 2008. From 2008-2012, the tournament was notable for including the name of superstar entertainer Justin Timberlake in its title. Timberlake, an avid golf fan, was a tournament sponsor and host during that time.
History: Recent Winners
2019: Kevin Na
2018: Bryson DeChambeau
2017: Patrick Cantlay
2016: Rod Pampling
2015: Smylie Kaufman
2014: Ben Martin
2013: Webb Simpson
2012: Ryan Moore
2011: Kevin Na
History: Records
Wins
3 – Jum Furyk (1995, 1998-99)
Low Score
260 (-24): Ryan Moore (2012); Webb Simpson (2013)
Low Round
59 (Chip Beck – Sunrise GC)
60 (JJ Henry, Rod Pampling – TPC Summerlin)
Defending Champion
Experience, familiar surroundings, and a blazing-hot putter made the difference for Kevin Na, as the 36-year-old won the Shriners Hospitals For Children Open, his fourth career PGA Tour victory, ousting world No. 7 Patrick Cantlay on the second playoff hole at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.
Resiliency was the key for Na, a Vegas resident, who came into Sunday with a two-stroke lead after an unconscious 62-61 stretch in the two middle rounds. Playing THAT well three days in a row is unheard of on the PGA Tour, but Na was looking pretty solid again at 2-under through 7 holes, building what he later called a “comfortable” three-stroke lead.
Na was extremely emotional after his round, referring to himself as a fighter, citing both his back-nine comeback, and his poor playoff record. This was the fourth time Na has been in a PGA Tour playoff, but the first time he has emerged victorious.
Final Top-5 Finishers
Pos-Name-To Par (Final Rd)
1. Kevin Na -23 (-1)
2. Patrick Cantlay -23 (-3)
3. Pat Perez -21 (-3)
4. Bryson DeChambeau -20 (-8)
4. Adam Hadwin -20 (-8)
4. Brian Stuard -20 (-4)
Full Field: World Rank & Odds
The field in Las Vegas is headlined by three of the world’s top-10 ranked players in Collin Morikawa (No. 5), Bryson DeChambeau (6), Webb Simpson (7).
Other top-20 ranked players in the field include Patrick Cantlay (13), Louis Oosthuizen (17), Matthew Wolff (18), and Hideki Matsuyama (19).
Several former major winners will also be in Vegas, including: Sergio Garcia (2017 Masters), Jason Day (2015 PGA), Francesco Molinari (2018 Open), Keegan Bradley (2011 PGA), and Stewart Cink (2009 Open).
Top-5 Betting Favorites
1. Bryson DeChambeau (8-1)
2. Webb Simpson (11-1)
3. Patrick Cantlay (14-1)
4. Collin Morikawa (18-1)
5. Hideki Matsuyama (20-1)
Full Field: Rank and Odds
Shriners Hospitals for Children Open | TPC Summerlin | Las Vegas, NV | Oct. 8-11, 2020