Shriners Hospitals for Children Open Preview

The PGA Tour heads to Vegas this week for the second event of the 2014/2015 season at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas by Dan Butler

Lowdown:

Las Vegas plays host to the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open this week where Webb Simpson attempts to defend his title. Simpson will also be joined in the field by fellow Ryder Cup teammate Jimmy Walker.

Billy Horschel makes his first appearance this season as the newly crowned FedExCup champion after a busy summer that also saw him become a father for the first time.

Horschel is the highest ranked player in the field, currently No.13 in the world rankings. Webb Simpson, Hideki Matsuyama and Kevin Na make up the other top 35 ranked players in the field.

TPC Summerlin is the host course of this week’s event. Situated in the canyons and arroyos of the Nevada desert, TPC Summerlin’s strength lies in its risk/reward 4-hole closing stretch – the drivable par 4 15^th, par 5 16^th, water-lined par 3 17^th and testing par 4 18^th (where better place in the world to play gambling golf?).

Additional bunkers have also been introduced at No.18 and three other holes in recent changes to toughen up the course.

This week’s $6.2 million purse sees the second successive increase for this PGA event – the purse being $6 million last season and $4.5 million in 2012.

Venue: TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada Date: Oct 16-19 Course Stats: par 71, 7,255 yards Purse: $6,200,000 Winner: $1,080,000 Defending Champion: Webb Simpson (-24)

TV Coverage:

Thursday 16 – Sky Sports 4 from 10pm Friday 17 – Sky Sports 4 from 10pm Saturday 18 – Sky Sports 4 from 10pm Sunday 19 – Sky Sports 4 from 10pm

Player Watch:

Sang-Moon Bae – The South Korean arrives in Vegas fresh from a two-shot win at last week’s Frys.com Open. He has made a perfect start to the season and the 28-year old will no doubt be eager to get a third PGA title under his belt.

Webb Simpson – Simpson has an excellent track record at TPC Summerlin. In his 10 career rounds at TPC Summerlin he has broken 70 every time but once – shooting 73 in his first visit in October 2009. He will also be eager to prove himself after last months trouncing at the Ryder Cup.

Ryan Moore – The Las Vegas resident and UNLV alumni won his second PGA Tour title at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in 2012 with a tournament record 260. This will be Moore’s first start this season so he will be well rested and raring to go.