PGA First Look: Shriners Open

The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.

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We have not one, but two winners to mention from last week. Xander Schauffele completed a Sunday comeback over Tony Finau to take down the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai. He’s had some big wins under his belt and could be a force in the majors next year. Stateside, Cameron Champ took advantage of a weaker field and bombed his way to a win at the Sanderson Farms Championship. If you aren’t familiar with Champ, he may end up being the longest driver of the ball on tour. He averaged over 340 yards off the tee on the Web.com Tour last season.

The PGA Tour now heads to Las Vegas for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. After a few weeks of no-cut, no Shot Tracker events, we have both back in play this week. There are 132 golfers in the field, so we will gladly welcome back the Friday cut sweat (at least until we get burned by a few golfers that afternoon). TPC Summerlin is a Par 71 that measures 7,255 yards. It features three par fives, two of which should be reachable by most of the field. This is a fairly short, fairly easy desert golf course that should produce plenty of birdies and eagles.

There will be plenty of debate on which type of golfer to target this week. Many will point to the length of the course and the fact that shorter hitters have won here and argue that driving accuracy is important. However, the statistics that I’m looking at paint a different picture. The averaging driving accuracy at this course is around 55% (well below the PGA Tour average), yet the average greens in regulation is 71% (well above the PGA Tour average). Missing fairways doesn’t appear to be much of a penalty. Not only that, but the average driving distance here is 295, which is 13 yards farther than an average event.

The greens are in great shape and made of bentgrass. I always like to look at putting splits by grass type and that’s not going to change this week. To be competitive here, you have to gain strokes with your irons and ultimately make putts. I’m giving a slight edge to distance over accuracy off the tee and will be looking heavily at recent form.

Cut Rule: Top 70 and ties move on after the first two rounds. The MDF rule is in effect if more than 78 golfers make the initial cut.

Recent Winners of this Event:Patrick Cantlay (2017), Rod Pampling (2016), Smylie Kaufman (2015), Ben Martin (2014), Webb Simpson (2013)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Approach
2) Birdie or Better %
3) Strokes Gained Off the Tee
4) Par 5 Scoring
5) Strokes Gained Putting (Emphasis on Bentgrass)

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2013-2017)

Golfer DK Salary FD Salary OWGR Odds DK Odds FD Odds Cuts 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Rickie Fowler $11,400 $12,200 9 11 -100% 0% 1/1 500 500 25 500 500
Tony Finau $11,300 $12,000 15 11 50% 67% 4/4 16 41 16 7 500
Jordan Spieth $11,000 $12,400 13 12 0% -200% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Bryson DeChambeau $10,800 $11,900 6 13 0% 0% 2/2 7 36 500 500 500
Webb Simpson $10,300 $11,700 19 14 0% 17% 5/5 20 31 56 4 1
Patrick Cantlay $9,900 $11,900 23 16 0% -50% 1/1 1 500 500 500 500
Gary Woodland $9,700 $11,600 31 18 0% 0% 1/1 18 500 500 500 500
Aaron Wise $9,400 $9,800 53 27 0% 58% 2/2 32 10 500 500 500
Chesson Hadley $9,300 $9,800 63 45 -33% 37% 3/4 4 500 62 135 5
Cameron Champ $9,200 $9,200 121 31 10% 68% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Matt Kuchar $9,100 $11,000 38 39 9% -11% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Andrew Putnam $8,900 $10,600 67 46 -8% -8% 1/2 81 500 500 33 500
Kevin Na $8,800 $10,300 42 46 0% 7% 1/3 500 111 2 500 100
Ryan Moore $8,700 $11,200 69 49 -7% -88% 4/5 51 15 43 111 9
Beau Hossler $8,600 $10,500 80 40 27% 15% 1/1 7 500 500 500 500
Patrick Rodgers $8,500 $9,300 160 54 -6% 35% 1/4 81 134 13 80 500
Joaquin Niemann $8,400 $10,800 155 55 -6% -80% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Lucas Glover $8,300 $9,000 144 64 -22% 33% 1/4 500 3 120 141 114
Abraham Ancer $8,200 $9,500 116 72 -42% -17% 0/2 92 500 82 500 500
Scott Piercy $8,100 $9,400 176 50 20% 33% 4/5 32 24 25 7 120
Sungjae Im $8,000 $8,300 97 62 0% 61% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Denny McCarthy $7,900 $8,500 167 72 -32% 38% 0/2 92 500 137 500 500
Ryan Palmer $7,900 $9,900 79 65 -9% -41% 1/2 500 500 16 500 73
Austin Cook $7,800 $9,600 106 67 -4% -14% 1/1 20 500 500 500 500
Bronson Burgoon $7,800 $9,000 104 64 4% 30% 0/1 500 500 120 500 500
Martin Laird $7,700 $9,100 170 77 -15% 0% 3/5 81 27 43 18 73
Jim Furyk $7,700 $8,400 251 96 -38% 29% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Sam Ryder $7,600 $9,100 174 72 7% 13% 0/1 107 500 500 500 500
Sam Burns $7,600 $8,900 114 56 29% 46% 1/1 20 500 500 500 500
Kevin Streelman $7,500 $8,600 152 98 -27% 14% 4/4 67 61 16 2 500
Jason Kokrak $7,500 $8,800 115 99 -40% -8% 3/5 20 74 38 111 100
Si Woo Kim $7,500 $9,900 56 56 37% -12% 1/1 500 500 25 500 500
Chris Kirk $7,400 $9,700 143 98 -15% -81% 2/3 92 61 500 500 36
Rory Sabbatini $7,400 $7,900 169 118 -52% 21% 1/4 107 500 25 80 126
Graeme McDowell $7,400 $8,200 218 119 -55% 11% 1/2 10 79 500 500 500
Russell Henley $7,300 $10,000 75 80 11% -100% 2/3 500 24 10 500 73
Kevin Tway $7,300 $10,700 83 77 17% -173% 2/3 32 79 500 54 500
Adam Schenk $7,300 $7,900 257 72 22% 56% 1/1 20 500 500 500 500
Cameron Davis $7,300 $7,800 103 87 6% 50% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Dylan Meyer $7,300 $7,400 554 122 -47% 37% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Peter Uihlein $7,200 $9,100 73 98 7% -27% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ryan Blaum $7,200 $8,300 285 125 -32% 0% 2/2 20 31 500 500 500
Peter Malnati $7,200 $7,700 321 150 -71% 3% 2/3 32 120 56 500 500
Sang-Moon Bae $7,200 $7,000 330 109 -12% 59% 0/2 81 500 500 111 500
Joel Dahmen $7,100 $9,400 182 134 -36% -154% 0/1 81 500 500 500 500
Brendan Steele $7,100 $10,100 94 98 9% -173% 3/4 500 31 97 33 57
Nick Taylor $7,100 $7,900 299 125 -20% 14% 4/4 32 54 25 56 500
Jhonattan Vegas $7,100 $8,500 101 126 -27% -21% 2/3 500 500 43 98 40
Whee Kim $7,100 $7,600 125 130 -31% 23% 3/3 2 500 76 49 500
Matt Jones $7,100 $7,400 247 151 -60% 14% 1/3 133 15 500 500 85
Harris English $7,100 $7,300 311 145 -49% 28% 3/4 81 4 500 16 40
Anders Albertson $7,000 $7,500 227 99 19% 47% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Harold Varner $7,000 $9,300 168 96 31% -38% 2/3 63 57 132 500 500
Danny Lee $7,000 $9,200 132 84 37% -18% 0/3 500 101 500 80 92
Shawn Stefani $7,000 $7,700 309 111 6% 32% 3/4 68 10 62 98 500
Hudson Swafford $7,000 $8,200 241 145 -29% -18% 2/3 500 500 97 18 30
Ollie Schniederjans $7,000 $8,400 146 109 10% 8% 1/2 500 124 38 500 500
Jason Dufner $7,000 $9,000 87 139 -23% -94% 0/1 500 500 82 500 500
Tom Hoge $7,000 $7,400 228 153 -40% 13% 3/3 7 500 67 67 500
Seth Reeves $6,900 $7,500 477 138 -5% 20% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Nick Watney $6,900 $8,900 127 110 20% -30% 3/5 143 137 11 16 48
Alex Cejka $6,900 $7,800 300 95 42% 49% 4/4 2 27 2 18 500
Hunter Mahan $6,900 $8,000 377 144 -8% -8% 0/3 81 124 97 500 500
J.J. Spaun $6,900 $8,600 138 100 27% 0% 1/2 10 101 500 500 500
Anirban Lahiri $6,900 $8,600 137 130 2% -34% 1/1 51 500 500 500 500
Grayson Murray $6,900 $8,000 203 169 -37% -37% 0/1 500 120 500 500 500
Chase Wright $6,900 $7,200 209 156 -25% 26% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Mac Hughes $6,800 $8,100 326 156 -10% -27% 1/1 500 68 500 500 500
Carlos Ortiz $6,800 $7,700 368 121 24% 28% 1/1 500 500 500 18 500
Bud Cauley $6,800 $9,000 204 125 21% -64% 0/2 500 92 500 500 114
Seamus Power $6,800 $7,900 323 144 4% -3% 2/2 41 57 500 500 500
Brandon Hagy $6,800 $8,000 385 150 -3% -17% 1/1 41 500 500 500 500
Brian Stuard $6,800 $7,400 275 188 -26% -2% 2/4 57 124 500 80 15
Kelly Kraft $6,800 $7,300 162 206 -37% 0% 1/3 47 500 82 500 500
Satoshi Kodaira $6,800 $7,700 51 181 -25% -18% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Troy Merritt $6,700 $8,800 164 126 25% -46% 3/4 51 48 97 49 500
Brian Gay $6,700 $8,400 128 159 -1% -51% 1/2 107 68 500 500 500
Roberto Castro $6,700 $8,700 288 134 20% -45% 1/1 500 500 43 500 500
Trey Mullinax $6,700 $7,300 220 219 -24% -1% 2/2 20 36 500 500 500
Sung Kang $6,700 $7,600 157 192 -17% -16% 0/1 500 79 500 500 500
Wyndham Clark $6,700 $7,500 350 231 -26% -22% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Michael Kim $6,700 $7,300 245 238 -28% -4% 2/3 141 54 16 500 500
Corey Conners $6,600 $8,800 268 103 46% -15% 1/1 68 500 500 500 500
JT Poston $6,600 $8,500 338 175 -1% -79% 1/2 4 111 500 500 500
Alex Prugh $6,600 $7,300 401 147 17% 26% 2/3 500 500 78 49 73
James Hahn $6,600 $7,300 139 203 -8% 3% 2/4 77 15 500 80 100
Wes Roach $6,600 $7,000 435 244 -23% 10% 2/2 500 500 50 42 500
Kramer Hickok $6,600 $7,100 145 153 12% 32% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chris Stroud $6,600 $7,200 242 263 -24% -1% 1/1 500 500 38 500 500
Vaughn Taylor $6,500 $8,300 284 166 10% -50% 1/2 107 61 500 500 500
Richy Werenski $6,500 $8,700 213 188 4% -105% 1/2 51 92 500 500 500
Robert Streb $6,500 $7,500 195 159 14% 3% 2/3 107 36 500 10 500
Adam Svensson $6,500 $7,200 390 203 0% 12% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brandon Harkins $6,500 $7,500 281 203 0% -14% 1/1 20 500 500 500 500
D.J. Trahan $6,500 $7,000 958 172 8% 27% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Roberto Diaz $6,500 $7,000 690 294 -20% 4% 1/1 68 500 500 500 500
Scott Stallings $6,400 $7,900 173 163 18% -27% 2/4 41 132 16 500 85
Stephan Jaeger $6,400 $7,800 231 159 21% -13% 1/1 20 500 500 500 500
Kenny Perry $6,400 $7,000 325 -15% 1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jonas Blixt $6,400 $7,400 374 241 -4% -20% 1/3 107 48 111 500 500
Rod Pampling $6,400 $7,400 737 266 -8% -25% 2/2 47 1 500 500 500
Fredrik Jacobson $6,400 288 -10% #VALUE! 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Max Homa $6,400 $7,000 844 281 -9% 6% 1/2 500 500 500 80 30
Nick Hardy $6,300 $7,300 238 7% -4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Scott Brown $6,300 $7,200 295 238 7% 5% 3/5 63 124 73 10 92
Steve Marino $6,300 $7,100 779 356 -13% -8% 2/2 500 70 35 500 500
Ernie Els $6,300 $7,400 571 306 -5% -30% 2/2 51 65 500 500 500
Kevin Dougherty $6,300 $7,000 406 325 -8% 1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Roger Sloan $6,300 $7,000 431 263 1% 9% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kyoung-Hoon Lee $6,300 $7,100 329 319 -6% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Shintaro Ban $6,300 $7,200 406 -15% -18% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
John Huh $6,200 $7,700 292 225 15% -32% 4/5 57 10 97 28 30
Brice Garnett $6,200 $8,500 140 188 23% -83% 2/3 124 500 500 63 53
Sebastian Munoz $6,200 $7,100 280 350 -3% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tyler Duncan $6,200 $7,800 356 238 13% -43% 0/1 99 500 500 500 500
Kevin Stadler $6,200 $7,200 350 -3% -13% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Wesley Bryan $6,200 $7,400 204 356 -4% -39% 1/1 500 41 500 500 500
Scott Langley $6,200 $7,300 315 319 2% -18% 0/2 500 500 142 500 114
Kristoffer Ventura $6,200 $7,000 1149 638 -13% -12% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Davis Love $6,200 $7,100 1101 331 -2% -6% 3/3 500 41 73 500 62
John Chin $6,100 $7,000 439 381 2% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Martin Trainer $6,100 $7,000 271 463 -2% -9% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Dominic Bozzelli $6,100 $7,400 465 525 -4% -50% 0/1 500 111 500 500 500
John Senden $6,100 $7,300 413 0% -30% 4/4 500 31 16 18 53
Cody Gribble $6,100 $7,000 678 413 0% -7% 1/1 500 65 500 500 500
Jose de Jesus Rodriguez $6,100 $7,000 307 494 -3% -11% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kyle Jones $6,100 $7,000 303 475 -2% -10% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Preston Otte $6,100 $7,000 1563 -6% -13% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500

Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside of the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.

Legend

Term Description
Site Odds The percentage differential between a golfer’s salary rank and odds rank. The higher the %, the better.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons.
2013 – 2017 Columns Course history at this event in the last five seasons.

About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on X – @RG_Notorious