PGA Splits Advanced Data Picks and Analysis: Shriners Open
The mini “Las Vegas Swing” begins here in the desert at the Shriners Children’s Open at the long-held TPC Summerlin course. Compared to the last couple of weeks, there is a big jump in the level of competition as 11 of the top 25 players in the world will be competing here this week in preparation for next week’s high-purse no-cut event, the CJ Cup.
TPC Summerlin is a considerably short desert parkland course that plays even less than its measured 7,255 yards due to 2,700 feet of elevation and typically firm fairways. Looking back at the course history over the last five years, it is the 4th easiest course on Tour at 1.95 strokes under par (not including the “wind” year of 2018). It has huge bent greens, non-penal rough, and very few water hazards or any type of danger off-the-tee. The scoring has seemingly gotten lower with each event. It contains the lowest-scoring Par 4s on Tour as well as the furthest average Driving Distance. But you don’t have to be a “bomber” to win here, as the likes of Kevin Na (twice), Martin Laird, and Webb Simpson have each been victorious over the past decade.