The PGA Tour continues on this week as is visits TPC Summerlin for the 2023 Shriners Children’s Open. This event has been a Las Vegas staple for over 40 years, first hosting the PGA Tour back in 1983. TPC Summerlin will play as a Par 72, 7,255 yard layout this week and will test many of the game’s best with its numerous water hazards and challenging desert terrain.
Going low is the key to victory this week, with the winner finishing at -20 or better in 16 of the last 19 editions since the event switched to a 72 hole format in 2004. Tom Kim is back to defend his title his week, alongside fellow headliners Emiliano Grillo, Adam Schenk, Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin, Ludvig Aberg and Lexi Thompson, who, thanks to a Sponsor’s Exemption, will become the seventh woman to ever play in a PGA Tour event, and the first since Brittany Lincicome at the 2018 Barbasol Championship.
Last year’s edition was won by Tom Kim, who beat Patrick Cantlay and Matthew NeSmith by three strokes. Kim’s victory was his second on tour and with the victory, became the first player since Tiger Woods in 1996 to win twice on the PGA Tour before turning 21.
Player to Fade:
This season has mostly been one to forget for Trevor Werbylo, who has made the cut 12 times in 27 starts his season, with a best finish of T-27 coming at the Valspar Championship. Werbylo is ranked outside the top 100 in 5 of the 6 major Strokes Gained categories and his recent results pretty much speak for themselves, with 8 missed cuts in his last 10 PGA Tour starts. Werbylo is on pace for yet another missed cut this week.
Harry Hall has had a quiet, but efficient, rookie season on the PGA Tour, with 3 top 10’s and 5 top 25’s in 30 starts. Hall’s success on tour can 100% be contributed to his putter, as he ranks 5th in Strokes Gained: Putting this season. More importantly, Hall, a resident of Las Vegas, has a proven track record of success at TPC Summerlin, finishing inside the top 15 in both of his previous starts here. A win would be unheralded, but if Hall can put together a half decent ball striking week, there’s no reason why he can’t bring home a top 20 finish in his hometown event.
Although he has yet to win on tour, this season was the breakout season for Adam Schenk, who had 7 top 10’s and 11 top 25’s in 33 starts, highlighted by 2 runner-up finishes. Schenk’s game is solid throughout the bag this year, ranking 36th in Strokes Gained: Total, as well as 34th in Strokes Gained: Putting, which will especially be key to finding success this week. Schenk has also had past success here at TPC Summerlin, with 1 top 10 and 4 top 20’s finishes in 6 career starts, including a T-3 finish in 2021. With 6 top 10’s in his last 11 PGA Tour starts, Schenk is definitely in the zone and playing his best. Adam Schenk is going to be a threat to win this week, but is a lock for a top 10 finish.
Winner:
One of several great players from north of the border, Adam Hadwin has had a quietly successful season on tour, with 5 top 10’s and 9 top 25’s in 27 starts, including a pair of runner-ups. Hadwin’s game is solid throughout the bag, ranking 44th in Strokes Gained: Total, but like Hall and Schenk above, his game hinges on the success of his putting, ranking 23rd in Strokes Gained: Putting this season. Hadwin hasn’t won at TPC Summerlin before, but his past results have left him knocking on the door to victory, with 4 top 10’s and only 1 missed cut in 7 starts, including 2 straight top 10 finishes here. Adam Hadwin is one of the favorites this week and we predict that he has the game to back that up as he takes home the victory in the Shriners Children’s Open!