Week 39 Approach Shots: Shriners Hospitals Open
By PGATOUR.COM Staff
While Marc Turnesa, Zach Johnson and Tim Herron all shot 62s at last year's Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Turnesa was the only one of the three to shoot three other rounds in the 60s, and that was good enough to earn Turnesa his first TOUR victory, a one-shot win over Matt Kuchar. Turnesa's 25-under 263 established a tournament record for this event that switched from a 90-hole tournament to a 72-hole format in 2004. In Turnesa's second full PGA TOUR season, a year after he earned $1,329,920 and finished 81st on the money list, the New York native has struggled. His top 2009 finish is a tie for 30th at the Northern Trust Open, and he's 189th on the money list. The Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open is the second of five Fall Series events as players battle to finish inside the top 125 on the money list to earn their 2010 PGA TOUR playing privileges.
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FOWLER'S DEBUT: Rickie Fowler, the 2008 College Player of the Year as a freshman at Oklahoma State, was the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world. His entry into the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open will mark Fowler's first PGA TOUR start as a professional. He competed in three PGA TOUR events in 2009 as an amateur (he tied for 58th at the FBR Open and missed the cuts at the U.S. Open and the Travelers Championship). Earlier this year, while still an amateur, Fowler lost a playoff at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Open.
GOING LOW: Low rounds were commonplace last year, with Marc Turnesa and Zach Johnson both opening with 62s at TPC Summerlin. Tim Herron added a final-round 62, as well. Six other players had 63s, including Matt Kuchar, who had two of them, in the first and second rounds. Overall, there were 16 players who enjoyed four rounds in the 60s a year ago. The last player to win in Las Vegas with at least one round in the 70s was Jim Furyk. He had a fourth-round 71 in 1999 when the tournament was still a 90-hole event.
125 WATCH: With just four events remaining in the PGA TOUR season, a number of prominent players stand outside the top 125 on the money list. Among them are Todd Hamilton, Stuart Appleby, Tim Herron, Tommy Armour III, Chris DiMarco, Corey Pavin, Rocco Mediate and Billy Mayfair.
ON THE FIELD: The field in Las Vegas this week includes 11 players who have won in 2009 and 28 who have won since the start of the 2008 season. It also includes four players who competed in last week's Presidents Cup Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan and Tim Clark. The field also boasts nine players who reached THE TOUR Championship this year. .
PUTT FOR DOUGH: If you need more proof of how crucial Putting is on TOUR, take a look at Joe Durant, Jay Williamson and Scott Sterling. All three rank among the top 10 in Greens in Regulation, a critical component to TOUR success. However, all three rank 132nd or lower in Putting and as a consequence, all three rank well outside the Top 125 on the money list.
ON-COURSE OBSERVATIONS: PGA TOUR Network correspondent Mark Carnevale is on the scene in Las Vegas for this week's satellite radio coverage (XM 146/SIRIUS 209). Reports Carnevale:
The golf course looks to be in its normal, typical shape. This is the second year of the new format. It used to be a Pro-Am for three days, and now it's just a Pro-Am on Wednesday then regular stroke play among the players. Most of these guys played here last year, so they're comfortable with that. That's important because most of the guys playing are on the bubble of 125 or 150, so they're trying to secure their playing privileges, and playing in a Pro-Am for three days can be very distracting. This makes it like a regular event, and they can prepare just like a normal week.
The one significant change to the golf course: No. 3 used to be a short par 5, so it was a birdie hole. They have changed it to a par 4. All it really does is change the par to 72 from 71, but sometimes that can affect a player mentally, but it shouldn't affect them too much. It will just affect the total under-par score, but it's certainly something players are going to be aware of.
It's supposed to be fairly windy, and this course is pretty flat and pretty open, so it is susceptible to wind. They are calling for winds of 10-20 mph, so that favors a guy who is a good wind player. The weather is supposed to be pretty good, but I think the wind will play a factor.
A player who I think we should keep an eye on is Jim Furyk. He played last week at the Presidents Cup and has won here in the past in the old format. He likes this course, and he played well at times last week. Also Tim Clark, Anthony Kim and Hunter Mahan all played well last week and are here, with of course Clark looking for his first PGA TOUR victory.
And remember, Vegas is a distraction. With a lot on the line for a number of these players -- just four tournaments left to secure positions for 2010, you've got to be focused. So mentally, you've got to be tough this week.
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