It was a solid week for Before You Bet golf followers as we travelled to Europe to take a look at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last week. Out best bet of the week, Rory McIlroy, saluted in a big five unit play to provide the highlight.
We are back this week as we return stateside to preview the Shriners Children's Open from TPC Summerlin in Nevada. Check out our full preview and betting tips for the PGA Tour event below.
Shriners Children's Open Betting Tips
Thursday 6th - Sunday 9th October, TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada
The Field
With just one week to go before the PGA Tour heads to Asia for stops in Japan and China, the field is once again a little light on this week as players rest up to ensure they are ready for the trip. In saying that, the field will be slightly improved to what we saw at the Sanderson Farms Championship last week, which was won by Mackenzie Hughes.
Headlining the field will be World No.4 Patrick Cantlay, who will start as overwhelming betting favourite as he attempts to win his first event of the season. Joining him at the top of the betting markets is the likes of Max Homa, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Lucas Herbert, Matt Kuchar and the Korean pair of Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim, who are both coming off a fantastic outing at the Presidents Cup.
The Course
TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, Nevada has been a staple on the PGA Tour since all the way back in the 80s, and is certainly one of the favourites amongst PGA Tour players. It plays as a Par 71 at just over 7,250 yards but it will feel much shorter than that for most players due to the altitude and dry Las Vegas air making the ball fly just a little further.
Sungjae Im dominated the event last season with a fantastic display of ball striking, which is what is needed to be successful at TPC Summerlin. The Korean ranked No.1 in both greens in regulation as well as strokes gained from tee to green throughout the week on his way to a 2nd PGA Tour victory.
As you'd expect from a golf course in Nevada, the setting gives an 'oasis in the desert' type vibe, with lush fairways, water hazards and bunkers sandwhiched between a dense desert floor of shrub and cactus. Make a habbit of missing the fairways at TPC Summerlin and you'll have a bad week.
Betting Tips
Patrick Cantlay ($7.00 at Ladbrokes)
Love me some Patrick Cantlay this weekend. The No.4 ranked player in the world is head and shoulders above this field and over the last few seasons he has made a real habbit of getting a few wins on the board as well as the all important FedEx Cup points in these early season events. He's short priced at $7.00 but like Rory last week at the Alfred Dunhill, you just have to think he'll be in the mix on Sunday in this field. In his last four trips to TPC Summerlin, Cantlay has finishes of 1, 2, 2, 8.
Sungjae Im ($13 at Ladbrokes)
The other top dog who I like this weekend is Sungjae Im. As I mentioned above, the Korean put on a dominant display at the Shriners last season and has a great record at TPC Summerlin, finishing in the top 15 in all three of his trips there including the win. Coming off a solid outing at the Presidents Cup and has not missed the top 15 in his last five tour events.
Max Homa (Fade)
Staying away from Max Homa this week. While the American no doubt one of the form golfers in the world at the moment, his record at TPC Summerlin is attrocious. He has missed the cut the last four times he has visited Las Vegas. Maybe spending too much time on the strip and not enough on the range?
Taylor Montgomery ($29 at Ladbrokes)
First player with a bit of value who I really like for a top 20 finish this week is American Taylor Montgomery. The 27 year old has kicked off his first season as a PGA Tour member with great results at the Fortinet (3rd) and the Sanderson Farms (T9), backing up a T11 in one of his two PGA Tour events last season. He has also been taking the absolute mickey in the Korn Ferry Tour this season placing in the top 10 in seven of his last eight events.
Martin Laird ($81 at Ladbrokes)
My first dark horse this week is Scotsman Martin Laird. Laird has a sneaky great record in Las Vegas, winning two of his four events at TPC Summerlin by claiming the Shriners in 2020 and all the way back in 2009. In total, he has made 13 trips to TPC Summerlin and made the cut 10 times.
Sungjae Im to Win ($13 at Ladbrokes) 0.5 Units
Patrick Cantlay Top 10 ($1.80 at Ladbrokes) 5 Units
Sungjae Im Top 10 ($2.25 at Ladbrokes) 2 Units
Taylor Montgomery Top 20 ($2.50 at Ladbrokes) 1 Unit
Martin Laird Top 40 ($2.50 at Sportsbet) 2 Units
Patrick Cantlay to win
$7.00 (1 Unit)
