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What a rum event this has been down the years, throwing up a catalogue of not exactly impossible, but certainly hard-to-pick, winners. In years gone by Phil Tataurangi, Andre Stolz and Wes Short surprised the oddsmakers, more recently Ben Martin and Smylie Kaufman won here before failing to kick on, whilst Rod Pampling had a glorious blast from the past in 2016. It’s not always been a put-a-pin-in-the-field job, however. From 2010 Jonathan Byrd, Kevin Na, Ryan Moore and Webb Simpson lifted the trophy and in the last two years Patrick Cantlay and Bryson DeChambeau prevailed. The TPC Summerlin track in Las Vegas was opened in 1992 and it was designed by Bobby Weed and Fuzzy Zoeller. It plays to a yardage of 7,255 yards and a par of 71 with bent grass greens. A resort course, conditions are very much weather related, with wind the big factor, as 2017 winner Patrick Cantlay explained last year ahead of his defence. “It's a much different golf course when wind blows 15, 20 miles an hour,” he said. “If the wind doesn’t blow you need to take a little more aggressive mindset. “The golf course is good. Really suits my game. Hitting a bunch of fairways and taking advantage of the hole locations when they're accessible is key around this place.” Rod Pampling, on his defence, said: “The beauty of the course here is that if you're playing good, you can shoot really low. But if you're a touch off, it's still a struggle.”
Angles to consider 1/ Par 4 Performance Of the recent winners DeChambeau and Pampling ranked first on the par 4s and Martin second. Kaufman was tenth and whilst Cantlay was a lowly 35th he ranked second when finishing second on his defence. 2/ SG: Tee to Green Last year the 1-2-3 in this category also finishing 1-2-3 on the leaderboard. It was not quite so persuasive a stat in 2017, but the top two were seventh and fourth. Twelve months earlier Pampling was first and seven of the top nine on the leaderboard were single figures in this ranking. 3/ Muirfield Village Just an observation of recent high finishers here. DeChambeau arrived as the reigning champion of the Memorial, Cantlay went on to win it. Even Pampling has a connection there – he was a three-shot leader after 54 holes in 2007.
Selections The above angles have been used to create a shortlist from which the following players are selected. Adam Scott With the exception of the Open and the WGC St Jude (MC-T40) he’s been superb in recent months notching three top tens before those two and three after. On return at last week’s Safeway Open he thrashed a brilliant opening 65 and then fell away, but ended the week on an up with a 68. Ranked fourth in the 2018-19 SG: Tee to Green rankings Aussies and Kiwis have fared well on the track and he’s a four time top five finisher at Muirfield Village, including a best of second this June. Byeong Hun An The Korean ranked seventh for SG: Tee to Green last season and top 20 for the category on his only previous tournament start (T32nd two years ago). He missed the cut last week at the Safeway Open, but was tied third the week before at Jackson (when sensational on the par 4s), having led at halfway. It was a second third place since the start of August. Lost a play-off to DeChambeau at Muirfield Village in 2018. Kevin Na Well fancied last week because he owned fine course form and building current form, but perhaps his expectations were heightened by that too. Sometimes a knockback can be handy in such circumstances. He won here in 2011 and was second in 2015 (when second for SG: Tee to Green). T14th at the Greenbrier before last week’s missed cut. Also a loser in extra holes at Muirfield Village in 2014.
Tips: 1-2; +80.00pts 1pt e.w. Adam Scott at 20/1 (Skybet 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) 42nd 1pt e.w. Byeong Hun An at 50/1 (Skybet 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) mc 1pt e.w. Kevin Na at 70/1 (Skybet 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) 1st
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