Shriners Hospitals for Children Open Betting Tips & Predictions – Thursday 3rd October 2019: Past Winners, Stats & History

Las Vegas is one of the capitals of the world when it comes to have fun. It is fitting, therefore, that the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open allows PGA Tour players the chance to really enjoy themselves. Held at TPC Summerlin on the outskirts of Vegas, this tournament is usually won by a very low score and we’re expecting plenty of birdies and eagles once again this week.

Many PGA Tour stars and their coaches have chosen to base themselves in Las Vegas. That always helps the quality of the field that assembles for the Shriners which this year includes Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Adam Scott. Tony Finau is right up there with the biggest draws for the tournament and can grab a second PGA Tour win at 22/1 with BetVictor.

Course Info

TPC Summerlin is a mainstay on the PGA Tour. It was initially one of many courses to host the Shriners Open but is now settled in as the long term tournament host. The par 71 underwent a fair amount of work ahead of last year’s event, most notably with the revamping of every bunker on the course. That did not make life any tougher for the PGA Tour stars in attendance though as Bryson DeChambeau won with a score of 21 under par.

Scoring was kept in check the year before due to cooler, windy conditions. There are near perfect golfing conditions in the forecast for this week though so expect another low winning total. Distance is no issue at TPC Summerlin as the 7,255 yards is some 2,000 feet above sea level. The key, therefore, to getting the sort of score required is hitting the fairways and following up with excellent approach shots and putting very well.

Recent Winners

This stage of the season often provides relatively unheralded players with a chance to claim a PGA Tour win. That was, by and large, the way of things at the Shriners Open before Bryson DeChambeau made his quality tell last year, seeing off defending champion Patrick Cantlay by one shot.

The fact that Cantlay was back in contention a year after winning is no surprise as this is a tournament where previous course form has been an important factor (although Cantlay’s win did come on his debut).

Analysis: Control Is Key at TPC Summerlin

In every tournament which is won by a low score, putting is a very important aspect. Taking chances on the green is paramount when the rest of the field is relentlessly adding birdies and eagles to their scorecard. By the same token, scrambling well is vital to keep bogeys at bay.

Away from the greens, scoring well at TPC Summerlin demands consistency from tee to green. Missing the fairways is a real problem whilst only the best shot makers will be able to leave their approach shots close to the pins.

Finau to Flourish Back on Home Soil

While many players are keeping their schedule light at this time of year, Tony Finau is doing no such thing. He has played the last two weeks in Britain on the European Tour and is back competing in America this week. That’s a lot of golf mixed in with a lot of travelling but Finau is a fit, young man who is intent on making the very most of his talent.

At 30, Finau should be approaching his prime years as a golfer. He has the combination of physicality and technical skills to be a multiple winner, even a winner of a major championship. Thus far, he has just one PGA Tour title to his name, something that many people put down to a lack of ability on the greens. That’s an area of his game that Finau has been working on and there were positive signs over the last fortnight. Returning to the sort of fast greens that he is used to should help Finau’s putting stats. He can also help himself by hitting his approach shots consistently close to the greens and is a real contender in Las Vegas at 22/1 with BetVictor.

Two Locals Worthy of Support

Ryan Moore always makes room for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. The Las Vegas native loves the chance to stay at home as he plays and is a former winner of this tournament. TPC Summerlin suits Moore’s game well as he is able to hit a number of scoring irons and wedges into the greens before making the most of his solid putting. Moore made an early return to Vegas following a missed cut at the Safeway Open but he has bounced back from disappointment with solid showings over the last few months and could well be in contention at 80/1 with Betfred.

Another of the Vegas-based contingent with a real chance of winning this week is Scott Piercy. Like Moore, Piercy’s long term form is decent but not exactly scintillating. Again, he has plenty of strong form at TPC Summerlin and can make the most of the chance to play at home by finding is way towards the top of the leaderboard come Sunday. From there it’s a matter of how well Piercy can cope with the pressure but either way he looks good each way value at 75/1 with bet365.

Final Verdict: Tony Finau to Win

It is clear that Tony Finau is intent on becoming an elite global golfer. The 30 year old is very close to achieving that goal but needs more wins. You get the feeling that this is a very big season for Finau which he can begin in the best possible way with victory at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at 22/1 with BetVictor.