Shriners For Hospitals Children Open Picks & Preview

The TPC at Summerlin in Las Vegas has been the host course for this event for over 10 years now and we know plenty about it. Extremely low scores are needed to contend here but although the course regularly yields to plenty of birdies it requires an element of strategy. With wide fairways you'd think it's an easy task off the tee but those determined to overpower it may meet some difficulty with fairway bunkers. Stray many times from the fairways and your birdie chances will prove elusive and it only takes a few holes of no progress here to get you behind the 8 ball early.

The most attractive bet of the week is undoubtedly Cameron Smith. Granted he hasn't pulled up any trees lately but his CV suggests it won't be long until he lands a decent pgatour event. His credentials are probably better than most of the non winners here in the field. Two Aussie PGA Championships tucked away in his locker has been backed up by some super performances in high quality fields. Two top 5s at the Masters and US Open is hugely impressive to date. He added a top 20 in the Open to that tally at Portrush in the Summer also. Numerous other top performances are noted in WGC fields most notably in Mexico this year where he finished 6th at altitude which Summerlin is played at also. 10th here back in 2016 is a positive and certainly appears to be ahead of the handicapper. Each way bet of the week in my view.

2.5pts C.Smith to win @ 66/1 

2.5pts C.Smith to finish top 5 @ 14/1 

Brooks Koepka is a mighty tempting 9/1 this week. An element of this is down to the layoff having not teed it up in six weeks. Nevertheless two top 5 finishes here at Summerlin suggests he has the tools to go well here. When Adam Scott is your 4th favourite here you have to seriously consider Koepka around the double figure mark. Scott got off to a hot start last week only to tumble down the leaderboard over the next few days it was a reminder not to go overboard on the likes of him around the 14/1 mark. To think Brooks arrives here this week only 4pts shorter he has to be seriously considered a winning prospect. The course doesn't suit the bomber quite as much as it might have a few years ago but Koepka displayed how he can cope with a tricky assignment from the tee and approaching the green when he won the St Jude a couple of months ago.

2.5pt  B.Koepka to win 9/1

1pt D.Frittelli to finish top 5 @ 11/1

Andrew Putnam is another who continues to impress. 11 made cuts on the trot which includes 3 majors is a sign of how consistent he has become. A top 5 in Scotland and a top 25 finish at Wentworth is admirable for someone who could simply ply his trade Stateside. Travelling has proved fruitful for many Americans in recent years and Putnam is clued into how this can benefit your game. Now inside the worlds top 50 Putnam must be a threat in events such as these. The fact that he has won at altitude before at the Barracuda could prove to be beneficial. Looks overpriced to land another title.

1pt A.Putnam to win 66/1

1pt A.Putnam to finish top 5 @ 12/1