Tag: Shriners Children’s Open

Who signed (and designed) Lexi Thompson’s bag at the Shriners Children’s Open?

Thompson’s Cobra bag was adorned with colorful messages signed by names like Kerrigan, Patrick and Keon.

LAS VEGAS — With all eyes on Lexi Thompson during her PGA Tour debut at the Shriners Children’s Open, her golf bag was one of the talking points for those following the group during her opening round.

Thompson’s Cobra bag was adorned with colorful messages signed by names like Kerrigan, Patrick and Keon. She noted after playing 16-plus holes Thursday that she had given the bag to some of the patients from Shriners Chidren’s Hospital to decorate.

The words “I AM HERE” are prominent on the top of her bag with the word “HER” highlighted in pink and the others in powder blue.

Thompson said it was just another reason she was thrilled to be included in the Las Vegas event.

A general view of the clubs of Lexi Thompson during the first round of the Shriners Children’s Open golf tournament at TPC Summerlin. (Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports)

“I’m very excited. I actually got this new white Cobra bag in for this week. Totally blank, but I have the Shriners kids designing it and writing a few things on it, which makes it more special because that’s what this week is all about,” she said. “It’s amazing what Shriners does for these kids and gives them the opportunity to be able to follow their dreams and the healthiest lifestyle they can. I’m basically carrying them all around with me this week and having their support means the world.”

Fan support was high for Thompson in her opening round, and she responded with a solid effort that left her at 1 over after 16 holes before darkness fell. She’s vying to become the first female to make the cut at a PGA Tour event since 1945. Michelle Wie came close in 2004 at the Sony Open but missed by a single stroke while still a freshman in high school.

Photos: Lexi Thompson’s first round at the Shriners Children’s Open

Whether she makes the cut or not, Thompson insisted this was the perfect place for her to make her Tour debut.

“It’s been great so far this whole week. Everybody has been so welcoming, and just a huge honor just to be able to tee it up here,” she said. “There’s more to it than just golf. Shriners does amazing things for these kids, so I’m happy to be out here and supporting them in any way I can.”

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Lexi Thompson’s first PGA Tour round halted by darkness, but she’s in the running to make the cut

She’ll resume her opening round on Friday morning with a 20-foot par putt on the 17th hole.

LAS VEGAS — Just moments before she struck her first-ever PGA Tour tee shot, Lexi Thompson — as she is wont to do — stopped to sign a women’s hat, then smiled and nodded as fans surrounding the first hole yelled, “so proud of you, girl,” and “girl power!”

Ever the advocate for women’s golf, Thompson was soaking in the positive vibes from the watershed moment at TPC Summerlin, but knew a round near or under par would magnify the statement.

Since finding out less than two weeks ago she’d been extended a sponsor exemption into the field at the Shriners Children’s Open, Thompson has been champing at the bit, eager to finish her first round on the world’s premier professional golf circuit.

But thanks to slow play and a lack of Nevada sunlight, she’ll have to wait a little longer.

The 11-time LPGA winner had her round halted due to darkness on the 17th hole while sitting at 1-over par, meaning she’s right on the projected cutline after the first day of play. She’ll resume her opening round on Friday morning with a 20-foot par putt on the par-3 17th and then play the par-4 18th before starting her second round. Beau Hossler leads the event at 9 under.

The first round will resume at 7:45 a.m. local time.

Thompson had opportunities at the beginning and end of her day that could have improved her chances of becoming the second female to ever make the cut at a PGA Tour event. Babe Didrikson Zaharias reached the weekend at both the Phoenix and Tucson Opens back in 1945, but no female has pulled the feat off since. The top 70 and ties make the cut and Thompson sits in a tie for 76th.

Photos: Lexi Thompson’s first round at the Shriners Children’s Open

The 28-year-old missed putts inside of 10 feet on the first and 16th holes, and played solid golf throughout the day, outside of the par-4 7th hole, where she posted a double bogey.

“I played decent. I had one bad hole and a few iffy shots. But it’s golf; it was kind of expected,” Thompson said. “I had a little bit of nerves, but not too much. Kind of similar to Solheim, similar nerves, but that’s kind of what you play for.”

Lexi Thompson signs a golf ball for a young fan during the first round of the Shriners Children’s Open golf tournament at TPC Summerlin. Mandatory Credit: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports

Although she lagged a bit behind playing partners Kevin Roy and Trevor Werbylo in terms of distance, the difference was negligible. Thompson averaged 284 yards off the tee and boasted two drives of over 300 yards.

On the 552-yard par-5 ninth, for example, Thompson rolled a fairway wood onto the front of the green and made birdie.

“I knew (on number) 9, I could get a birdie as long as I hit that fairway, I knew I could get 3-wood up close to the front of the green and make birdie there,” she said. “Hit a good drive and just really stayed committed to that 3-wood. Tried to make eagle, but definitely take a birdie.”

She also birdied the par-5 13th, rolling her second shot just in front of the green before chipping to seven feet.

And Thompson’s first birdie came on the second hole, when she drained an uphill 22-foot putt that had just enough energy to roll into the cup.

“It was a very special feeling,” Thompson said of the birdie on No. 2. “I hit a great shot into 1 and probably hit one of my worst putts and then hit an amazing putt on No. 2, so it was nice to kind of have a good stroke there and make birdie on a more difficult hole.”

Overall, the moment didn’t seem to big for Thompson, who only needed a few more putts to fall to be on the right side of the cutline. Either way, when Friday’s round is complete, she knows she’s been part of something special.

“The fans were amazing. So many people around that first tee and then following us those next few holes,” Thompson said. “It was just great, especially to see those little kids out there. The fans make the game, and that’s why we continue to play and just hopefully grow it.”

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2023 Shriners Children’s Open Friday tee times, how to watch

Everything you need to know for the second round in Las Vegas.

The opening 18 holes of the 2023 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas are in the books — for the most part — and Beau Hossler stands alone atop the leaderboard after a career record-tying 9-under 62.

J.T. Poston and Cameron Champ are tied for second at 8 under, while Lanto Griffin and Davis Thompson are tied for fourth at 7 under.

The first round was called for the day due to darkness.

Here’s everything you need to know for Friday’s second round of the 2023 Shriners Children’s Open. All times Eastern.

Friday tee times

1st tee

Tee time Players
9:50 a.m.
Scott Piercy, Alex Noren, Doug Ghim
10:01 a.m.
Kevin Streelman, Carson Young, Paul Haley II
10:12 a.m.
Nick Watney, Doc Redman, Greyson Sigg
10:23 a.m.
Matt Wallace, K.H. Lee, J.J. Spaun
10:34 a.m.
Garrick Higgo, Stewart Cink, Joel Dahmen
10:45 a.m.
Davis Riley, Ryan Brehm, Webb Simpson
10:56 a.m.
Dylan Frittelli, Ryan Armour, Kramer Hickok
11:07 a.m.
Ryan Palmer, Adam Hadwin, Justin Lower
11:18 a.m.
Troy Merritt, Kelly Kraft, Matti Schmid
11:29 a.m.
Nicholas Lindheim, Tano Goya, Yuxin Lin
11:40 a.m.
Michael Gligic, Peter Kuest, Craig Hocknull
2:40 p.m.
Robby Shelton, Austin Eckroat, Harrison Endycott
2:51 p.m.
Joseph Bramlett, Ben Griffin, Austin Smotherman
3:02 p.m.
Justin Suh, Taylor Montgomery, Harry Hall
3:13 p.m.
Akshay Bhatia, J.T. Poston, Eric Cole
3:24 p.m.
Si Woo Kim, Cam Davis, Scott Stallings
3:35 p.m.
Nick Hardy, Adam Svensson, Andrew Putnam
3:46 p.m.
Charley Hoffman, Zac Blair, Alex Smalley
3:57 p.m.
Chesson Hadley, Taylor Pendrith, Ben Taylor
4:08 p.m.
Sam Ryder, David Lipsky, Davis Thompson
4:19 p.m.
Austin Cook, Tommy Gainey, Matthias Schwab
4:30 p.m.
Trevor Cone, Kyle Westmoreland, Vijay Srinivasan

10th tee

Tee time Player
9:50 a.m.
Patton Kizzire, Jason Dufner, Callum Tarren
10:01 a.m.
Adam Long, Beau Hossler, Will Gordon
10:12 a.m.
Kevin Tway, Sam Stevens, Vince Whaley
10:23 a.m.
Luke List, Nick Taylor, Tom Kim
10:34 a.m.
Vincent Norrman, Tom Hoge, Adam Schenk
10:45 a.m.
Erik van Rooyen, Cameron Champ, Martin Laird
10:56 a.m.
Henrik Norlander, Hayden Buckley, Tyson Alexander
11:07 a.m.
Michael Kim, S.H. Kim, Kevin Yu
11:18 a.m.
Matt NeSmith, Andrew Novak, Max McGreevy
11:29 a.m.
Kevin Roy, Trevor Werbylo, Lexi Thompson
11:40 a.m.
Scott Harrington, Brent Grant, Tim Widing
2:40 p.m.
Patrick Rodgers, Zecheng Dou, MJ Daffue
2:51 p.m.
Ryan Moore, Mark Hubbard, Aaron Rai
3:02 p.m.
Russell Knox, James Hahn, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
3:13 p.m.
Chez Reavie, Jim Herman, Tyler Duncan
3:24 p.m.
Lucas Herbert, Robert Streb, Andrew Landry
3:35 p.m.
Emiliano Grillo, Nico Echavarria, Chad Ramey
3:46 p.m.
Richy Werenski, Lanto Griffin, Brandt Snedeker
3:57 p.m.
Nate Lashley, C.T. Pan, Peter Malnati
4:08 p.m.
Jimmy Walker, Brian Stuard, Ben Martin
4:19 p.m.
Ludvig Aberg, Carl Yuan, Nicolai Hojgaard
4:30 p.m.
Augusto Núñez, Brandon Matthews, Isaiah Salinda

How to watch, listen

ESPN+ is the exclusive home of PGA Tour Live. There is no PGA Tour Live coverage of the third and final rounds of the 2023 Sanderson Farms Championship.

Friday, Oct. 13

Golf Channel/Peacock: 5-8 p.m.
Sirius XM: 2-8 p.m.

ESPN+: 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 14

Golf Channel/Peacock: 5-8 p.m.
Sirius XM: 3-8 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 15

Golf Channel/Peacock: 5-8 p.m.
Sirius XM: 3-8 p.m.

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Beau Hossler ties career-best round, J.T. Poston’s mustache among 5 things to know from Shriners Children’s Open

Poston has been on fire since missing back-to-back cuts at the U.S. Open and Travelers Championship in June.

LAS VEGAS — J.T. Poston continues to grow, as a golfer and a fledgling facial hair connoisseur.

The newly mustachioed Poston continued to play great golf during the opening round of the Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin on Thursday, all part of a fun stretch for the Western Carolina product.

Poston, who has been on fire since missing back-to-back cuts at the U.S. Open and Travelers Championship in June, was sporting a stiff and shaggy upper lip as he went 4 under on the day’s final four holes, including an eagle on the ninth hole, to post an 8-under 63 that had him near the top of the leaderboard.

He’s hoping to keep the momentum of four top-10 finishes in his last seven events, not to mention the new facial hair, as the week progresses.

“Just something I started having fun with in the off-season, knowing I was going to be in my own home and not out in public too much, and just decided to keep it,” Poston said of the mustache. “We’re just having fun with it for now, but I don’t know if it’s going to be a permanent thing.”

Aside from Lexi Thompson’s PGA Tour debut, Poston’s big round was part of five things to know after the first round of action:

Watch: Coyote runs after PGA Tour pro’s drive during 2023 Shriners Children’s Open

While substantial galleries tagged along with Lexi Thompson , Cam Davis had an interesting follower.

LAS VEGAS — All eyes were on Lexi Thompson during the opening round of the Shriners Children’s Open as the LPGA star made her first appearance on the PGA Tour courtesy of a sponsor exemption.

But while substantial galleries tagged along with Thompson at TPC Summerlin, Cam Davis had an interesting follower on one of his drives.

After the Aussie hit a drive on the par-5 16th hole, a coyote came rushing onto the fairway, first running toward the tee box, but then turned 180 degrees and went back down the fairway, as if it was following the ball. The coyote eventually peeled off.

Whether he was shaken by the animal sighting or not, Davis knocked his next shot in the water en route to his first bogey of the day.

But Davis made few mistakes after that, rolling his way to a 67 to sit four shots behind leader J.T. Poston after the day’s early wave.

Davis, who has four top-10 finishes in his last five starts, is in the field even though he doesn’t need to play to maintain eligibility in the Tour’s Signature events, he’s happy to be in Vegas and will also play next week at the Zozo Championship in Japan.

“I’ve played well here in the past. I don’t mind this event at all. I’ve actually quite enjoyed it,” Davis said. “Playing next week was always the plan, as well, and there’s travel organized from here to next week, as well, so just makes everything very easy and smooth for us.

“Really, after next week, there’s not going to be much golf for the rest of the year until end of November and December. I like playing, and I’m not going to miss too many events in a row, even if I don’t have to play them, because I do like competing.”

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Vegas is full of glitz and glamour, but the Shriners Children’s Open merch tent could use some of each

To be honest, in comparison to other Tour stops, it’s underwhelming.

LAS VEGAS — There’s plenty to love about the Shriners Children’s Open. TPC Summerlin is a spectacular setting for the PGA Tour event, and players love the well-manicured track. The Las Vegas Strip and Fremont Street Experience are both within a half-hour’s drive as is glorious Red Rock Canyon, which boasts hiking and unforgettable views.

There is one area in which the FedEx Cup Fall event is lacking, however, and that’s the merchandise tent. According to those working the booth on Thursday, this marks the first year the merch has been pulled out of the pro shop and into its own space. There’s another small tent near the driving range, but that has just a few items for patrons.

To be honest, in comparison to other Tour stops, it’s underwhelming, especially for a tournament with as much pomp and circumstance as this one.

There are a number of Shriners-specific items, including a Build-a-Bear, and a solid collection of shirts, but the overall selection wasn’t up to typical standards. We’ll cut the organizers a break since they’re trying something new.

Here’s what we found:

TPC Summerlin, one of the PGA Tour’s great birdiefests, will require Lexi Thompson to go low

She’s relishing the opportunity to let it rip, but will need a boatload of birdies to make something special happen.

Lexi Thompson stated earlier this week at the 2023 Shriners Children’s Open that making the cut at a PGA Tour event would be at the top of her accomplishments. No woman has done it since Babe Zaharias before the LPGA was even formed.

“That would be an amazing feeling,” said Thompson, who becomes the seventh woman to compete in a PGA Tour event this week in Las Vegas and the first since Brittany Lincicome at the 2018 Barbasol Championship.

For Thompson to have a chance at making the cut, she’ll need to go low both days. The average cut over the past five years has been close to 5 under. The average winning score during that stretch at TPC Summerlin, which plays to a par 71, has been 23 under.

When Martin Laird won in 2020, the cut fell at 7 under.

There were 1,956 birdies made at TPC Summerlin last year, ranking third behind Rocket Mortgage (2,066) and The CJ Cup Byron Nelson (2,021) on the PGA Tour for the 2022-2023 season.

Thompson’s birdie stats this season, like the rest of her stats, however, don’t tell the picture of how she’s playing coming into this week. Typically one of the best ball-strikers on tour ranked consistently in the top five in greens in regulation, Thompson ranks 61st in GIR this year and 126th in total birdies.

She’s also played a small schedule. Thompson’s 13 LPGA starts for 2023 ranks 137th on tour.

The good news: She’s been a different player her past three LPGA starts (plus the Solheim!).

Thompson’s scoring average her first nine events this year was 73.41. In her last three starts, she’s averaged 68.9. That’s a 4.51 drop.

Put another way, Thompson’s score in relation to par those first nine starts was a whopping 35 over. She’s been 27 under in her last three starts.

Lexi Thompson at Shriners Children's Open
Lexi Thompson of the United States looks on during a practice round prior to the Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin on October 11, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

Elevation will help an already powerful Thompson compete on a PGA Tour setup of 7,255 yards. She’s ranked 12th on the LPGA in distance at 270.7 yards, but it’s important to note that the LPGA only measures two holes each week for distance, and Thompson often hits something other than driver off those tees.

She’s relishing the opportunity to let it rip, but will need a boatload of birdies to make something special happen. She does have great history playing desert golf, given her tremendous fondness for Mission Hills Country Club, longtime host of the LPGA’s spring major and site of her 2014 victory.

“I get to hit driver basically on every hole, which is nice,” said Thompson. “Usually I get to do that more on the major championships.

“So to be able to come out here and free swing with the driver and have a few mid to long irons into the greens, definitely more major feel.”

Photos: Lexi Thompson playing in the PGA Tour’s 2023 Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas

Let’s go, Lexi!

Joining the likes of Michelle Wie West and Annika Sorenstam, Lexi Thompson is set to become the seventh woman to play on the PGA Tour this week at the 2023 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.

The LPGA star, who struggled for most of the year, has turned her game around of late, finishing T-19 at the Kroger Queen City Championship, T-8 at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship and solo fifth at last week’s The Ascendant LPGA in her last three starts.

Thompson is slated to tee off at 4:19 p.m. ET Thursday in the first round.

Here are some of the best pictures of Thompson playing alongside the boys at the Shriners Children’s Open.

What PGA Tour players are saying about Lexi Thompson playing at Shriners Children’s Open

Here’s what several PGA Tour players have said about the 11-time LPGA winner teeing it up this week with the men.

LAS VEGAS — Although a number of intriguing storylines pop off the page at the 2023 Shriners Children’s Open, all eyes will be on Lexi Thompson when she tees off Thursday at TPC Summerlin as part of a group with Kevin Roy and Trevor Werbylo, making her the seventh women to play on the PGA Tour.

Thompson’s exemption caused at least one Tour player (Peter Malnati) to say the move might have been a reach by tournament organizers (see full Malnati comments below), but Thompson calmly brushed the episode aside when she met with media members Tuesday.

“No reaction. I knew some comments were going to happen with anything. Like I said, I’m out here playing of course with the men, but I want to leave a message just to the kids that I’m following my dreams and to go after what you want with a positive mindset and don’t let anybody’s comments or reaction get in the way of that,” Thompson said. “But it’s all good. I mean, I expected it, so… ”

Here’s what other PGA Tour players have said about the 11-time LPGA winner teeing it up this week with the men.

Photos: 2023 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas

Here are some of the best images from the week in Sin City.

The PGA Tour returns to Las Vegas this week for the 2023 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin.

As Tom Kim looks to go back-to-back after his win last year, LPGA star Lexi Thompson will become the seventh woman to play on the PGA Tour, joining the likes of Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie West. Thompson finished solo fifth last week at The Ascendant LPGA.

Kim has played well since a T-20 finish in Atlanta at the Tour Championship, tying for 18th at the BMW PGA Championship and for sixth at the French Open on the DP World Tour.

Here are some of the best photos from the week in Sin City.