Winner’s Bag: J.T. Poston, 2024 Shriners Children’s Open

A complete list of the golf equipment J.T. Poston used to win the PGA Tour’s 2024 Shriners Children’s Open.

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A complete list of the golf equipment J.T. Poston used to win the PGA Tour’s 2024 Shriners Children’s Open:

DRIVER: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees), with Mitsubishi Diamana BF 60 TX shaft

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop J.T. Poston’s driver” link=”https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/k07kgM”]

FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist TS2 (15 degrees), with Graphite Design AD IZ-7 X shaft

HYBRID: Titleist TS2 (19 degrees), with Graphite Design AD DI-95 Hybrid X shaft

IRONS: Titleist U•500 (4), T100 (5-9), with True Temper Project X 6.5 shafts

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop J.T. Poston’s irons” link=”https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/anBLRj”]

WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46, 50, 56 bent to 55, 60 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop J.T. Poston’s wedges” link=”https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/AWqA0R”]

PUTTER: Scotty Cameron GOLO 5 tour prototype

BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop J.T. Poston’s golf ball” link=”https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/1rageg”]

Special delivery: ‘The Postman’ J.T. Poston posts third career PGA Tour title at Shriners Children’s Open

Known for his silky-smooth stroke, Poston’s putter came through when it mattered.

What rust?

J.T. Poston hadn’t played since the BMW Championship in August but the break helped his game hit a new peak.

Poston shot a final-round 4-under 67 at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas on Sunday to win the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open by one stroke over Doug Ghim.

“I know I had a comfortable lead for most of the day but it never felt safe,” Poston said.

The 31-year-old Poston from Hickory, North Carolina, dreamed of becoming a Tarheel at the University of North Carolina but never got an offer and ended up playing at Western Carolina, where he was two-time Player of the Year in the Southern Conference. Not being considered one of the highly-touted players has given him a chip on his shoulder, but thanks to a strong wedge game and a putting stroke to die for, Poston needed just one season on the Korn Ferry Tour and has blossomed into a consistent top-50 player and a now a three-time winner on the PGA Tour.

Poston finished 41st in the FedEx Cup this season and it gave him a chance to put the clubs aways for several weeks and reset and recharge his battery with a long family vacation to the North Carolina mountains, though with a six-month-old daughter running around it’s questionable how much rest he really enjoyed.

“She changes every day, every week, and so just get to go see that and be there for her and my wife has been incredible,” Poston said.

Poston always had this event circled as one he wanted to play this fall at a course with bentgrass greens like the ones he grew up playing as a kid. He also had some unfinished business after tying for third last season in Las Vegas.

Shriners Children’s Open: Leaderboard | Photos

This time, Poston opened with a bogey-free 64 and tacked on rounds of 65 and 66. The third round was suspended Saturday evening with 30 players still on the course, including Poston, who returned Sunday morning and made three birdies in his final five holes to build a three-stroke lead.

In the final round, Poston made birdies at the first and fourth holes and then skated along with seven straight pars to give his competitors a sense that trophy still was up for grabs. Ghim, a Las Vegas resident and competing on his home course, sank an 11-foot eagle putt at the ninth hole to reach 19 under and cut Poston’s lead to one. He wasted a great chance to tie for the lead at No. 11, leaving an 8-foot birdie putt short in the jaws and despite a birdie at 18 settled for shooting 65 and second place, his best career finish on Tour.

“Haven’t had the best history so far in final rounds and final groups, so it’s definitely going to be a little badge on my chest I guess in a sense that the next time I get in position I’ll have that in my memory bank of knowing I’ve done it before,” said Ghim, who played his final 37 holes without a bogey.

Matti Schmid played the final six holes in 5 under to shoot 66 and tied for third with Rico Hoey (66). Michael Kim, who entered the week at No. 129 in the FedEx Cup Fall and had missed the cut or withdrawn from his last five starts, was among a trio of players who finished T-5. After a bogey at No. 11, Kim reeled off five birdies in a row and carded 10 on the day. He closed in 62, tying his career low, and recorded his best result in 27 starts this season.

Poston took control of the tournament with a convincing closing nine. He rang the birdie bell, not once but twice in a row, draining a 21-foot birdie at the par-3 12th, a 3-footer at the par-5 13th, and adding a 12-footer at 15 to extend his cushion to as many as four strokes. But he missed a 6-foot birdie putt at 16 that could’ve sealed the deal and a 3-foot par putt at 17 to give Ghim a glimmer of hope. After Ghim closed with a birdie, the hole had to look as small as a thimble as Poston sweated out one more 4-foot par putt to clinch the title. He took care of business and signed for a 72-hole total of 22-under 262.

“I just told myself this is what you dream of, you’ve got a putt to win on the PGA Tour and just try to forget about the last two (strokes),” Poston said. “I told myself I’ve made a million of these and just do one more.”

One year after brain surgery, Gary Woodland in contention for first PGA Tour title in five years in Las Vegas at Shriners Children’s Open

Gary Woodland is feeling good again. That alone is reason to smile.

Gary Woodland is feeling good again.

That alone is reason to smile.

Woodland had surgery in September 2023 to remove tumors in a part of the brain that triggered fear and anxiety, and he’s been working his way back into form ever since. The four-time Tour winner has struggled for much of the season, recording just two top-25 finishes in 23 previous starts this year. But he’s coming off his best finish of the season, a T-16, at the Sanderson Farms Championship two years ago.

On Saturday, Woodland shot a bogey-free 6-under 65 at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas thanks to a hot putter to improve to 14-under 1999. He gained over 3 ½ shots on the field with the flat-stick, ranking first during the third round and gained more than 5 strokes through 54 holes.

Shriners: Leaderboard | Photos

“The last month has been really good,” said Woodland, who turned 40 in May. “I just hit a year (since the surgery) a couple weeks ago so that’s exciting. It’s all coming together. I’m feeling better and the game is coming around, which makes a lot of sense. I’m excited and happy to be here and really happy to finish tonight so I can get some sleep tomorrow.”

Woodland also credited that he has returned to working with swing instructor Randy Smith, the longtime coach of Scottie Scheffler.

It’s hard to believe that Woodland’s last win came at the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach but he’ll have a chance to break his drought on Sunday.

“Everything is starting to come together,” Woodland said. “I feel a lot better for one. That’s a one. That’s a huge help. But I’ve seen some signs. I’ve been back with Randy Smith for a couple months now. I am starting to drive it better, iron play, controlling the golf ball like I haven’t in a long time, which is nice. Then putts start going in, start putting some good scores up.”

As my colleague Riley Hamel put it, “If you’re looking for someone to root for on Sunday, look no further than Gary Woodland.”

A jam-packed leaderboard, multiple players make big moves and more from 2024 Shriners Children’s Open

Catch up on the action here.

Friday’s heavy winds made things a little complicated, but it looks like we’ll have a winner come Sunday afternoon at the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin — but it’s going to be a battle. When the horn blew — play was suspended due to darkness — 12 players were at or within two shots of the lead.

J.T. Poston — playing in the final group — and Doug Ghim both reached 15 under to lead the way, with four players tied for third and six players tied for seventh.

Poston did a lot of his damage during his first two rounds, posting 64-65. However, he couldn’t get much going on Saturday, playing his 13 holes 2 under. He’ll have five holes to play when golf resumes on Sunday.

If you missed any of the action on Saturday, no worries, we have you covered. Here are a few notes from the yet-to-be-completed third round of the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.

Shriners: Leaderboard | Photos

Doug Ghim rebounds

Doug Ghim of the United States plays his shot from the ninth tee during the second round of the Shriners Children’s Open 2024 at TPC Summerlin on October 18, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

Ghim struggled a bit during his second round, finishing up with a 1-under 70. But his third round was a different story.

On his way out, Ghim made birdies on Nos. 5 and 9 to make the turn with a 2-under 33. After hitting the halfway house, the 28-year-old made birdies on Nos. 10, 13, 14, 15 and 16 to get to 15-under total and in a share of the lead. He was on the 17th green with a five-foot par putt when play was suspended.

He did most of his damage with his irons, ranking first in the field during the third round in Strokes Gained: Approach, gaining 2.746 strokes with the blades.

Kurt Kitayama catches fire at the turn

Kurt Kitayama of the United States plays his shot from the second tee during the third round of the Shriners Children’s Open 2024 at TPC Summerlin on October 19, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

Kitayama posted rounds of 66-68 to open the tournament, so he had some work to do on Saturday afternoon to catch the leaders. After eight straight pars to open his third round, he got to work.

Before making the turn, Kitayama made birdie on the par-5 ninth thanks to a great bunker shot with his third. Then, on the back nine, he made birdies on Nos. 10, 11, 13, 14, and 15 to storm up the leaderboard and get to 14 under total, one back of Ghim and Poston.

Kityama made three pars to end his round as he was able to finish before the lights turned off. He’ll be within striking distance once the final round gets underway.

Feel-good story

2024 Shriners Children's Open
Gary Woodland of the United States reacts on the 17th green during the third round of the Shriners Children’s Open 2024 at TPC Summerlin on October 19, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

If you’re looking for someone to root for on Sunday, look no further than Gary Woodland.

Woodland had brain surgery in September 2023 to remove tumors and he’s been working his way back into form ever since. The four-time Tour winner had two top-25 finishes in 23 previous starts this year.

On Saturday, Woodland shot a bogey-free 6-under 65 thanks to a hot putter. He gained over five shots on the field with the flat-stick, ranking sixth in SG: Putting during the third round.

“The last month has been really good,” he said. “I just hit a year (since the surgery) a couple weeks ago so that’s exciting. It’s all coming together. I’m feeling better and the game is coming around, which makes a lot of sense. I’m excited and happy to be here and really happy to finish tonight so I can get some sleep tomorrow.”

Woodland’s last win came at the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. He’ll have a chance to break his drought on Sunday.

Top 10 and odds to win

Position Player Score Odds to win
T-1 Doug Ghim 15 under (+900)
T-1 J.T Poston 15 under (+300)
T-3 Kurt Kitayama 14 under (+1200)
T-3 Gary Woodland 14 under (+1600)
T-3 Harris English 14 under (+700)
T-3 Alejandro Tosti 14 under (+1000)
T-7 K.H. Lee 13 under (+4000)
T-7 J.J Spaun 13 under (+2500)
T-7 Davis Thompson 13 under (+2200)
T-7 Norman Xiong 13 under (+1800)
T-7 Taylor Pendrith 13 under (+750)
T-7 Matti Schmid 13 under (+1000)

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Here are 8 big names to miss the cut at the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open

These players are headed home early.

After a lengthy wind delay caused a late start on Friday for the second round, the cut has been made Saturday afternoon at the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.

Tom Kim, the 2022 and 2023 winner of this event, was 1-under total when he finished his second round and he’ll head home early thanks to the 36-hole cut coming in at 3-under 139. Kim, who hasn’t played a Tour event since the FedEx St. Jude Championship during the playoffs, is not in the field for next week’s Zozo Championship in Japan.

While the third round will begin Saturday afternoon in Sin City, here’s a quick look at eight notable names who missed the cut at the Shriners Children’s Open.

Shriners: Leaderboard | Photos

Notable names to miss cut at Shriners Children’s Open

Webb Simpson of the United States plays a shot on the 13th hole during the first round of the Shriners Children’s Open 2024 at TPC Summerlin on October 17, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
  • Charley Hoffman, 2 under (66-74)
  • Webb Simpson, 2 under (71-69)
  • Tom Kim, 1 under (69-72)
  • Kevin Kisner, 1 under (71-70)
  • Danny Willett, 1 under (75-66)
  • Stephan Jaeger, 4 over (68-78)
  • Keith Mitchell, 5 over (73-74)
  • Cam Davis, 11 over (75-78)

After four-hour delay, golf is back on at 2024 Shriners Children’s Open but without fans

Conditions are throwing a wrench into the 2024 Shriners.

Las Vegas has long been a staple on the PGA Tour and you can generally count on sunny skies and warm temperatures in the desert.

But this week, conditions are throwing a wrench into the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open.

They ran out of daylight and couldn’t quite finish the first round Thursday.

Friday’s second round was delayed by four hours due to winds reaching speeds of 40 MPH.

After the golfers in Las Vegas finally teed off for the second day of action, some of them with beanies on their heads or using hand warmers between shots, organizers decided to keep fans off tournament grounds at TPC Summerlin.

In addition, the PGA Tour emailed a statement that read:

Out of an abundance of caution for spectator safety, gates to the Shriners Children’s Open are closed to all spectators on Friday, October 18 until further notice.

General admission and hospitality tickets for Friday will be honored for Saturday at TPC Summerlin.

The Shriners is the fourth of eight FedEx Cup Fall series events. It’s also the last one till the Tour takes to the road for stops in Japan, Mexico and Bermuda.

There are golfers starting their second rounds at late as 5:35 p.m. local time Friday and with sunset coming a little after 6 p.m., the 36-hole cut will come sometime Saturday afternoon.

After Thursday’s 4-shot penalty, Joel Dahmen withdraws from 2024 Shriners Children’s Open before round two

The second round was delayed due to heavy wind.

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Before the start of Friday’s second round – action was delayed four hours due to high wind, with the first tee time slated for 1:55 p.m. ET – Joel Dahmen withdrew from the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.

Dahmen shot a 1-over 72 on Thursday but incurred a four-shot penalty after he discovered there were 15 clubs in his bag on the fourth hole.

“Bizarr-o. Never happened to me before,” he said after his first round. “I travel with 15, 16 clubs. I think most people out here do depending on conditions and courses. You know, been traveling out here for a long time and never happened before. I’d like to blame (his caddie) Geno. That would be the easy thing to do. It’s not his fault either. I played Tuesday and Wednesday out here. We didn’t see it in there. It was an extra 4-iron, so I had two 4-irons in the bag.

“Why, I don’t know. I don’t know how it got there. It sucks. It sucks at the spot I’m in as well. Yeah, we got to four tee and I grabbed a water and I walked over to my bag and I saw a 4-iron that was in the wrong spot and our stuff is always in the right spot. It wasn’t in the right spot.

“You know, you just want to get so mad and you want to get mad at everything. At the same time, just got to keep playing golf, and I didn’t do a great job of that afterward.”

Dahmen admitted it was tough to refocus after the discovery.

No reason for the WD was given.

Dahmen was 124th in the FedEx Cup standings when the week started but he’s now 128th in the projection.

Shriners Children’s Open 2024 Friday tee times, PGA Tour pairings and how to watch

The purse at the Shriners Children’s Open is $7 million with $1.26 million going to the winner.

What a start for Taylor Pendrith.

The Canadian lit up TPC Summerlin on Thursday morning, shooting 10-under 61 in the first round of the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open. He holds a three-shot lead over a host of players chasing him at 7 under.

Two-time defending champion Tom Kim struggled out of the gate, as he was 3 over thru 5 holes, but he turned it around to finish at 2 under, though he’ll have work to do Friday to make the weekend and keep the chance of a three-peat alive.

The purse at the Shriners Children’s Open is $7 million with $1.26 million going to the winner. The winner will also receive 500 FedEx Cup points.

Shriners: Leaderboard

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the second round of the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open. All times listed are PT.

Shriners Children’s Open Friday tee times

https://twitter.com/pgatourcomms/status/1846303431050576103?s=46

How to watch, listen

ESPN+ is the exclusive home of PGA Tour Live. You can also watch the Shriners Children’s Open on Golf Channel free on Fubo. All times ET.

Friday, Oct. 18

Golf Channel: 5-8 p.m.

Sirius XM: 2-8 p.m.

ESPN+: 9:45 a.m.-8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 19

Golf Channel: 5-8 p.m.

Sirius XM: 3-8 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 20

Golf Channel: 5-8 p.m.

Sirius XM: 3-8 p.m.

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Joel Dahmen assessed four-stroke penalty at 2024 Shriners Children’s Open. Here’s why

Always have to check the bag.

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During the first round of the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, fan-favorite Joel Dahmen was assessed a four-stroke penalty for having 15 clubs in his bag.

Dahmen made par on his opening two holes, but those scores were changed to double-bogey 6s after the blunder.

The 36-year-old has played in all three FedEx Cup Fall events so far this year, with the Shriners being the fourth, and has finished T-50 (Procore Championship), MC (Sanderson Farms Championship) and T-40 (Black Desert Championship).

In seven previous starts at TPC Summerlin, Dahmen has made it to the weekend six times and finished inside the top 10 twice.

Shriners: Leaderboard | Photos

https://twitter.com/PGATOURComms/status/1847009036400828675

Taylor Pendrith flirts with sub-60 round, shoots sizzling 61 to lead at 2024 Shriners Children’s Open

“I gave it my best.”

Taylor Pendrith made 10 birdies on Thursday but was denied a final-hole eagle to shoot 59. Was he thinking of shooting the 15th sub-60 round on the PGA Tour at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas in the first round of the Shriners Children’s Open?

“Yeah, obviously,” he said in a post-round interview. “I tried to hit a great shot and just came off it a little bit. It was close to being really good, I think.”

Pendrith had blasted a 356-yard drive leaving just a 7-iron from 203 yards. But with the flag position in the front of the green, he caught it heavy and found the front greenside bunker. It was the only place he couldn’t miss.

“Me and my caddie didn’t really talk about it, but I think we both knew I was going to try and hole the bunker shot,” he said. “Of course, I was going to try to hole bunker shot. It was a tricky one, but, yeah, I gave it my best.”

The Canadian blasted 12 feet past the hole, missed the birdie putt and settled for 10-under 61, tying his career low on Tour, but still good enough for a three-stroke lead over 12 players.

Shriners: Leaderboard | Photos

Pendrith, who represented the International Team at the Presidents Cup last month and won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in May, had it going like the gambler rolling his number at the craps tables. After a par on his first hole, No. 10, Pendrith’s heater began with birdies on five of the next six holes on his first nine as he kept sticking approach shots inside 10 feet. At the 453-yard par-4, No. 4, he wedged inside a foot for the tap-in birdie. Pendrith was long and accurate and his putter cooperated too – a beautiful combination. He ranked first in driving distance (329 yards), fourth in Strokes Gained: Approach and first in SG: Putting.

Expectations this week for Pendrith were tempered after playing just three times since the Presidents Cup and unable to play in South Florida as Hurricane Milton kept him off the course.

“I thought I would be a little bit more rusty than that,” Pendrith said. “You know, obviously thrilled and yeah, just got to keep getting back into the rhythm of things and the next few days. Yeah, feel good.”