Tag: TPC Summerlin

Tom Kim goes back-to-back in Las Vegas, wins 2023 Shriners Children’s Open

It’s the third PGA Tour title for Tom Kim.

First time was the charm for Tom Kim.

In his first chance to defend on the PGA Tour, Kim fired rounds of 62-66 on the weekend at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas to repeat as the winner of the Shriners Children’s Open.

In doing so, the 21-year-old South Korean native becomes the youngest three-time winner on Tour since Tiger Woods, and the second-youngest to successfully defend a Tour title since 1900, shooting 20-under 264, one stroke better than Canadian Adam Hadwin.

“No. 3 sounds a lot better than No. 2,” Kim said. “It’s been a grind and it’s been my first full season and try to live up to the expectations of a great year last year and trying to get better and it’s been tough sometimes.”

Kim was supposed to defend his first title in August at the Wyndham Championship but withdrew with an ankle injury he suffered at the British Open.

“It was so hard for me to just sit on my couch and not really be able to do anything,” Kim explained. “It was very frustrating personally as a player because it was my first win, and I was so determined to come back to Shriners at least being healthy and at least have a chance to win as a defending champion.”

Kim started slowly in his title defense with a pair of 68s as LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson, who shot 69 on Friday and threatened to make the cut, stole the spotlight. For the second straight year, Kim made a big move on Saturday, shooting 62 again to enter the final round as one of three co-leaders. Last year, he played bogey-free for 72 holes en route to victory but this time he had a few hiccups along the way, making seven bogeys and a double, but he offset those blunders with 27 birdies and an eagle.

He raced to three birdies in his first four holes on Sunday before making a pair of bogeys at Nos. 5 and 6. That would be his final dropped shot and after a birdie at nine he was one of 16 players separated by three strokes as he made the turn. Kim broke out of a six-way tie at 18 under with a birdie at 12.

“Now it’s just if I’m good enough, I can take it,” said Kim, who would tack on birdies at 13 and 15 to improve to 20 under.

Hadwin was a stroke back and had 206 yards to the par-5 16th, which set up as a perfect cut 6-iron, but he dunked it in the water fronting the green and made bogey to give Kim a two-stroke cushion.

“I completely whiffed it, up and out of it, and unfortunately one of my worst swings of the day at the least opportune time,” said Hadwin, who sank a birdie putt on the closing hole to finish solo second.

There was a logjam tied for third at 18 under, including Rookie of the Year candidate Eric Cole, who closed in 9-under 62 after switching back to an old putter. Alex Noren, J.T. Poston and Taylor Pendrith also finished two behind Kim.

“He’s just so steady. Fairways and greens, he never gets out of rhythm, out of pace,” Hadwin said of Kim. “Five-under was seemingly the absolute worst he would have shot today. I knew it was going to take a good round to compete and to win.”

In retrospect, Kim, who improved to a career-best No. 11 in the Official World Golf Ranking, had enjoyed a solid year, recording his best finishes in majors, including second at the British Open and eighth at the U.S. Open, and qualified for the Tour Championship, but he also endured a stiff learning curve as the burden of expectations began to weigh on him.

“Suddenly you feel like you’re right there and you need to do something extra or something,” he said. “I felt like I almost added a lot of pressure towards myself to perform really well this year. But really it’s been a very big learning curve for me, and it’s very humbling to be able to experience what I’ve experienced this year. That’s why I feel like this third one is even sweeter.”

And the celebration will include a sweet. Asked how he would celebrate in Las Vegas now that he’s 21 this time, Kim already had a plan. He was going to enjoy a piece of Ferrero Rocher white chocolate that he had bought during a trip to Europe.

“I can’t wait to finish that chocolate. I’ve wanted to finish it so bad,” he said. “It’s going to taste so good tonight.”

Defending champ rises, Monday qualifier in the mix among third-round takeaways at Shriners Children’s Open

The scores were low Saturday at TPC Summerlin.

Moving Day started with a solar eclipse, and perhaps the phenomenon was enough to propel major leaderboard movement in the desert.

The third round is complete at the 2023 Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas at TPC Summerlin, and unlike the first two rounds, scores were low Saturday. Numerous players made big moves on the leaderboard, including a Monday qualifier who had the clubhouse lead by the time his round was complete.

However, not everybody went low, as some of those high on the leaderboard after the second round struggled to find footing Saturday. Nevertheless, the leaderboard is filled with great storylines for Sunday.

Here’s what you need to know from the third round of the Shiners Children’s Open.

Cameron Champ’s mindset, Lexi Thompson impresses and more second-round takeaways from Shriners Children’s Open

Here’s what you need to know from the second round in Las Vegas.

Heading to the weekend in Las Vegas, there’s a lot on the line with a full house at the top of the leaderboard.

The story of the first two rounds was Lexi Thompson, the 28-year-old who became the seventh woman to compete on the PGA Tour. Although she missed the cut, she captured the attention of the golf world, especially during her second round when she shot 2-under 69 and was well in contention to make the cut through most of her final nine holes.

However, near the top of the leaderboard is a host of players, including a pair of former PGA Tour winners looking to break long cold streaks and others looking for their first Tour victory.

Here’s what we learned from the second round of the Shriners Children’s Open.

5 takeaways from Lexi Thompson’s inspiring run on the PGA Tour

What an impressive performance.

Lexi Thompson became only the second woman to record a sub-70 round in a PGA Tour event on Friday when she carded a 2-under 69 at the PGA Tour’s Shriners Children’s Open. Thompson joins Michelle Wie West, who twice shot 2-under 68 at the Sony Open.

Thompson’s exhilarating run toward the weekend made Friday golf at the Shriners must-see TV. While her even-par effort is expected to come up short, the 11-time LPGA winner dug deep to hover around the cutline for the entire back nine.

Thompson became only the seventh woman to tee it up in a PGA Tour event. No woman has made the cut against the men since Babe Didrikson Zaharias in 1945.

Here are five takeaways from Thompson’s inspiring effort:

Golf world reacts to Lexi Thompson’s performance at 2023 Shriners Children’s Open

All eyes were on Lexi.

Safe to say the golf world was paying attention to happenings at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas. Lexi Thompson is a big, big reason why.

The 28-year-old became the seventh female golfer to play in a PGA Tour event when she teed it up at the 2023 Shriners Children’s Open. Only one has ever made the cut, and Thompson was in a good position to make the cut on her back nine holes Friday until a pair of late bogeys on par 3s. She shot 2-under 69 on Friday and carded an even-par 142 for the week, which will fall just outside of the cut line.

However, her effort in the desert was nothing short of spectacular, and people were tuned in from all over.

Here are some of the best reactions to Thompson’s performance at the Shriners Children’s Open.

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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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:

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.