Shriners Children’s Open – Enjoy PGA TOUR golf at its finest
Ah, is there anything better than a week
in Las Vegas?
We’re talking about a week in mid-October when the weather is perfect for those looking to escape the upcoming cold, winter conditions around the nation. Adding to ideal weather, there are plenty of golf course options for those looking to tee it up. Plus, there’s world-class dining to go along with shopping options galore and enough family-oriented choices to entertain everyone in your family.
What else can you want from a trip to paradise? Well, how about checking out some of the world’s best golfers as the PGA TOUR stops in Vegas the week of Oct. 14-20, 2024, at TPC Summerlin. The tournament, the Shriners Children’s Open, welcomes fans to see a field of 132 golfers take aim at a PGA TOUR title. “The tournament is a great experience for fans of all ages,” says Patrick Lindsey, executive director of the tournament. “And with the incredible weather and the incredible site, it’s just a great place to be.”
The tournament was unveiled in Las Vegas in 1983 when it was known as the Panasonic Las Vegas Pro-Celebrity Classic. Fuzzy Zoeller won the inaugural event and pocketed $135,000 for his victory. Flash forward some 41 years and the tournament is still a staple on the PGA TOUR.
But, the purse has gone up….way up. The 2024 winner will pocket the winner’s share, $1.6 million, out of the $8.8 million purse and will also earn 500 FedEx Cup points.
Now, you might be wondering why the FedEx Cup points are important since the PGA TOUR playoffs will end in August. These points are still accumulated through the end of the 2024 calendar year and can make or break a player’s season. If a player is outside the top 125 heading into this event, his future is up in the air. But a win, or even a top finish, can boost him into the top 125 and earn him that coveted PGA TOUR card for 2025.
“There are ultimately a lot of things to play for in the fall regardless of where you are in the points system,” Lindsey says. “Guys 1 through 50 won’t receive FedEx Cup points but there are still plenty of reasons for them to play, including the purse and the two-year exemption if they win. Guys 51 to 60 aren’t guaranteed to be in signature events that start in January, but if they play well and move into the top 50, they will. These are no-cut, guaranteed money and points events. There’s still a lot on the line.” And that includes those looking to get into the top 125.
“A great finish in the fall events can lock up their card for 2025, so these fall events really make for a lot of great storylines and a lot of pressure-packed golf.”
The strength of the fields in Las Vegas has been solid. “We have a really nice defending champion list that we build on,” Lindsey says. “Tom Kim has won the last two years, and then there’s Sung Jae Im and Patrick Cantlay to name a few. We also have a great base of Las Vegas players who come out and support us. We just want to make sure the inside-the-ropes competition is the best it can be. Las Vegas rolls out the red carpet and makes the players and fans feel welcome. It’s just an exciting experience.”
One player Lindsey would love to see tee it up is Scottie Scheffler. “He actually played here in 2021 but missed the cut. I think that might be the last tournament he played in that he didn’t win,” he adds with a laugh.
In the end, despite not being in the season-long FedEx Cup points race, a trip to Vegas is still a top-priority to many golfers as the calendar year winds down.
Now, let’s move onto the course and see the layout players will be trying to tame. And tame it they do. It’s simple: Go low or go home. TPC Summerlin, designed by Bobby Weed with help from Fuzzy Zoeller, is a par-71 course that is a scorer’s paradise. Reachable par 5s, a drivable par-4, and pin-seeking par 3s all scream out low numbers on the scorecard. The course winds its way through the desert with an impressive number of risk/reward holes. Four of those holes end the round in fine fashion. Score on these holes and you’ll be in great shape come Sunday’s final round. Struggle on one or more of these holes and golfers will be looking way, way up at the leaders. “The last four holes are really where the excitement is,” Lindsey says. “The drivable par-4 15th saw the first female golfer drive the green when Lexi Thompson drove it last year when she played in the tournament. That was really exciting.” And the excitement is just getting started over this four-hole stretch. The 15th being drivable means there will be birdies galore with a few eagles tossed in for good measure. But, drive it left and a big number can come into play. Next up is a par-5 that is a must-be-under-par hole. A good drive sets up a second shot into a large green. But, a pond that fronts the green has swallowed more than its share of golf balls over the years, drowning a few title hopes. The final two holes, the par-3 17th and the par-4 18th are solid finishing holes. Par on both is a good score. Birdie one or both and you’re soaring up that leaderboard. Lindsey says the finishing holes are as challenging as any finishing run on the PGA TOUR. “We’ve seen so many great scores on 15 and 16, only to see some players turn around and struggle on 17 and 18. It’s a finishing stretch that can certainly make or break a round.”
And that brings us back to the fans. There are multiple spots to make a day of it and just relax and watch the action. The Hill and CLUB 360, the new second level of The Hill, are the most popular and are perched on a hill, naturally, overlooking the 16th green, the entire 17th hole and the 18th green. Everything is right at hand, from great food and drink options to television screens to catch up on the college football and NFL action to comfortable spots to lounge to restrooms. It’s all right here.
A couple of other spots are growing in popularity. The Lounge on 15 Green (the drivable par-4) and The Point, which is near the 17th green, also offer great views of shots that can often affect the outcome of the tournament.
In the end, Lindsey says the Shriners Children’s Open is one of those events that appeals to everyone. “If you think about this event, it’s more than about the golf. It’s a great experience. If you’re a group of guys coming out, you can certainly have a great time here. But it’s also a great family experience. Kids under 18 are free and adult tickets are $30. So, for $60, a family can come out and see a PGA TOUR event and be able to roam around freely and pick out spots to settle down and enjoy a beautiful time on a beautiful site.”
But, there’s more than just the golf involved. Much more. “It’s a great event that helps support an even greater cause…the Shriners Hospitals for Children,” Lindsey says. “This event lets us use the PGA TOUR and their broadcast aspects to help promote a great charity. Whether it’s telling the story of an individual who has been helped or just looking at all of the services they provide, it’s a great charity that helps so many kids regardless of families’ ability to pay.”
To learn more information about Shriners Children’s Open, visit: www.shrinerschildrensopen.com
Shriners Children’s Open
Site: TPC Summerlin
1680 Village Center Circle
Las Vegas
702-873-1010
Story By Bill Bowman
Photography provided by Shriners Children’s Open
