What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas.
Plenty of stuff leaves town, too.
On Sunday afternoon, for instance, the winner of the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open will walk off with $1.4 million, a healthy chunk of the robust $8 million purse.
The venue is TPC Summerlin, where birdies have historically come in bunches, and the field is the strongest of the new season, headlined by world number-four Patrick Cantlay.
Cantlay is the current betting favorite, but defending champ Sungjae Im is high on the board, too, followed by Max Homa, Aaron Wise and emerging star Tom Kim.
Whatever happens in Vegas, it is always followed closely by Andy Lack, GOLF.com’s expert prognosticator. As he does each week, Lack has provided us with his four favorite plays, each a different category of wager. You’ll see those below.
As for our format, we’re keeping it the same by asking Lack to supply us with his four favorite wagers. And because we like to track public opinion, too, we’re also including data from Chirp, a free-to-play mobile platform (and GOLF.com affiliate) that allows fans to engage with the action through a range of games. You can check out those Chirp stats at the bottom of this page.
Good luck this week in Vegas. And remember, if you’re playing blackjack, always split 8s.
ANDY LACK’S PICKS
Winner: Cameron Davis (+4600)
Odds available at Bet365
We’ve seen team competitions help springboard players to greater levels of success, and even in a losing effort, Davis was impressive in the Presidents Cup. The young Australian has quietly turned into one of the better wedge players and Bentgrass putters in the world, two skill sets that should serve him well at TPC Summerlin. Ranking third in this field in birdies or better gained, Davis has shown an affinity for easier scoring tournaments, with a win at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, and multiple strong finishes at the American Express, 3M Open, and John Deere Classic. Davis gained 5.9 strokes ball-striking in his last appearance at TPC Summerlin, and I expect him to improve on that mark and pick up PGA Tour win number two in the desert.
Top 10: Tom Hoge (+450)
Odds available on DraftKings
I will always have a soft spot for Hoge after correctly predicting his breakthrough victory last year at Pebble Beach, another West Coast golf course that de-values driving and places a greater emphasis on the second shot, which often comes with a wedge. It should come as no surprise that Hoge has similarly found success at TPC Summerlin, with a 14th and a 24th in his last two appearances. The 33-year-old has statistically been the best short-iron player in this field over the last year, and he’s coming off a 12th-place finish at the Fortinet where he gained 4.2 strokes on approach. I expect him to be firmly in the mix come Sunday afternoon.
