Shriners Open 2014: Tee Times, Dates, TV Schedule and Prize Money
The 2014 Shriners Open has multiple major winners in the field, including the defending champion in Webb Simpson. A plethora of additional, quality players promise to make the tournament a memorable, early-season stop on the PGA Tour.
Still in the infant stages of the 2014-15 campaign, this is a prime time for those in action to gain ground in the FedEx Cup points chase. Billy Horschel emerged with the postseason title, and he is making his season debut in a bid to keep that momentum going.
Las Vegas is the city of choice for this event, with TPC Summerlin serving as the venue. Simpson won last year with 24 under par total, so birdies should be had in bunches this time around, too.
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After surveying the basic information for the Shriners Open, read on for a more detailed breakdown of some of the top groups to watch during the first two rounds of play.
When: Thursday, October 16 through Sunday, October 19
Where: TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, Nevada
Tee Times: For a complete list of tee times for the first two rounds, visit PGATOUR.com.
Purse: $6,200,000; Winner's Share: $1,080,000
FedEx Cup Points: 500
| Thursday, October 16 | 5-8 p.m. | Golf Channel |
| Friday, October 17 | 5-8 p.m. | Golf Channel |
| Saturday, October 18 | 5-8 p.m. | Golf Channel |
| Sunday, October 19 | 5-8 p.m. | Golf Channel |
Analyzing Marquee Groups
Billy Horschel, Jimmy Walker and Brandt Snedeker
What was a mostly mediocre prior season turned out to be magnificent for Horschel thanks to his clutch brilliance in the playoffs.
Horschel tied for second at the Deutsche Bank Championship before winning the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship, fending off the likes of a red-hot Rory McIlroy in the latter event. No small feat to say the least.
Instead of resting on his laurels, the talented young American is already gearing up to move forward, using his FedEx Cup title as a springboard:
Part of that drive may come from Horschel getting snubbed by the USA Ryder Cup team and not getting a captain's pick. That's something Walker didn't have to worry about, because he made this year's squad on merit thanks mostly to a magnificent start to last season.
Working with renowned swing coach Butch Harmon helped Walker break through in a big way in 2013-14, as he notched his first three career PGA Tour wins by this last February. He was a bit slow out of the gates trying to defend at the Frys.com Open last week, but you can bet Walker will bounce back at a more receptive course.
Golf.com's discussion about a potential breakout candidate this season revolves around the heights Walker reached:
Critics of the wraparound schedule can be directed to Walker's prowess as a reason to keep the newer policy in place.
And talk about a power trio. Snedeker won the FedEx Cup in 2012, making this a threesome large galleries ought to flock to. Putting has let down Snedeker as of late, which is hard to believe considering how sensational he's been with the all-important club at the apex of his success.
In hitting a stellar 68 percent of greens in regulation at the Frys.com Open, Snedeker managed just -.684 strokes gained putting. He ranked first in the statistic the year he seized the FedEx Cup trophy, so if the strong ball-striking and the flat iron improves, count on Snedeker to be a threat this weekend.
Padraig Harrington, Erik Compton and Brooks Koepka
One of those major champions spoken of in the lede? Harrington is one of them, and he's won three in his exceptional career.
Unfortunately for the gritty Irishman, his form over the past several years hasn't been as stellar as his overall track record. Ranked 325th in the world, Harrington did show signs of life by contending at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship before settling for a tie for 18th.
The possibility of playing in the 2016 Olympics continues to drive Harrington in his quest to return among golf's elite.
"I've got 22 months to go," said Harrington, via GolfChannel.com. "I'm starting at absolute zero probably at the moment...I really feel good about my game, so I believe I can do it."
Not the longest hitter by any means, Compton should still be a factor in Las Vegas. Rounds of 74 to start and 76 to close obscured some of Compton's brighter moments last week, per the PGA Tour:
Compton showed impressive mettle in tying for second at the U.S. Open this year, while Koepka had a coming-out party of sorts at that major championship by placing joint fourth.
CBS Sports' Kyle Porter is high on Koepka, and many others are optimistic about the precocious, powerful 24-year-old:
After playing last season on the European Tour, now is the time for Koepka to make a splash stateside. He got off to a good start in his debut as a full-time PGA Tour member, posting a top 10 in the season opener.
Koepka has the length to capitalize on the elevation and thinner air at TPC Summerlin, and has as good a chance as anyone to stage a breakout run to the winner's circle.
Camilo Villegas, Hideki Matsuyama and Ryan Moore
Hard to believe that Villegas is still just 32 years of age. A tenure in the top 10 of the world rankings ended in a slump that spanned from about 2010 until this year's Wyndham Championship.
That event marked Villegas' first win since the 2010 Honda Classic, reviving his game and giving him reason for optimism as he tees it up for the first time in 2014-15.
Remember the Golf.com tweet that asked which player is bound to burst onto the scene? Matsuyama is viewed as one of the top candidates to do so. Guy Cipriano of Golf Course Industry believes Matsuyama is a legitimate Player of the Year contender:
Coming off a tie for third to start, where putting held him back from a victory, the Japanese prodigy appears destined for greatness. Matsuyama arguably already arrived in his triumph at the 2014 Memorial Tournament, but his best golf seems yet to come.
Moore carded a second-round 63 at the 2013 Shriners Open to vault him into a top-10 finish. He also won the event in 2012, so there is reason to trust that Moore can contend on a course he's conquered before.
The stars from early in the season can be mere flashes in the pan. While the real money is made almost a calendar year from now, those golfers fighting for tour cards and trying to take that next step can use events like the Shriners Open as a defining moment.
Competition isn't quite as strong, but that also creates opportunity for the PGA Tour to have better parity. While that does create a number of winners who aren't household names, it at least presents a scenario in which the next big name can rise from relative obscurity.
When birdies can be had in bunches at a venue like TPC Summerlin, it's going to be worth watching regardless of who ascends to the top of the leaderboard by week's end.
Note: Stats and video were obtained via PGATour.com unless otherwise indicated.
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