Smylie Kaufman can start making plans for defense of his Shriners Hospitals for Children Open title. But he won’t have to show up in Las Vegas until November.
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The first-year tournament director of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open was a bit bleary-eyed Monday morning but he was still smiling.
He signed the scorecard and then stopped at his golf bag for a quick check of things, and when William McGirt noticed there were only 20 messages awaiting on his cellphone, he was a bit surprised.
While many players lick their chops about the hole after the par-4 12th, the par-5 13th, in looking to make birdie or eagle, this tricky par 4 can get them in a foul mood if they don’t play it right. It plays long with its narrow fairway and water that protects the right side of the fairway as well as the front of the green. Add a tough pin placement, as was the case Sunday, when it was tucked in the left front corner, and this hole was more about maintenance than scoring.
How much heartbreak can one man endure?
The puns on his first name undoubtedly have been used countless times. So let’s just say Smylie Kaufman had a lot to smile about Sunday. The PGA Tour rookie had the best day of his brief professional career, tearing up TPC Summerlin with a final-round 10-under-par 61 and holding off six pursuers to win the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
Summerlin resident Kevin Na and former UNLV golfer Chad Campbell were in the hunt, but fell short of winner Smylie Kaufman.
Former UNLV Rebel Chad Campbell and Summerlin resident Kevin Na stand just two strokes behind tournament leader Brett Stegmaier heading into Sunday’s final round at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
Rickie Fowler’s day was a mixture of frustration and sadness. The former Oklahoma State All-American appeared to have played himself out of contention Saturday at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, falling seven strokes off the lead after shooting 1-under-par 70 at TPC Summerlin.
Kevin Na is chasing his second career PGA Tour win after shooting a 3-under-par 68 on Saturday, leaving him two strokes behind tournament leader Brett Stegmaier entering today’s final round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.