Fowler favored in Las Vegas PGA Tournament
Almost all of golf's biggest names are bypassing Las Vegas this week. Rickie Fowler is making the stop, however, and that makes him the favorite.
Fowler opened as the 10-1 favorite in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin, according to odds posted today by Jeff Sherman, assistant manager at the Westgate sports book.
"Fowler and the local guys will see a lot of support," Sherman said.
Las Vegas resident Kevin Na and former UNLV standout Ryan Moore are each listed at 25-1 odds. Na lost to Emiliano Grillo in a playoff Sunday at the season-opening Frys.com Open in Napa, Calif. Grillo, a 23-year-old PGA Tour rookie from Argentina, is also at 25-1. Charley Hoffman, a former UNLV player, is getting 30-1 odds.
Brooks Koepka is the second choice behind Fowler at 15-1. Koepka finished in a tie for fourth in Las Vegas last year.
Sherman said he sees betting value in Tony Finau (30-1) and Patrick Rodgers (40-1). Finau tied for seventh here a year ago.
"I could see Finau doing well. Rodgers is a young kid ready to crack through," Sherman said. "You've got to follow golf to recognize a lot of these guys."
The longest shots on the board are Jhonattan Vegas (100-1), former UNLV player Chad Campbell (125-1) and Colt Knost (125-1).
Fowler was in good form at the end of the 2014-15 season. After winning the Scottish Open in July, he had three top-5 finishes, including a win in the Deutsche Bank Championship in early September. For the tour season, he ranked 39th in driving distance and 35th in strokes gained putting. His No. 4 rank in overall putting average bodes well this week with play on the greens emphasized even more than usual.
"It's not a challenging course unless the wind kicks up," Sherman said. "It's basically a shootout, unless it's windy for four days, so the winning score might be 20 under par. Putting will be the key."
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247
PGA Tour Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, TPC Summerlin - Las Vegas, October 22-25.
Odds To Win:
Rickie Fowler: 10/1
Brooks Koepka: 15/1
Kevin Na: 25/1
Emiliano Grillo: 25/1
Ryan Moore: 25/1
Brandt Snedeker: 25/1
Jimmy Walker: 25/1
Tony Finau: 30/1
Scott Piercy: 30/1
Charley Hoffman: 30/1
Webb Simpson: 30/1
Jason Bohn: 30/1
Keegan Bradley: 40/1
Hunter Mahan: 40/1
Brendan Steele: 40/1
Patrick Rodgers: 40/1
Nick Watney: 50/1
Will Wilcox: 50/1
Chris Stroud: 50/1
Russell Knox: 50/1
Brendon Todd: 50/1
Charles Howell Iii: 50/1
Graham Delaet: 60/1
Jason Dufner: 60/1
Ryan Palmer: 60/1
Kevin Kisner: 60/1
Russell Henley: 60/1
Ben Martin: 60/1
Kevin Streelman: 60/1
Daniel Summerhays: 60/1
Martin Laird: 60/1
Steven Bowditch: 80/1
Kevin Chappell: 80/1
Jonas Blixt: 80/1
Hudson Swafford: 80/1
Spencer Levin: 80/1
Patton Kizzire: 80/1
Cameron Tringale: 80/1
Kyle Reifers: 80/1
Sean O'Hair: 80/1
Stewart Cink: 80/1
Chez Reavie: 80/1
George McNeill: 80/1
Carl Pettersson: 80/1
Lucas Glover: 80/1
David Hearn: 80/1
Brendon De Jonge: 100/1
John Senden: 100/1
Freddie Jacobson: 100/1
Brian Harman: 100/1
Cameron Smith: 100/1
Ryo Ishikawa: 100/1
Jhonattan Vegas: 100/1
Jamie Lovemark: 100/1
Ollie Schniederjans: 100/1
Morgan Hoffmann: 100/1
William McGirt: 100/1
Chad Campbell: 125/1
Colt Knost: 125/1
Field (all others): 7/2
Tournament matchups:
Rickie Fowler -135
Brooks Koepka +115
Ryan Moore +105
Kevin Na -125
Tony Finau +105
Emiliano Grillo -125
Brandt Snedeker -110
Jimmy Walker -110
Charley Hoffman Even
Scott Piercy -120
Keegan Bradley -110
Hunter Mahan -110
Chris Stroud -110
Will Wilcox -110
Brendan Steele -120
Brendon Todd Even
Charles Howell Iii -110
Nick Watney -110
Jonas Blixt +105
Martin Laird -125
