PGA Preview: 2012 JT Shriners

PGA Tour Have we recovered from the devastating loss the USA Ryder Cup team suffered?  Hope so, because the PGA Tour rolls on this week.  Vegas baby... The Tour is in Vegas for the Justin TImberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.  Yes, that is a long name.  We will call it JT Shriners for short. As part of the fall series and post FedEx Cup, there are no FedEx Cup points to be had.  But there is still big money, as the total purse is $8.4 million with the winner taking home $810K. JT Shriners is held at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, Nevada.  This Frog has actually played that course.  It is a fun track with many forced carries and desert areas which will collect errant shots.  Miss the fairway, hit out of the desert.  The course measures at 7,223 yards and plays to a par of 71.  The course opened in 1983, designed by Bobby Weed with assistance by Fuzzy Zoeller. The field this week will surely be void of many of the big name players who competed several weeks in the FedEx Cup playoffs and then the Ryder Cup.  Opportunities await for B and C tier players.  Who will take advantage? TV

Thu, 10/4: GOLF 4p - 7p ET

Fri, 10/5: GOLF 4p - 7p ET

Sat, 10/6: GOLF 4p - 7p ET

Sun, 10/7: GOLF 4p - 7p ET

Champions Tour The seniors are in Cary, North Carolina this week for the SAS Championship.  Purse this week is $2.1 million, winner taking home $315K. The host course is Prestonwood CC, a par-72 track which will be playing at 7,137 yards.  The course opened in 1988, designed by Tom Jackson.  The track should produce a lot of birdies this week. In the field are most of the senior "bigs" like Kenny Perry, Fred Funk, Jay Don Blake, Hale Irwin and Fuzzy Zoeller. TV TV coverage this week is all on Golf Channel, 7:30-9:30PM Fri-Sun. LPGA The LPGA returns to action on October 11 at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.