Horses for Courses: THE CJ CUP @ SUMMIT
2 Min Read
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 05: Jason Kokrak of the United States plays his shot from the third tee during the final round of the TOUR Championship on September 05, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Instead of a 13 hour flight to Korea it will be a 10 mile drive south for those who played last week at TPC Summerlin in week two of the Las Vegas Daily Double. The invitational field of 78 will tee it up at The Summit Club for the first time as they take on Tom Fazio's 7,431 yard (Par-71) track perched above The Strip west of downtown.
The Summit Club will debut with a defense of elevation changes and perched greens. Water is in play on seven holes and there are 62 bunkers to avoid. Bermuda rough is over seeded with ryegrass and will play three inches and upward. Players will enjoy a ton of room to swing it off the tee (44 acres of fairway) and will have plenty of targets to aim for as the Dominator bentgrass greens are almost 6,600 square feet on average. The Par-72 is standard with four Par-5 holes and should be open for business in the scoring department. Bentgrass greens also mean plenty of true, aggressive putts to the hole.
This is the second consecutive CJ CUP in Las Vegas, thanks pandemic, and the second consecutive season on a Fazio track. Shadow Creek was the scene last year as Jason Kokrak, a frequent Las Vegas player, used his course knowledge to pick up his first TOUR win. He's back to defend and according to reports he's played The Summit Club more than once. On the line is a purse of $9.75 million with the winner taking home $1.755 million plus 500 FedExCup points.
Horses for Courses will be quite literal this week as The Summit Club is making its debut on TOUR. Instead I'll look back at the recent Tom Fazio tracks, plural, used on TOUR recently and over time to try and find clues and angles for the players entered this week. We saw THREE Fazio courses in use for the first time on TOUR last season and can always default to his major redesigns such as Quail Hollow Club, or even Augusta National.
Recent Event Winners on Tom Fazio tracks
| 2020 Shadow Creek (Las Vegas) | CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK | ||
| 7,527 yards - Par 72 | NO CUT EVENT - Limited Field | ||
| Player | Place | Score | Notes |
| Jason Kokrak | Win | -20 | Led field with 26 Birdies; T1 GIR (55/72) |
| Xander Schauffele | 2nd | -18 | Led by 3 after 36 holes (Hatton); Only need 102 putts |
| Tyrrell Hatton | T3 | -17 | First Round Leader (65); T1 GIR |
| Russell Henley | T3 | -17 | 54 hole leader by 3 (-15); Top 10 Fwy/GIR/Putts |
| Talor Gooch | 5th | -16 | Only made 3 bogeys, 1 double |
| Joaquin Niemann | 6th | -13 | T1 GIR |
| Sebastian Munoz | 9th | -11 | Only Gooch made less total bogeys |
| Harris English | 10th | -10 | Posted 10-under, 12 back |
| Cameron Smith | 11th | -9 | Closed 68-68 |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | T12 | -8 | Top 10 Fwy/GIR but T41 Putts |
| Viktor Hovland | T12 | -8 | T66 Fairways |
| Collin Morikawa | T12 | -8 | Round 2 65 only round in the 60s |
| Ian Poulter | T12 | -8 | T10 Fairways |
| Justin Thomas | T12 | -8 | T47 Putting |
| Lowest Rounds | |||
| Jaosn Kokrak | 64 | Round 4 | |
| Xander Shauffele | 64 | Round 3 | |
| Tyrrell Hatton | 65 | Round 1 & Round 4 | |
| Talor Gooch | 65 | Round 2 | |
| Collin Morikawa | 65 | Round 2 | |
| 2021 Congaree Golf Club (Ridgeland, South Carolina) | Palmetto Championship at Congaree | ||
| 7,655 yards - Par 71 | Full Field event - Cut 1-Over Par | ||
| Player | Place | Score | Notes |
| Garrick Higgo | WIN | -11 | Not entered; 3rd GIR |
| Hudson Swafford | T2 | -10 | 3rd Fairways; T4 GIR |
| Tyrrell Hatton | T2 | -10 | Made 3 Eagles in Round 3 |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | T10 | -8 | Played final 27 holes Bogey-free |
| Dustin Johnson | T10 | -8 | Trailed by 2 after 36 holes; 20 birdies T4 |
| Erik van Rooyen | T10 | -8 | Round 1 65 personal best of the week |
| Harris English | T14 | -7 | 2nd after 54 holes on 10-under |
| Ian Poulter | T25 | -5 | T6 Fairways |
| Tommy Fleetwood | T35 | -3 | T14 Fairways; T18 GIR |
| Sungjae Im | T35 | -3 | Made the cut on the number |
| Byeong Hun An | T52 | E | Opened 67, closed 68 |
| Lowest Rounds | |||
| Wes Roach | 64 | Not entered; Round 1 | |
| Ryan Armour | 64 | Not entered; Round 4 | |
| Will Gordon | 64 | Not entered; Round 4 | |
| Dustin Johnson | 65 | Round 1 | |
| Erik van Rooyen | 65 | Round 1 | |
| 2021 Caves Valley (Owings Mills, Maryland) | BMW Championship | ||
| 7,542 yards - Par 72 | FedExCup Event No. 2 - Limited Field - No Cut | ||
| Player | Place | Score | |
| Patrick Cantlay | Win | -27 | Not entered; 31 Birdies led the event; T2 GIR |
| Bryson DeChambeau | P2 | -27 | Not entered; 4 EAGLES and T2 Putts per GIR |
| Sungae Im | 3rd | -23 | T2 Fairways; T3 Putts; Worst round 67 |
| Rory McIlroy | 4th | -22 | Only player in the top 5 with a round of 70 or worse |
| Erik van Rooyen | 5th | -21 | Made 1 Bogey |
| Sergio Garcia | T6 | -20 | T4 Fairways; T2 GIR |
| Dustin Johnson | T6 | -20 | T2 27 Birdies |
| Sam Burns | 8th | -19 | Shared First Round lead with 64 |
| Abraham Ancer | T9 | -18 | Led field in Proximity |
| Alex Noren | T9 | -18 | T2 GIR |
| Jon Rahm | T9 | -18 | T45 Fairways; T36 GIR |
| KH Lee | T12 | -17 | 4th Strokes-Gained: Approach the Green |
| Webb Simpson | T12 | -17 | 3rd Strokes-Gained: Approach the Green |
| Harold Varner III | T12 | -17 | Led field GIR |
| Tony Finau | T15 | -16 | Only took 106 putts |
| Jason Kokrak | T15 | -16 | Tied best weekend total (131) |
| Lowest Rounds | |||
| Bryson DeChambeau | 60 | Not entered; Round 2 | |
| Patrick Cantlay | 63 | Not entered; Round 2 | |
| Tony Finau | 63 | Round 4 | |
| Rory McIlroy | 64 | Round 1 | |
| Sam Burns | 64 | Round 1 | |
| Jon Rahm | 64 | Round 1 | |
| Louis Oosthuizen | 64 | Round 3 |
KEY STAT LEADERS
Top golfers in each statistic on the PGA TOUR (thru 2021 season) are listed only if they are scheduled to compete this week.
| Strokes-Gained: Tee-to-Green | |
| Rank | Player |
| 2 | Collin Morikawa (member here) |
| 3 | Justin Thomas |
| 6 | Keegan Bradley |
| 7 | Paul Casey |
| 8 | Viktor Hovland |
| 10 | Rory McIlroy |
| 11 | Brooks Koepka |
| 13 | Sergio Garcia |
| 15 | Hideki Matsuyama |
| 16 | Tony Finau |
| 17 | Xander Schauffele |
| 18 | Tyrrell Hatton |
| 19 | Shane Lowry |
| 20 | Russell Henley |
| 21 | Scottie Scheffler |
| 24 | Charley Hoffman |
| 25 | Aaron Wise |
| 27 | Louis Oosthiuzen |
| 28 | Abraham Ancer |
| 29 | Dustin Johnson |
| 30 | Webb Simpson |
| Strokes-Gained: Putting | |
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Louis Oosthuizen |
| 3 | Ian Poulter |
| 4 | Patrick Reed |
| 6 | Jason Kokrak |
| 9 | Sam Burns |
| 10 | Cameron Smith |
| 12 | Harris English |
| 13 | Alex Noren |
| 15 | Mackenzie Hughes |
| 16 | Xander Schauffele |
| 18 | Adam Scott |
| 22 | Webb Simpson |
| 25 | Brian Harman |
| 25 | Patton Kizzire |
| 28 | Dustin Johnson |
| 29 | Abraham Ancer |
| 32 | Kevin Kisner |
| 33 | Jordan Spieth |
| 36 | Justin Rose |
| 38 | Matt Fitzpatrick |
| Par-5 Scoring Average | |
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Cameron Smith |
| 3 | Xander Schauffele |
| 5 | Harris English |
| 6 | Webb Simpson |
| 7 | Brooks Koepka |
| 7 | Sergio Garcia |
| 11 | Sam Burns |
| 13 | Louis Oosthuizen |
| 13 | Dustin Johnson |
| 13 | Max Homa |
| 13 | Viktor Hovland |
| 13 | Brian Harman |
| 21 | Collin Morikawa |
| 21 | Scottie Scheffler |
| 21 | Carlos Ortiz |
| 21 | Jordan Spieth |
| 21 | Jason Kokrak |
| 28 | Justin Thomas |
| 30 | Sungjae Im |
| 30 | Paul Casey |
| 30 | Patton Kizzire |
| 30 | Keegan Bradley |
| 35 | Talor Gooch |
| 35 | Tony Finau |
| 35 | Patrick Reed |
| 35 | Rory McIlroy |
| 35 | Cameron Tringale |
Horses for Courses - SUMMIT HFC FAZIO CLASSICS
| Quail Hollow Club (Charlotte) | Wells Fargo Championship | ||
| 7,521 yards - Par 71 | Full field event | ||
| Player (Cuts made/Starts) | Top 10s | Most recent | Notes |
| Rory McIlroy (9/10) | 8 | Win (2021) | 3x winner; Posted rounds of 61 and 62 |
| Abraham Ancer (1/2) | 1 | 2nd (2021) | MC 2018 |
| Keith Mitchell (3/3) | 2 | T3 (2021) | T8 2019; T34 2018 |
| Viktor Hovland (1/1) | 1 | T3 (2021) | 3 Rounds in the 60s |
| Gary Woodland (8/9) | 2 | 5 (2021) | T4 2015 |
| Patrick Reed (7/7) | 2 | T6 (2021) | 8th 2018; T32 or better 6 of 7 |
| Max Homa (2/4) | 1 | Win (2019) | MC, MC and T76 others |
| Justin Rose (6/8) | 3 | 3rd (2019) | 3rd previous visit 2016; 5th previous to 2016 |
| Rickie Fowler (8/9) | 4 | T4 (2019) | 2012 winner |
| Sergio Garcia (8/9) | 2 | T4 (2019) | First visit since 2013; T2 2005 |
| Paul Casey (3/5) | 2 | T4 (2019) | T5 2018; best 2 are last 2 |
| Jhonattan Vegas (5/8) | 1 | T8 (2019) | Cashed his last 5 |
| Jason Day (4/5) | 2 | Win (2018) | T9 2012 |
| Aaron Wise (3/3) | 2 | T2 (2018) | T9 2020, T18 2019 |
| Emiliano Grillo (4/4) | 1 | T9 (2018) | T14 2021 |
| Charl Schwartzel (2/3) | 1 | T9 (2018) | T14 2021 |
| Lucas Glover (12/17) | 5 | 8th (2016) | 2011 winner; T2 2009 |
| Webb Simpson (7/11) | 2 | T2 (2015) | 4th 2012 |
| Justin Thomas (3/4) | 1 | T7 (2015) | Won 2017 PGA Championship here |
| Kevin Streelman (4/10) | 2 | T9 (2015) | T6 2013, T14 2014; no top 25 last 4 |
| Stewart Cink (10/13) | 3 | T9 (2011) | Cashed in his last six trips (T37 2020) |
| Eagle Point Golf Club (Wilmington, N.C.) | 2017 Wells Fargo Championship | ||
| 7,396 yards - Par 72 | One-time host for WFC (PGA prep at Quail) | ||
| Selected Players | Place | Score | |
| Brian Harman | Win | -10 | |
| Dustin Johnson | T2 | -9 | |
| Byeong Hun An | T8 | -6 | |
| Paul Casey | T12 | -5 | |
| Patrick Reed | T12 | -5 | |
| Xander Schauffele | T24 | -3 | |
| Robert Streb | T24 | -3 | |
| Shane Lowry | T24 | -3 | |
| Conway Farms Golf Club (Lake Forest, IL) | BMW Championship | ||
| 7,396 yards - Par 72 | Host 2017, 2015 and 2013 | ||
| Select Players Entered This Week | |||
| 2017 | Place | Score | |
| Marc Leishman | Win | -23 | |
| Rickie Fowler | T2 | -18 | |
| Justin Rose | T2 | -18 | |
| Jason Day | 4th | -16 | |
| Jordan Spieth | T7 | -13 | |
| Tony Finau | T7 | -13 | |
| Webb Simpson | T9 | -12 | |
| Sergio Garcia | T12 | -11 | |
| Brooks Koepka | T12 | -11 | |
| Lucas Glover | T12 | -11 | |
| Cameron Smith | T12 | -11 | |
| Xander Schauffele | T20 | -10 | |
| 2015 | Place | Score | |
| Jason Day | Win | -22 | |
| Rickie Fowler | T4 | -14 | |
| Rory McIlroy | T4 | -14 | |
| Dustin Johnson | T7 | -13 | |
| Hideki Matsuyama | T7 | -13 | |
| Cameron Tringale | T7 | -13 | |
| Kevin Na | T10 | -12 | |
| Justin Rose | T13 | -11 | |
| Jordan Spieth | T13 | -11 | |
| Justin Thomas | T13 | -11 | |
| Harris English | T19 | -10 | |
| Louis Oosthuizen | T19 | -10 | |
| 2013 | Place | Score | |
| Zach Johnson | Win | -16 | |
| Jason Day | T4 | -11 | |
| Matt Jones | T8 | -10 | |
| Charl Schwartzel | T8 | 10 | |
| Keegan Bradley | T16 | -7 | |
| Jordan Spieth | T16 | -7 | |
| Sergio Garcia | T18 | -5 | |
| Gary Woodland | T18 | -5 |