Shriners Open Preview: Rickie Fowler's Chance to Shine

Filed under: PGA

As the PGA Tour enters the final two weeks of its season, players head to Las Vegas for the Justin Timberlake Shiners Hospitals for Children Open in what shapes up to be an exciting tournament.

The field, highlighted by 10 winners on Tour this season, will be taking dead aim at TPC Summerlin. This par 72, 7,243-yard course yielded 1,821 birdies a year ago -- the highest total of any tournament in 2009. Martin Laird, pictured right, recorded two eagles and 23 birdies on his way to a 19-under total and a playoff victory over Chad Campbell and George McNeill.

While both Laird and Campbell return to Las Vegas in 2010, much of this week's attention will be focused on rookie Ricky Fowler. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a breakout year with five top 5s and a top 25 standing on the money list. A win would make him one of the youngest winners on tour since Tiger Woods notched his first career victory at this tournament in 1996 at the age of 20.

If Fowler can pull off the win, he would be the 10th first-time winner in the tournament's 29-year history. And you have to like his chances. Fowler returns to his home course after finishing fifth in putting last year, so look for him to know use his familiarity with the course to get a leg up on the field.

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2010/10/20/shriners-open-preview-rickie-fowlers-chance-to-shine/

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