Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

It may not be easy to say, but this fall Tour tournament delivers-to fans, players and, most of all, children in need

By Bill Bowman

For the 28th straight year, the PGA Tour makes a fall stop in Las Vegas. The event, which has undergone numerous name changes but for the past two years has been the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, is set for Oct. 18-24 at TPC Summerlin, one of Vegas' impressive private courses.

The tournament is chock full of history, from Tiger Woods' first PGA Tour victory (1996) to Jim Furyk's back-to-back wins (1998 and 1999, in addition to his win in 1995).

But Las Vegas charities are the real winners in this tournament as millions of dollars have been raised over the years to help benefit those in need. With the recent addition of Shriners Hospitals as title sponsor, the tournament has helped shed light on the needs of families whose children require medical care. These hospitals, 22 of them nationwide, provide care to children up to age 18 with burns, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic conditions and cleft lip and palate. What's more, the hospitals provide these services with no financial costs to the families.

The tournament delivers much to the fans as well. Defending champion Martin Laird, the first Scot to win on the PGA Tour since Sandy Lyle in 1988, will return to defend his title. Laird won in a three-hole playoff with UNLV graduate and Vegas favorite Chad Campbell along with 2007 champion George McNeil.

After the victory, his first on Tour, Laird was emotional. "It's the first time I'm ever in the final group," he told the media. "It's the first time I'm really in contention in the last round. It's a learning experience. And I was really proud how I played. I hit it just as well today as I have any other day.

"Even though I was nervous coming down the stretch, my second shot on 16 was probably the best shot I ever hit. I had to hit it perfect to get over the water. The wind is to the left, I tend to hit a cut. It was a tough shot for me to start out left and not lose it too far right with the water. That was a do-or-die shot. To pull it off, and it was probably the best swing I ever made, that was a big moment."

The Las Vegas tournament still has high hopes to move into the spring schedule on the PGA Tour, but whether that happens, and how soon, depends on many factors. "It's always a goal for everyone in the fall season to get into the regular season with the bigger tournaments," said Mike Zampini, operations and marketing manager for the tournament. "But, we're on the right track. It all depends on other tournament sponsorships, giving back to the community and being successful. We're in a good position, but we know we still have work to do."

That work includes getting more fans out to the course during tournament week. "There are an awful lot of entertainment things to do in Vegas," Zampini added. "We're doing our best to make sure the golf tournament is one of those choices."

The field over the past two years has been strong and Zampini believes 2010 will be just as strong.

"Jim Furyk and Anthony Kim being here last year was great," he said. "And Fred Couples came here two years ago. The families get to come out to Vegas and it says a lot that these guys want to come out to Vegas and play the event."

Rickie Fowler, a new Vegas resident, made his pro debut in last year's tournament and finished tied for seventh. Furyk tied for fourth.

Then there's also the benefit of the host being a musical genius. Timberlake headlines a concert during tournament week each year and, obviously, it's a huge draw for players and fans.

So now it's up to the fans to come out and add their support to a tournament that makes a huge difference to the families of children in need of medical care. According to Zampini, more than 25 charities are out selling tickets to the event this year to support the tournament and the charities that benefit from it.

"It's a great tournament with a great field," he said. "And, it's in a great city - Las Vegas. That adds up to a great week."

For more information on the golf tournament and how to be part of this longtime favorite event, go to jtshrinersopen.com or call 702.873.1010.

Bill Bowman is a contributing writer to Desert Golf Magazine

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