As the 2021-22 PGA Tour now gets underway, the focus will soon move to the state of Nevada and with this location staging two events in successive weekends, the action will be coming thick and fast over the next couple of weeks.
The first of those will be the Shriners Children’s Open and although it would be remiss to look down on a prize pot totalling $7m, it is the event the week after which will pay out more in total winnings.
That is because the CJ Cup is set to hand out prize money totalling $9.5m and with that collective cash bonanza on offer, it will be the richest event of this year’s PGA Tour so far - although that figure will be surpassed the following week at the Zozo Championship in Japan.
Which means the month of October could be the ideal opportunity for golfers to boost their bank balance and in fairness, it will provide punters with three chances to get the better of the bookmakers.
Especially as some of the top online sportsbooks will be offering an outright win market on the CJ Cup and for those who like to test their betting acumen, a wager on this upcoming tournament will be the ideal chance in which to do so.
Of course, it is all about striking it rich when it comes to the sport of golf and for many fans of the sport, they simply enjoy nothing more than watching world class talent compete over the course of four frenetic days of action.
Action that as far as the CJ Cup was concerned, used to take part in South Korea and with the first three editions of the tournament being held in Jeju Island, the Nine Island course played host to a litany of top names.
Names that include former winners such as Justin Thomas and Brooks Kopeka and with the former winning twice in South Korea between 2017 and 2019, he certainly cultivated an affinity with this tournament.
However, things changed in 2020 and not only because there was a new winner crowned that year, but there was also a change of venue and one that came about, because of necessity rather than opposed to desire.
With the vice-like grip of COVID-19 holding firm on the sporting world as a whole, the PGA Tour made the call to move the CJ Cup to Nevada and with 2020 being the first year on American soil, it was Jason Korkak who ended up coming out on top.
While Korkak is going to be of interest this time around, as the 36-year-old will be looking to repeat his success at the Shadow Creek course and in doing so, become the second man to win the CJ Cup twice.
Of course, such a feat will not be easy and with a competitive entry list being announced, it is going to take a brave man or woman to select who will come out on top at the end of a long weekend’s proceedings.
Because if it is not to be Korkak who lifts the CJ Cup, there will be nine of the 2021 United States Ryder Cup winning team who will be ready to build on that momentum and earn themselves an individual accolade.
Xander Schauffele has committed to the CJ CUP @ SUMMIT.
— Xander Schauffele Legion (@XanderLegion) October 2, 2021
The tournament host, The Summit Club, is a course that I believe Xander has played when he’s at his home in Las Vegas, NV.
The X-Man finished 2nd at this tournament last year. In 2 weeks, let’s do 1 spot better. 💪👀🥇 pic.twitter.com/fTFLA5NcZF
Daniel Berger, Harris English, Tony Finau, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas, who were members of a dominant U.S. team which defeated Europe 19-9 at Whistling Straits, have committed to compete in this year’s CJ Cup.
While there could also be scope for some form of revenge, as seven members of the European Team – Paul Casey, Tommy Fleetwood, Sergio Garcia, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, will also be in action.
Whether any of these Ryder Cup competitors will come out on top remains to be seen and of course, it will be unfair to overlook Asian interest either and with Korea’s Sungjae Im and Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama spearheading the continent’s challenge, it is a competition with a global flavour.
Add other notable names such Jason Day and Adam Scott from Australia and it really is a who’s who of top-tier golf talent that will be on show and could there be a winner from Down Under come Sunday October 17th, we will know the answer to that in less than a fortnight's time.