Week 41 Approach Shots: Timberlake Shriners

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News, notes and predictions as we get set for the first round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, Nev.

TV/Radio (all times ET)

TV: GOLF (Thu.-Sun., 5-8 p.m.) RADIO: SIRIUS 209, XM 146, PGATOUR.COM (Thu.-Sun., 2-8 p.m.)

Key links

• Expert picks | Money list • Rankings | Fantasy Insider • Tee times | Inside the Field

Weather

Isolated thunderstorms, temperatures in mid-70s. Winds from the SN at 5 mph. Updated weather info

The clubhouse gathering following a round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open could double as a reunion for graduates of the local university.

A trio of UNLV Runnin' Rebels are in the field this week, highlighted by Deutsche Bank Championship winner Charley Hoffman, a 2000 graduate who majored in Communications.

Hoffman fired a PGA TOUR career low-round of 62 on Sunday at TPC Boston to pick up the win. Hoffman finished fourth in the FedExCup standings and has earned five top-10s for the season thus far.

Fellow UNLV graduate, Bill Lunde (1998/Economics) earned his first victory on the PGA TOUR at the 2010 Turning Stone Resort Championship.

Chad Campbell, also a UNLV graduate (1996/Hotel Administration), was part of the three man playoff in 2009 and will be making his eighth appearance at the JTSHO. He's recorded back-to-back top-3 finishes at the event. Campbell's had two top ten finishes in 2010 and has made 18 of 25 cuts.

BUBBLE WATCH: Woody Austin's T38 finish at last week's Frys.com Open was not enough to keep him off the money list's 125-man bubble. He enters the week at No. 125 on the PGA TOUR money list, barely $14,000 ahead of last week's bubble boy Aron Price. This week, 38 of the 40 between 111 and 150 on the money list are either in the field or listed as alternates. The two exceptions: 2009 PLAYERS Champion Henrik Stenson, who is exempt because of that victory, and Mike Weir, who is out with an injury.

KODAK CHALLENGE UPDATE: All eyes will be on the rookies for the second consecutive week. Rickie Fowler and Troy Merritt remain tied for the lead of the $1 million Kodak Challenge competition at 15-under. Sitting just one shot back are Tim Petrovic and Aaron Baddeley. This week's hole is the 560-yard par-5 16th at TPC Summerlin. Though water guards the front and right sides of the green, this hole can still be a two-shot par-5 meaning eagle opportunities will be available for someone wanting to make a move up the Kodak Challenge leaderboard. For complete Kodak Challenge coverage, click here.

Columnists' predictions

Each week, PGATOUR.COM columnists will predict the winner. Here are their picks for the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open: Columnist Pick Comment Stan AWTREY Hunter Mahan: A rare Fall Series appearance by the Ryder Cup member can provide some Christmas money. He has played well here and tied for 14th a year ago. Craig DOLCH Arjun Atwal: Career renaissance continues with another strong week. Melanie HAUSER Rickie Fowler: Said it last week, I'll say it again. It's time. It's that simple. John MAGINNES Rickie Fowler: Justin Timberlake is my pick this week because he is cooler than Justin Beiber and Rickie Fowler combined. But alas he is not in the field... Neither is Beiber. So I will go with Rickie.

Did you know?

Three of Martin Lairds eight career top-10s have come in the state of Nevada. Laird is the defending champion at this weeks Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, and he has also notched top-10s in both his starts at the Reno-Tahoe Open (T2 in 2009/T4 in 2008). More than 25 percent of his career official earnings have come in the Silver State ($1,148,798 of $3,961,634).

What the winner gets

A victory this week at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open will earn the following benefits: • Fully Exempt for the remainder of 2010 and all of 2011 and 2012 • A spot in the following 2011 events in order of play:    - SBS Championship    - Bob Hope Classic    - Arnold Palmer Invitational    - Verizon Heritage    - THE PLAYERS Championship    - Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial    - The Memorial Tournament    - AT&T National    - PGA Championship • If second TOUR win since the 2010 U.S. Open, entry into the 2011 U.S. Open. • If a U.S. player, 774,000 points towards making the 2011 Presidents Cup team.