DEFENDING CHAMPION: Inaugural event.

COURSE: Shadow Creek is something of an oasis in the desert of Las Vegas, with rolling green fairways and man-made water hazards all part of the mystique of the Tom Fazio design.

Opened in 1989 as part of Steve Wynn’s Vegas empire to entertain high rollers from casinos, the course hosted Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson when they went toe to toe in The Match as well as the PGA Tour's 2020 CJ Cup, and is artificial in every way. And is intended to be so.

The course will play 6,804 yards this week and should be perfectly suited to the match play format.

PRIZEMONEY: US$1,500,000.

PLAYERS TO WATCH …

World No.6 Danielle Kang tees it up for the first time since recording a T13 in Thailand in early May and is amongst the main contenders for this new event on the schedule.

Kang hasn’t found her form of 2020 when she bolted out of the gates upon the LPGA Tour’s return from its COVID-19 enforced hiatus, but has still recorded three top-10s this year and gets a rare home game this week.

Kang resides in Las Vegas and will be one of the few competitors this week with prior experience at Shadow Creek, and her game has been solid this year, her outstanding putting a major asset in the match play format.

Kang has also shown her suitability to this format with her play previously in the Solheim Cup and if she makes it through to the knockout stages will be very hard to beat.

RIGHT: Danielle Kang is among the favourites to take out the title this week ... and with good reason. PHOTO: Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images​.

Aussie Sarah Kemp likely wouldn’t have had this week marked in her schedule, but her fourth place last week earnt her a spot in the 64 player field based on her CME Globe Points. One she will be looking to take advantage of.

Kemp looked a big chance of finally claiming an LPGA Tour title last week in Virginia, but didn’t go low enough over the weekend. However, a mix of good recent form and the common surprises match play can throw up when lower ranked players take on those above them on list all bodes well for Kemp.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Hannah Green, Sarah Kemp, Minjee Lee and Su Oh.

TV TIMES*

Day 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 4am – 7am)
Day 2: Friday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 9am – 12pm)
Day 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 9am – 12pm)
Day 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 7:30am – 10:30am)
Day 5: Monday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 8:30am – 11:30am)

*AEST, check local guides