LAS VEGAS — J.T. Poston emerged victorious at the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open, securing a one-shot win over Doug Ghim at 22-under-par Sunday.
The win at TPC Summerlin marked Poston’s third PGA Tour victory and first since capturing the John Deere Classic in 2022.
Poston entered the final three holes with a 4-shot cushion over Ghim, but that was quickly erased. Poston posted a par on the 16th and a bogey on the 17th, while Ghim went birdie, par to cut the lead to two.
Pressure ramped up on the 18th when Poston’s approach shot left him with a long, 45-foot birdie look. Meanwhile, Ghim was two feet from jarring his iron shot, but nailed a birdie to leave Poston with a must-make par putt.
Poston stepped up and buried the knee-knocking 4-foot putt to seal the victory and claim the $1.26 million payout. His steady play produced rounds of 64-65-66-67-262, and proved critical amidst weather disruptions earlier in the week.
Friday’s round was cut short due to high winds, forcing Poston to play 23 holes on Sunday. Resuming his second round on Saturday, he gained momentum with three birdies in his final five holes, establishing a lead he wouldn't relinquish.
For Ghim, the second-place finish on his home course was the best result he’s achieved since joining the PGA Tour in 2020. The strong showing boosted him up 23 spots to No. 70 in the FedEx standings, securing his 2025 tour card for a sixth straight season.
University of Florida senior Ian Gilligan received a sponsor exemption, competing in the field as one of two amateurs (Caden Fioroni, UNLV). Gilligan finished T16 at 14-under, after being one of only three amateurs to make the cut in Shriners Open history. The Reno native posted his best score of the tournament Sunday (65) to secure the top-20 finish.
Tom Kim entered the tournament as the betting favorite, as he won in both of his previous two trips to TPC Summerlin. He opened with a 2-under 69 on Thursday, but stumbled to a 1-over 72 on round 2 that spanned Friday and Saturday because of the delay. His triple-bogey on the 17th hole was ultimately the factor that kept him two shots from the cut (-3) and competing in the final two rounds.
The Shriners Children’s Open, first held in 1983, is a staple on the PGA Tour and the lone annual stop in Las Vegas. The event is renowned for being Tiger Woods’ first professional win (1996) and continues to support Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Throughout the week, Shriners patient ambassadors served as standard-bearers, enhancing the tournament's community spirit. The red fez hats of Shriners fraternity members were a familiar sight, with members serving as starters and other roles around the course.
Poston said he was proud to be able to represent the organization and noted how inspiring his interactions with the patient ambassadors were.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to be here and play,” Poston said. “They’re such an inspiration and every interaction I’ve had with any of the kids, they’re incredible.
“They’re fun to be around, fun to talk to and get to know a little bit. It’s an incredible bit of perspective for players. It’s kind of a slap in the face sometimes where I've got it pretty good and these kids have been dealt a tough hand at times. They’re making the most of it and it’s incredible to see.”
The win also carried personal significance for Poston, who became a father in March with the birth of his daughter Scottie. This lifestyle change has significantly altered his outlook on golf.
“At times I was definitely guilty of taking it a little too seriously or being a little too hard on myself,” Poston said. “Since Scottie was born I feel like that’s been a little bit of a 180 and just realizing that golf is not the most important thing.
“It’s honestly far from it, and I think that’s given me a little bit more freedom out on the golf course just knowing that regardless of how I play I get to go home and be with her.”
While he already secured his spot in the eight Signature Events in 2025 with his top-50 FedEx Cup finish last season, Poston’s win gets him exemption for the Masters and PGA Championship, as well as extending his winners exemption through 2026. The win added to his strong track record in Summerlin, where he finished T3 last year
For the celebration, Poston hinted at leaning on his caddie Aaron Flener for guidance on the Vegas festivities.
“As far as the celebration goes, we could probably get into some trouble here but I’m going to lean on Aaron to lead that charge, he’s pretty good at that,” Poston said. “But we’ll celebrate with a few adult beverages I’m sure.”
