PGA DFS Preview – No Mulligans – Safeway Open

FSI’s PGA DFS Preview

Safeway Open

Course Preview:

The first event of the new PGA Tour season starts Thursday as the Silverado Resort and Spa (North Course), hosts this year’s Safeway Open.  Silverado is a 7,100 yard par 72 course in Napa, CA.  This week golfers return to firm poa grass greens along with difficult to hit fairways. The par 5 5th hole is the easiest on the course allowing birdie to nearly the field.  Silverado also has 7 holes between 400-450 yards, so we can add shots gained at this length to our stat models this week.

This year’s Safeway Open field is highlighted by Phil Michelson, Jordan Spieth, and Sergio Garcia.  Brendan Steele also returns looking for his 3rd career victory at Silverado.  This will be Sergio Garcia’s first Safeway Open along with Jordan Speith as they both look to improve on disappointing ends to their 2019-20 seasons.

Stats: Approach, Poa putting, Prox 200+, Tee to Green, Fairways Gained, Greens in Regulation, Ball Striking.

Field Size:           156

Cut:                       Top 65 + ties

2019 Top 5:

-17 Cameron Champ

-16 Adam Hadwin

-14 Marc Leishman

-13 Charles Howell III

-13 Justin Thomas

-13 Zac Blair

 Last 5 winners:

2019 -17 Cameron Champ

2018 -14 Kevin Tway

2017 -15 Brendan Steele

2016 -18 Brendan Steele

2015 -15 Emiliano Grillo

Initial players we are focusing on:

  • Harold Varner III: Varner has a good history on this course making the cut each of the last 5 years and finishing top 20 three times including 2018 & 2019.  Over his last 50 rounds, Varner ranks 1st ball striking, 6th approach, 2nd GIR, and 3rd in proximity from 200+ yards.  Poa greens are his best putting surface.  We think Varner could be a popular DFS choice this week, but for good reason.
  • Brendan Steele: Steele won at Silverado in 2016 & 2017 and in total has made all 5 cuts.  His form is very good as well with solid finishes in extremely tough fields at the BMW (33rd place), Northern Trust (44th place), PGA Championship (22nd place), and the Memorial (13th place).  Over his last 50 rounds, he ranks 10th ball striking, 8th GIRs, and 2nd proximity 200+ yards.
  • Doc Redman: Redman missed the cut in 2019 at the Safeway Open but has been trending up ever since.  Over his last 50 rounds he ranks 8th on approach, 6th ball striking, 4th GIR, and 8th in par 4 scoring.

Others to consider:

Henrik Norlander, Erik Van Rooyen, Kyle Stanley, Joel Dahmen, Marin Laird, Chris Baker

 

The author of this article may play in Daily Fantasy Contests using these picks and picks not mentioned in this article. It is also possible that the author may change their opinion on some of the picks listed based on new information not available during writing. These are recommendations meant to assist, but are not guarantees. If you have any questions, please contact us.