There is no offseason on the PGA Tour. Just a few days after the season-ending TOUR Championship, the 2020-21 season gets underway from wine country with the Safeway Open taking placing at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, Calif. The first event of the new season typically draws recent Korn Ferry Tour graduates and lesser-known players. This isn’t a typical year. With all the schedule adjustments due to COVID we’ll see more familiar faces in the lineup. However, with the U.S. Open set for next week the bigger names on Tour are taking a break and staying on the East Coast. Si Woo Kim opened as the betting favorite, one of seven players with odds of 28/1 or shorter. A packed top of the odds board makes for an interesting finish. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete updated list of betting odds when you’re ready to make a wager.
Odds to Win Safeway Open at BookMaker.eu
Si Woo Kim +1800
Matt Kuchar +2000
Phil Mickelson +2000
Shane Lowry +2500
Brendan Steele +2500
Emiliano Grillo +2800
Sergio Garcia +2800
Joel Dahmen +3000
Jordan Spieth +3000
Brandt Snedeker +3300
Chez Reavie +3300
Erik Van Rooyen +3300
Harold Varner III +3300
Doc Redman +3300
Kevin Streelman +4000
Cameron Davis +4000
Keegan Bradley +5000
Bud Cauley +5000
Sam Burns +5000
Mark Hubbard +5500
Denny McCarthy +5500
Charl Schwartzel +6000
Tyler Duncan +6000
Will Gordon +6000
Patrick Rodgers +6600
Talor Gooch +6600
Cameron Tringale +6600
Branden Grace +6600
Henrik Norlander +6600
Jim Furyk +6600
Lucas Glover +6600
Luke List +7000
Charley Hoffman +7000
Maverick McNealy +7000
Rafa Cabrera-Bello +7500
Chesson Hadley +7500
Odds Analysis
Phil Mickelson +2000
With the exception of Mickelson I’m not high on the favorites this week. Lefty has found solace on the Champions Tour and at this point in his career he can pick and choose his events. He enjoys spending time in wine country as evidenced by his T8, T3 ad T17 in his first three appearances. He missed the cut last year despite a second-round 69 and his game fits the layout, as do the poa annua greens. I’m a fan and I might be partial on my pick, but Lefty looks like he’s ready to have fun on the course after his record-setting performance in his Champions Tour debut.
Doc Redman +3300
I think Doc has a lot to prove after just missing out on a trip to the BMW Championship. His MC at The Northern Trust moved him to 71st in the standings ... ouch. He’s played well since the restart and he’s reasonably priced, so why not take a chance. This is a course that seemingly fits his game; he putts well on poa annua and his ball-striking has been strong. I think his game has improved since missing the cut here last year at 1-under. He has to be better and he knows it.
Cameron Davis +4000
Davis is a streaky player and he ended last season on a good note, which gives me – and I’m sure it gives him – plenty of confidence heading into the season. He came out of the lockdown with four straight MCs but picked up the pace with a pair of top-15s while going 4 for 4 to finish. He wasn’t that far off from advancing to the BMW after a T29 at The Northern Trust. Big hitters have done well here in the past giving Davis a shot since he ranked in the top 20 in driving distance last season.
Mark Hubbard +5500
This might be the tournament Hubbard needs to show off his game. He’s been good enough to play four rounds in every event since the restart, but he hasn’t been good enough to contend for a title. His best finish was a T12 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and he placed among the top-20 just one other time. His putting is strong ranking in the top-10 and he’s gained around 6.5 strokes on the greens in his five starts at Silverado. He has the skills to perform well on this layout.
Patrick Rodgers +6600
In a tournament like this it’s always wise to look further down the odds board and not waste your bankroll since the unknown is greater. With that said I’ll take my own advice and drop a few bills on Rodgers since he checks the boxes for success at Silverado. He averages nearly 309 yards off the tee and putts well on poa annua. He has three top-20s since the restart and was sixth here a few years ago, showing he can play on this course.
Course: Silverado Resort and Spa – 7,166 yards, Par 72
The North Course at Silverado will host the Safeway Open for the seventh consecutive year. The layout isn’t particularly long at less than 7,200 yards, and it isn’t difficult. There is no style that fits Silverado better than others. Some players will try and hit the snot out of the ball to gain an advantage on approach. Others will club down to navigate around the tree-lined fairways and stay out of the rough. Getting off line from the tee box isn’t a major problem with the rough not very penal. Winning scores here ranged between -14 and -18, proving that solid play in every area can carry you to the weekend. We can expect to see some low rounds and low scores with the weather cooperating.
TV Coverage: Golf Channel
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