PGA First Look: Safeway Open

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The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.

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Safeway Open Preview

Cut Rule: Top 70 and ties will move on after the first two rounds are completed.

Recent Winners of this Event: Emiliano Grillo (2015), Sang-Moon Bae (2014)

It feels like the Ryder Cup was only a couple weeks ago. Oh wait, it was. The PGA Tour has the shortest offseason in all of sports, which is just fine for those of us that love fantasy golf. This week was supposed to mark the return of Tiger Woods, but unfortunately he has already withdrawn. His game is not in the place that he would like it to be, so we will continue to wait on his comeback. The first event of the season is the Safeway Open, which was formerly called the Frys.com Open. This event has changed names and venues quite a bit over the years, but it has been played at Silverado Country Club in each of the last two seasons. If you are looking at course history, make sure to only factor in 2015 and 2014.

Silverado CC’s North Course is a Par 72 that measures just over 7,200 yards. The course isn’t particularly long or short and the winning score has been 15-under par in each of the last two seasons. This is a Robert Trent Jones design that was redesigned by Johnny Miller. All four of the par fives should be reachable by most of the field and scoring on these holes is imperative for golfers that want to be in contention on Sunday afternoon. The rough here is playable, which gives an advantage to those with distance off the tee. Preferably, we want a nice combination of accuracy and distance though, as the greens have a lot of undulation and playing from the fairway will help golfers get their approach shots closer to the hole.

This is one of my favorite times of the year, as all of the Web.com graduates will be in the field. In years past, we have seen players like Tony Finau, Justin Thomas, and Emiliano Grillo make names for themselves after making the jump from the Web.com Tour. There are five graduates that have my interest piqued for this tournament: Cheng-Tsung Pan, Grayson Murray, Ryan Blaum, Xander Schauffele, and J.J. Spaun. This is the time to load up on these Web.com players in tournaments, as the public doesn’t quite know who they are just yet.

Key Statistics

1) Strokes Gained: Tee to Green
2) Strokes Gained: Putting
3) Birdie or Better %
4) Par 5 Scoring
5) Par 4 Scoring

Golfer Salary OWGR Odds + / – SG: T2G SG: Putting Cuts 2015 2014
Paul Casey $11,600 12 11 0 1.260 0.112 0/0 500 500
Matt Kuchar $11,500 17 14 0 0.932 0.381 1/1 500 21
Phil Mickelson $11,300 15 17 0 0.799 0.565 0/0 500 500
Emiliano Grillo $10,900 24 19 0 0.534 -0.056 1/1 1 500
Justin Thomas $10,400 34 20 0 0.506 -0.185 1/2 3 75
Jon Rahm $10,200 133 24 0 0/0 500 500
Kevin Na $9,900 39 27 0 0.553 0.074 1/1 2 500
Bill Haas $9,500 44 40 0 0.693 -0.174 0/0 500 500
Roberto Castro $9,300 66 47 -2 0.844 -0.257 1/1 69 500
Jhonattan Vegas $9,100 73 50 -3 0.505 0.098 1/2 10 96
Scott Piercy $8,900 35 53 -3 0.478 -0.286 0/1 500 108
Brendan Steele $8,700 88 48 0 0.532 -0.257 2/2 17 21
Bud Cauley $8,600 277 60 -4 0/0 500 500
Bryson DeChambeau $8,500 108 71 -11 0/0 500 500
Charley Hoffman $8,400 54 63 -4 0.598 -0.036 0/0 500 500
Tony Finau $8,300 78 46 6 0.226 -0.108 2/2 32 12
Chris Kirk $8,200 76 58 1 0.660 -0.006 1/1 81 500
Jason Kokrak $8,100 89 45 9 0.830 -0.270 1/1 DQ 46
Martin Laird $8,000 150 56 4 0.140 0.157 2/2 64 3
Smylie Kaufman $7,900 86 66 -1 0.188 0.134 1/1 10 500
Wesley Bryan $7,900 110 62 2 0/0 500 500
Hudson Swafford $7,800 205 69 -1 0.100 0.203 2/2 17 8
Danny Lee $7,800 55 75 -5 0.510 -0.207 1/1 500 46
David Lingmerth $7,700 58 78 -5 0.206 0.055 1/1 500 17
Keegan Bradley $7,700 122 79 -7 0.929 -0.631 0/0 500 500
Russell Henley $7,700 104 79 -8 0.366 0.193 1/1 41 500
Brian Harman $7,600 121 69 5 -0.225 0.485 0/1 83 500
Daniel Summerhays $7,600 59 85 -7 -0.356 0.592 2/2 32 46
Charles Howell $7,600 101 86 -8 0.540 0.133 0/0 500 500
Webb Simpson $7,500 70 74 4 1.149 -0.482 0/1 114 500
Grayson Murray $7,500 163 65 10 0/0 500 500
Robert Streb $7,500 83 100 -13 0.555 -0.432 1/2 114 31
Lucas Glover $7,400 244 93 -6 0.764 -0.192 1/2 17 75
Patrick Rodgers $7,400 126 76 5 0.504 -0.193 1/2 6 134
Kyle Reifers $7,400 112 93 -7 0.047 0.102 2/2 6 39
Cheng-Tsung Pan $7,400 122 -19 0/0 500 500
Harris English $7,300 65 70 13 -0.017 0.592 0/1 500 75
Jamie Lovemark $7,300 94 78 7 0.321 0.142 1/1 48 500
David Hearn $7,300 115 79 4 0.311 0.214 1/2 91 68
Chad Campbell $7,300 186 116 -11 0.821 -0.256 1/2 91 39
Retief Goosen $7,200 162 104 -3 0.151 0.462 1/1 500 3
Graham DeLaet $7,200 160 94 -1 0.283 -0.211 2/2 32 39
James Hahn $7,200 61 90 3 0.001 -0.245 1/2 41 96
Colt Knost $7,200 107 129 -13 -0.060 0.384 2/2 41 26
Adam Hadwin $7,100 193 109 -1 -0.003 0.529 2/2 41 53
Johnson Wagner $7,100 166 106 0 0.095 0.273 1/1 48 500
Robert Garrigus $7,100 210 114 -2 0.844 -0.213 0/1 500 96
Harold Varner $7,100 190 118 -4 0.478 -0.377 0/0 500 500
Martin Flores $7,100 213 133 -11 0/1 500 87
Chez Reavie $7,000 135 131 -5 0.761 -0.262 2/2 17 53
Kevin Streelman $7,000 109 89 13 0.447 -0.383 1/2 41 108
Fabian Gomez $7,000 74 87 14 -0.249 0.213 1/1 17 500
Bryce Molder $7,000 138 146 -16 -0.013 0.553 1/2 121 3
Michael Thompson $7,000 219 150 -19 0.141 -0.213 1/2 74 75
Will MacKenzie $7,000 412 144 -12 0.176 -0.479 1/1 61 500
Scott Stallings $6,900 298 93 16 0.449 -0.291 1/2 121 21
Jon Curran $6,900 97 139 -3 -0.354 0.407 1/2 83 8
Nick Watney $6,900 317 118 7 1/1 64 500
Kyle Stanley $6,900 312 142 -4 0.272 -0.131 0/0 500 500
Cameron Tringale $6,900 157 149 -12 -0.081 0.057 2/2 64 26
Sung Kang $6,900 177 148 -11 -0.182 0.186 0/0 500 500
Morgan Hoffmann $6,900 235 150 -13 -0.324 0.208 0/0 500 500
Brian Stuard $6,900 131 164 -23 -0.070 -0.022 0/1 500 122
Whee Kim $6,900 287 161 -20 0.010 -0.219 0/2 101 127
Aaron Baddeley $6,800 143 119 14 -0.347 0.581 2/2 55 31
Ricky Barnes $6,800 178 133 9 -0.091 0.386 0/2 121 108
Patton Kizzire $6,800 103 152 -8 -0.077 0.460 0/0 500 500
Jonas Blixt $6,800 180 157 -10 -0.621 0.520 1/2 48 87
J.J. Spaun $6,800 134 134 7 0/0 500 500
Cameron Smith $6,800 170 145 0 -0.706 -0.057 0/1 91 500
Mackenzie Hughes $6,800 336 241 -37 0/0 500 500
Billy Hurley $6,700 118 124 19 -0.084 0.433 0/0 500 500
Andres Gonzales $6,700 270 176 -13 -0.469 0.008 1/2 101 26
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano $6,700 613 166 -8 0/1 500 87
Ollie Schniederjans $6,700 175 166 -8 1/1 48 500
Kevin Tway $6,700 349 223 -24 0/0 500 500
John Senden $6,600 117 143 16 0.180 0.329 0/1 91 500
Jason Bohn $6,600 140 144 15 -0.252 0.032 1/2 3 75
Spencer Levin $6,600 207 144 13 0.230 0.008 2/2 48 21
Boo Weekley $6,600 202 163 0 0.307 -0.225 1/1 71 500
Blayne Barber $6,600 249 170 -6 0.088 0.010 1/2 121 39
Seung-Yul Noh $6,600 314 208 -15 -0.149 0.176 0/1 101 500
Bobby Wyatt $6,600 486 214 -17 0/0 500 500
Brendon De Jonge $6,600 429 356 -48 -0.489 0.156 1/2 83 31
Tyrone Van Aswegen $6,500 262 150 16 0.024 -0.078 2/2 3 73
Vaughn Taylor $6,500 105 172 1 0.457 -0.424 0/0 500 500
John Huh $6,500 240 213 -8 0.158 -0.209 0/2 91 96
Hunter Mahan $6,500 286 205 -6 -1.063 0.291 2/2 32 3
Derek Fathauer $6,500 273 264 -25 -0.752 0.353 1/2 83 12
JT Poston $6,500 308 191 -2 0/0 500 500
Zac Blair $6,500 243 231 -13 -0.565 0.195 1/2 139 12
Nick Taylor $6,500 393 284 -32 0.086 -0.154 0/2 114 96
Troy Merritt $6,500 132 280 -29 -0.608 0.244 0/2 121 122
Ryan Blaum $6,500 418 220 -10 0/0 500 500
Ryan Brehm $6,500 230 227 -12 0/0 500 500
Zack Sucher $6,500 447 241 -17 0/1 500 108
Trey Mullinax $6,500 302 259 -23 0/0 500 500
Brian Campbell $6,500 339 280 -29 0/0 500 500
Luke List $6,400 331 169 17 0.709 -0.273 0/0 500 500
Geoff Ogilvy $6,400 259 150 30 0.249 -0.437 0/1 141 500
Aaron Wise $6,400 609 156 25 0/0 500 500
Jason Gore $6,400 285 356 -26 -0.453 -0.079 1/2 73 87
Rick Lamb $6,400 353 267 -13 0/0 500 500
Brett Drewitt $6,400 702 306 -21 0/0 500 500
Steven Alker $6,400 538 320 -25 0/1 500 96
Cody Gribble $6,400 519 375 -28 0/0 500 500
Brett Stegmaier $6,300 248 179 21 0.108 -0.060 1/1 74 500
Kelly Kraft $6,300 377 194 17 -0.146 0.185 0/1 91 500
David Toms $6,300 229 241 5 0.248 0.132 1/1 32 500
John Peterson $6,300 691 163 30 1/2 135 39
Rod Pampling $6,300 404 244 2 0.049 -0.475 0/0 500 500
Richy Werenski $6,300 218 256 0 0/0 500 500
Gavin Green $6,300 265 434 -25 0/0 500 500
Ryan Armour $6,300 372 472 -27 0/1 500 96
Michael Kim $6,200 370 233 16 -0.366 0.277 1/1 61 500
D.A. Points $6,200 575 280 1 0.190 -0.596 0/1 500 108
Seamus Power $6,200 278 238 15 0/0 500 500
Chad Collins $6,200 305 400 -13 -0.448 -0.004 1/1 64 500
Miguel Angel Carballo $6,200 420 264 5 1/1 32 500
Greg Chalmers $6,200 247 267 3 0/0 500 500
Dominic Bozzelli $6,200 293 319 -8 0/0 500 500
Gregor Main $6,200 672 -22 0/1 500 134
Stewart Cink $6,100 271 194 34 0.459 -0.398 0/0 500 500
Xander Schauffele $6,100 367 192 35 0/0 500 500
Mark Hubbard $6,100 433 291 4 -0.487 0.272 2/2 30 53
Peter Malnati $6,100 267 289 5 -1.143 0.491 0/1 83 500
Jonathan Randolph $6,100 357 238 23 0/1 500 127
Collin Morikawa $6,100 255 17 0/0 500 500
Nicholas Lindheim $6,100 245 263 14 0/0 500 500
Ken Duke $6,100 260 406 -6 -0.210 -0.524 0/1 500 96
Julian Etulain $6,100 398 306 3 0/0 500 500
Brandon Hagy $6,100 378 309 1 0/0 500 500
Brad Fritsch $6,100 321 419 -7 0/1 500 75
J.J. Henry $6,000 410 481 -1 -0.475 -0.237 1/2 61 75
Steven Bowditch $6,000 192 569 -2 -3.340 0.131 1/2 101 2
Carl Pettersson $6,000 495 422 3 2/2 48 57
Matt Every $6,000 348 447 1 0/0 WD 500
Jason Schmuhl $6,000 984 -4 0/0 500 500

Legend

Term Description
+ / – The difference between a golfer’s salary and odds rank. This can help you spot underpriced golfers.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last two seasons.
2014 – 2015 Columns Course history at this event in the last two seasons.

About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on X – @RG_Notorious