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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Even though it’s only been two weeks since the Tour Championship, I have missed fantasy golf. You know what they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. There aren’t a ton of events over the course of the next few months, but as a DFS golf enthusiast, it’s great to have events year-round. Before we get into the Safeway Open, let’s quickly cover what has happened in the last couple of weeks. Justin Thomas was unable to win at East Lake, but his second place finished was good enough to secure the FedEx Cup Championship (and likely the player of the year award). Xander Schauffele surprised everyone by taking home the win at the Tour Championship, which was his second victory of the year. He will undoubtedly be the Rookie of the Year. After an exciting finish to the FedEx Cup, we saw team USA do a number on the International team at the Presidents Cup. In case you missed it, the best part of the week was the press conference.

The Safeway Open has a weaker field than what we’ve become accustomed to recently, but there are still some big names teeing it up in Napa Valley. Phil Mickelson headlines a field that also includes Bill Haas, Tony Finau, Webb Simpson, Kevin Na, and many more fantasy favorites. This is also the first week for the Web.com Tour graduates to play on the PGA Tour. This is always a fun time of year because we get to see the rookies before they are big names. I’m not sure we’ll have another Xander Schauffele on our hands this season, but you never know. In addition to some new faces, John Daly was given a special exemption to compete this week. We will also be seeing Sang-Moon Bae (former winner of this event) for the first time in a couple of years, after he was serving his home country’s mandatory two-year military service.

Since 2014, the Safeway Open has been held at the Silverado Resort (North Course) in the pristine Napa Valley. This is a classic course that doesn’t require distance off the tee. It is a Par 72 that measures under 7,200 yards. There are four par fives, four par threes, and 12 par fours on the scorecard. The fairways are tough to hit and are tree-lined. The rough isn’t particularly thick (especially the first cut), but if you are going to miss the fairway, you want to be on the right side of the hole. With this being a shorter course, we should place more of an emphasis on approach shots rather than off the tee. Good iron players like Brendan Steele and Emiliano Grillo have won here in back-to-back seasons.

The greens at Silverado are average in size and feature Poa Annua grass. This is a much different putting surface than Bermuda or Bentgrass and often times we see golfers that grew up on the West Coast perform the best on Poa surfaces. The greens have severe slopes that are meant to mimic Augusta National. The big difference besides the grass type to Augusta is the speed. The greens are expected to read around 11.5 on the stimpmeter. Overall, this is a fairly easy golf course if you can keep it close to the fairway. The last three winning scores have been 18-under, 15-under, and 15-under. The main statistics that I will be targeting this week are strokes gained on approaches, birdie or better percentage, driving accuracy, par five scoring, and putting on Poa greens.

Cut Rule:Top 70 and ties will move on after the first two rounds. The MDF is in effect if more than 78 golfers make the cut.

Recent Winners of this Event: Brendan Steele (2016), Emiliano Grillo (2015), Sang-Moon Bae (2014)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Approach
2) Birdie or Better %
3) Driving Accuracy (or Fairways Gained)
4) Par 5 Scoring
5) Strokes Gained Putting (Emphasis on Poa Annua)

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2014-2016)

Golfer DK Salary FD Salary FDRFT Salary OWGR Odds DK Odds FD Odds FDRFT Odds Cuts 2016 2015 2014
Tony Finau $11,500 $9,500 $17,800 49 16 0% 50% 0% 3/3 26 32 12
Webb Simpson $11,200 $9,100 $17,500 37 17 -50% 25% -50% 0/2 124 114 500
Phil Mickelson $11,000 $9,700 $17,500 30 16 33% -100% 0% 1/1 8 500 500
Zach Johnson $10,500 $8,900 $16,600 43 27 -25% 0% -25% 0/0 500 500 500
Bill Haas $9,900 $9,200 $16,600 40 28 -20% -100% -50% 1/1 20 500 500
Ryan Moore $9,700 $8,800 $16,200 46 31 -33% -33% 0% 1/1 500 10 500
Kevin Na $9,400 $7,800 $16,600 67 25 43% 56% 0% 2/2 7 2 500
Keegan Bradley $9,300 $7,500 $16,100 92 37 -38% 8% -22% 1/1 22 500 500
Lucas Glover $9,100 $6,500 $15,900 93 39 -56% 26% -8% 1/3 71 17 75
Brendan Steele $9,000 $8,600 $16,500 59 28 30% 0% 0% 3/3 1 17 21
Chez Reavie $8,900 $7,600 $16,100 100 34 18% 18% 0% 3/3 22 17 53
Peter Uihlein $8,800 $6,800 $15,900 74 38 -8% 24% 0% 0/0 500 500 500
Jamie Lovemark $8,700 $8,000 $16,000 81 36 23% -25% 9% 2/2 20 48 500
Martin Laird $8,600 $7,400 $15,900 91 39 -7% -15% -15% 3/3 8 64 3
Emiliano Grillo $8,500 $6,900 $16,000 60 38 20% 20% -9% 2/2 26 1 500
Bud Cauley $8,400 $7,000 $15,600 103 41 0% -14% 0% 1/1 50 500 500
Ollie Schniederjans $8,300 $7,700 $15,000 106 54 -18% -100% -5% 1/2 140 48 500
Kevin Tway $8,200 $5,600 $14,300 176 78 -72% 11% 0% 1/1 62 500 500
Chesson Hadley $8,100 $4,800 $15,200 127 48 11% 77% 0% 1/2 500 121 57
Harold Varner $8,000 $6,200 $14,700 136 51 5% 24% 5% 2/2 15 48 500
Harris English $8,000 $6,200 $14,400 158 76 -45% -16% -4% 1/2 35 500 75
Luke List $7,900 $5,400 $15,100 141 49 18% 55% 0% 1/1 26 500 500
Sam Saunders $7,800 $5,600 $14,600 300 65 -9% 29% -9% 1/2 500 91 73
Scott Brown $7,800 $6,400 $14,500 120 64 -4% -20% 0% 1/2 500 121 12
Bryson DeChambeau $7,700 $6,400 $14,700 86 62 12% -10% -10% 0/1 97 500 500
Scott Piercy $7,700 $5,600 $14,200 85 79 -28% 9% 0% 1/2 3 500 108
Mackenzie Hughes $7,600 $6,400 $14,500 108 74 -4% -40% -17% 1/1 13 500 500
Kevin Streelman $7,600 $6,300 $13,900 138 89 -37% -54% -3% 1/3 97 41 108
Martin Flores $7,600 $4,800 $13,400 233 99 -59% 42% 4% 0/2 108 500 87
Rob Oppenheim $7,600 $4,500 $14,400 252 77 -11% 72% -7% 0/0 500 500 500
Keith Mitchell $7,600 $4,500 $13,800 303 94 -41% 64% -3% 0/0 500 500 500
Brice Garnett $7,600 $4,500 $13,500 203 106 -74% 56% -15% 1/1 500 500 46
Graham DeLaet $7,500 $6,600 $14,500 98 63 30% -28% 4% 2/3 118 32 39
Jason Kokrak $7,500 $5,400 $14,400 104 72 18% 33% 4% 1/2 124 500 46
Chad Campbell $7,500 $6,400 $13,100 181 120 -67% -175% 11% 2/3 57 91 39
Ryan Armour $7,500 $4,700 $13,300 306 121 -70% 31% -12% 0/2 108 500 96
Denny McCarthy $7,500 $4,700 $13,400 531 121 -70% 31% -24% 0/0 500 500 500
Seamus Power $7,400 $6,000 $13,700 283 105 -21% -64% -18% 0/1 71 500 500
Patrick Rodgers $7,400 $5,700 $14,500 151 66 32% 19% -8% 1/3 87 6 134
Smylie Kaufman $7,400 $5,400 $13,300 194 115 -32% -25% 0% 1/2 118 10 500
David Hearn $7,400 $5,700 $13,200 227 132 -71% -103% -14% 1/3 118 91 68
Benjamin Silverman $7,400 $4,600 278 147 -89% 19% 0/0 500 500 500
Brandon Hagy $7,300 $5,200 $13,100 251 111 -14% 8% 21% 1/1 35 500 500
Daniel Summerhays $7,300 $5,300 $13,500 112 99 -2% 2% -7% 2/3 97 32 46
Richy Werenski $7,300 $5,600 $13,400 187 95 7% -14% 11% 1/1 35 500 500
Chris Kirk $7,300 $5,300 $14,100 147 81 23% 27% 0% 2/2 8 81 500
Bronson Burgoon $7,300 $4,600 $14,100 556 82 21% 62% -3% 0/1 500 114 500
Cameron Tringale $7,300 $4,900 $13,800 313 97 5% 39% -11% 2/3 87 64 26
Tyler Duncan $7,300 $4,500 $12,600 486 179 -79% 28% -7% 0/0 500 500 500
Andrew Landry $7,200 $4,600 $13,500 185 102 10% 49% -10% 0/0 500 500 500
Ricky Barnes $7,200 $5,800 $13,100 276 141 -38% -123% -11% 1/3 57 121 108
Steve Wheatcroft $7,200 $4,600 $13,200 490 134 -34% 25% -18% 2/2 500 55 71
Sang-Moon Bae $7,200 $6,000 $12,400 165 -48% -164% 9% 1/1 500 500 1
Ryan Blaum $7,200 $5,000 $12,400 324 197 -78% -46% -10% 1/1 26 500 500
Nate Lashley $7,200 $4,600 $12,900 218 155 -46% 18% -7% 0/0 500 500 500
Corey Conners $7,200 $4,900 $12,600 553 168 -50% -12% -4% 0/0 500 500 500
Robert Garrigus $7,100 $4,900 $13,300 190 86 39% 48% 30% 1/2 26 500 96
Grayson Murray $7,100 $6,900 $14,700 90 61 63% -40% -5% 0/1 108 500 500
Aaron Wise $7,100 $4,500 $13,200 223 120 5% 50% 5% 0/1 124 500 500
Matt Jones $7,100 $5,000 $14,100 366 94 32% 36% -18% 0/2 500 101 96
Troy Merritt $7,100 $4,800 $13,100 339 123 -5% 19% 3% 1/3 15 121 122
Tom Hoge $7,100 $4,600 $13,300 464 133 -16% 26% -32% 0/2 500 101 75
Joel Dahmen $7,100 $4,600 $12,400 428 201 -61% -3% -14% 0/0 500 500 500
Maverick McNealy $7,100 $5,300 $12,300 180 -37% -73% 8% 0/0 500 500 500
Fabian Gomez $7,100 $5,200 $12,200 249 211 -68% -81% -2% 2/2 26 17 500
Rick Lamb $7,100 $4,600 $12,200 282 229 -79% -15% -9% 0/1 108 500 500
Scott Stallings $7,000 $5,100 $13,400 237 115 24% 11% -13% 1/3 124 121 21
Rory Sabbatini $7,000 $5,300 $13,200 345 117 22% -16% 9% 0/1 500 101 500
Ben Martin $7,000 $6,100 $13,500 202 98 37% -56% -2% 0/2 500 91 140
Shawn Stefani $7,000 $4,900 $13,400 499 106 28% 28% -7% 1/2 500 121 53
J.J. Spaun $7,000 $5,400 $13,300 154 126 7% -55% -24% 1/1 55 500 500
Patton Kizzire $7,000 $5,700 $12,800 280 123 12% -84% 16% 1/1 2 500 500
Ted Potter $7,000 $4,600 $13,200 183 128 6% 29% -11% 0/0 500 500 500
John Huh $7,000 $4,700 $12,300 311 200 -36% -12% -7% 1/3 35 91 96
Whee Kim $7,000 $5,100 $12,200 195 191 -25% -47% 11% 1/3 13 101 127
Jon Curran $7,000 $4,800 $12,000 297 239 -58% -43% -3% 2/3 26 83 8
Cody Gribble $7,000 $4,900 $12,100 268 238 -57% -57% -3% 1/1 8 500 500
D.A. Points $7,000 $4,700 $11,700 230 258 -66% -37% -1% 0/2 71 500 108
Andrew Putnam $7,000 $4,500 $12,500 266 205 -40% 12% -24% 0/1 500 500 108
John Daly $7,000 $4,500 $11,400 1127 361 -78% -11% -4% 0/0 500 500 500
Sung Kang $6,900 $5,900 $13,700 95 88 56% -20% 8% 0/1 71 500 500
Vaughn Taylor $6,900 $5,300 $13,300 217 125 25% -36% -22% 1/1 15 500 500
Michael Kim $6,900 $5,200 $12,600 273 139 16% -28% 6% 2/2 3 61 500
Zac Blair $6,900 $5,300 $12,600 347 187 1% -78% -11% 2/3 62 139 12
Kelly Kraft $6,900 $5,000 $12,300 184 197 -10% -46% -5% 0/2 87 91 500
Stephan Jaeger $6,900 $4,600 $11,900 207 253 -35% -22% -3% 0/0 500 500 500
Abraham Ancer $6,900 $4,500 $12,200 260 229 -26% 5% -9% 0/1 500 137 500
Matt Atkins $6,900 $4,500 $12,200 370 220 -22% 7% -5% 0/0 500 500 500
Angel Cabrera $6,900 $4,600 $11,000 822 427 -49% -36% -3% 1/1 500 55 500
Roberto Diaz $6,900 $4,500 $11,300 515 355 -46% -10% -2% 0/0 500 500 500
Conrad Shindler $6,900 $4,500 $12,200 343 237 -28% 3% -11% 0/0 500 500 500
Bobby Wyatt $6,900 $4,600 $11,000 850 439 -51% -37% -4% 0/1 87 500 500
Anthony Paolucci $6,900 $4,500 $10,800 505 -57% -19% -2% 0/0 500 500 500
Jamie Sadlowski $6,900 $4,600 $10,800 563 -59% -45% -3% 0/0 500 500 500
Chris Stroud $6,800 $5,000 $12,800 163 123 39% 5% 17% 1/2 500 10 127
Johnson Wagner $6,800 $4,700 $13,300 294 118 44% 35% -6% 2/2 3 48 500
Ben Crane $6,800 $5,400 $13,000 377 141 27% -73% -5% 1/1 500 32 500
Aaron Baddeley $6,800 $5,100 $12,400 169 187 16% -40% 1% 3/3 67 55 31
Alex Cejka $6,800 $4,700 $12,900 257 146 25% 12% -4% 0/1 500 500 122
Jonathan Randolph $6,800 $4,600 $12,300 271 218 -3% -10% -15% 0/2 131 500 127
Martin Piller $6,800 $4,500 $12,300 351 209 0% 11% -12% 1/1 500 81 500
Brian Stuard $6,800 $4,700 $11,400 216 308 -23% -44% -3% 0/2 97 500 122
Brett Stegmaier $6,800 $4,600 $11,700 521 253 -15% -22% 1% 1/2 87 74 500
John Rollins $6,800 $4,500 $10,900 474 -33% -18% -2% 0/1 500 500 96
Ken Duke $6,800 $4,500 $11,000 561 447 -31% -16% -6% 1/2 50 500 96
Stuart Appleby $6,800 $4,600 $11,000 504 300 -21% -29% 2% 2/2 500 69 65
Jason Schmuhl $6,800 $4,500 $10,700 753 -39% -23% -2% 0/1 108 500 500
Trey Mullinax $6,700 $5,300 $12,500 286 196 19% -93% -14% 1/1 22 500 500
Brian Gay $6,700 $4,500 $12,500 234 182 27% 26% -4% 0/0 500 500 500
Matt Every $6,700 $4,800 $13,000 607 128 41% 14% 3% 0/1 143 500 500
Derek Fathauer $6,700 $4,900 $12,300 288 189 23% -24% 2% 2/3 15 83 12
Talor Gooch $6,700 $4,800 $12,200 197 203 14% -26% 1% 0/0 500 500 500
Jonas Blixt $6,700 $5,000 $12,200 349 197 19% -44% 6% 1/3 71 48 87
Hunter Mahan $6,700 $4,900 $12,000 730 224 7% -49% 3% 2/3 131 32 3
Jason Gore $6,700 $4,500 $11,900 446 246 1% 0% -1% 1/3 136 73 87
K.J. Choi $6,700 $5,200 $12,300 383 188 24% -55% 4% 0/0 500 500 500
Nicholas Lindheim $6,700 $4,600 $12,500 320 191 22% 6% -11% 1/1 70 500 500
Billy Hurley $6,700 $5,100 $12,000 165 247 0% -89% -5% 0/1 500 500 75
Kyle Thompson $6,700 $4,500 $11,900 255 274 -4% -5% -6% 0/0 500 500 500
Stephen Allan $6,700 $4,500 595 -21% -22% 0/0 500 500 500
Beau Hossler $6,600 $5,000 $12,300 402 178 37% -25% 11% 0/0 500 500 500
Peter Malnati $6,600 $5,600 $11,900 641 224 17% -186% 6% 1/2 35 83 500
Sam Ryder $6,600 $4,600 $12,500 178 192 29% 3% -13% 0/0 500 500 500
Cameron Champ $6,600 $5,300 $12,300 1011 212 20% -116% -14% 0/0 500 500 500
Andrew Loupe $6,600 $4,500 $11,600 496 297 6% -7% -2% 1/1 500 10 500
Kurt Kitayama $6,600 $4,800 $10,900 1107 471 -3% -69% -2% 0/0 500 500 500
Greg Chalmers $6,600 $4,700 $11,000 387 395 1% -48% -3% 1/1 62 500 500
Brian Davis $6,600 $4,500 $10,800 584 -7% -21% -4% 0/1 500 500 108
Dicky Pride $6,600 $4,500 $10,800 918 553 -6% -20% -2% 0/1 500 101 500
Ethan Tracy $6,600 $4,500 $11,000 498 442 -2% -15% -5% 0/0 500 500 500
Kevin Dougherty $6,600 $4,500 $10,700 755 -10% -24% -3% 0/0 500 500 500
Brandon Harkins $6,600 $4,500 $11,600 412 289 7% -6% -1% 0/0 500 500 500
Xin-Jun Zhang $6,600 $4,500 291 306 4% -8% 0/0 500 500 500

Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside of the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.

Legend

Term Description
Site Odds The percentage differential between a golfer’s salary rank and odds rank. The higher the %, the better.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons.
2014 – 2016 Columns Course history at this event in the last five 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 Twitter – @RG_Notorious