The North Course at the Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa Valley, California plays host to this week’s PGA Tour event, the Safeway Open which also kicks off the 2020/2021 PGA Tour season.
The North Course is a par 72 layout and it is being used for the 7th successive year. Players can go low on the course although the wind can be a factor and some of the players have trouble adapting to the tricky greens. When trying to find a winner here we are generally looking for a good ball striker and accuracy off the tee is important.
After the big names we have seen in action in the FedEx Cup playoffs, a much weaker field will take to the tee this week, but there will of course be plenty of betting opportunities especially when you consider that they are currently betting 22/1 and better the field.
Of those towards the top of the betting boards Si Woo Kim and Brendan Steele share favouritism at the time of writing with Phil Mickelson 25/1.
Past Winners
2019- Cameron Champ -17
2018 – Kevin Tway -14*
2017 – Brendan Steele -15
2016 – Brendan Steele -18
2015 - Emiliano Grillo -15 *
*Playoff
Outright Betting
Si Woo Kim 22/1
Brendan Steele 22/1
Phil Mickelson 25/1
Shane Lowry 28/1
Joel Dahmen 28/1
Harold Varner III 28/1
30/1 and better the balance, prices correct at the time of posting but are subject to change
Selections:
Jordan Spieth each way at 30/1
I have no doubt that Spieth is getting out early in the season as he wants to put a disappointing 2019/2020 season behind him. He hasn’t played the course before, but should be well suited and showed a few times since golf action resumed that he is not that far from finding his game.
Erik Van Rooyen each way at 40/1
The South African has been out of action for a while and did not feature in the FedEx Cup playoffs, but prior to that he had some decent form with a couple of Top 25’s in his last 4 starts. I have in the notebook as one to watch this season and in a fairly weak field he must have a chance.
Brandt Snedeker each way at 45/1
Snedeker hasn’t been in the greatest of form of late, but if there is a course where he could turn things around it is here as he was runner-up two years ago and finished inside the Top 20 last year.
Nick Watney each way at 225/1
After putting up 3 picks all at a similar price range I am going more than 5 times the price now with Watney who was once one of the stars of world golf. He hasn’t done much in recent times, but does have a Top 15 to his credit a few weeks back and finished Top 10 here last year. Let’s hope Watney can roll back the years.
Click here to bet on the Safeway Open
