– Last Updated on November 20, 2022 10:10 pm
2016 Safeway Open Golf Prediction
Ready to bet this week on the 2016 Safeway Open Odds? The 2016 Safeway Open, formerly the Frys.com Open comes our way this week as the 2016-2017 wraparound season begins.
Extra attention had been put on this event with the announcement that Tiger Woods would make his long-awaited return. It was reported on Monday however that Woods withdrew from the event citing issues with his overall game.
2016 PGA Tour (Fall Schedule)
2016 PGA Safeway Open
When: October 13 – 16, 2016
Where: Silverado CC (North) – Napa, CA
2016 Champion Emiliano Grillo
Updated Sportsbook Bonuses For Today
2016 Safeway Open Handicapping
The show must go on however – the North Course at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa Valley, California will host a decent field on its 7,203 yard par 72 layout. Silverado has narrow, small greens with lots of elevation changes – strong iron play is required.
Driving Accuracy, Greens In Regulation, Scrambling, Putting Average and Strokes Gained Putting are also stats I will be focusing on this week – accuracy will likely be the determining factor though.
With that in mind who should we pay extra attention to this week – let’s take a look.
2016 PGA Safeway Open Favorites:
Paul Casey +1200
Was pretty good in 2015-2016 and came on in his last three starts – two runner-up finishes and a T4 – all against very good fields in the FedEx Playoff.
He plays Silverado for the first time but his stats seem to support the notion he should have a good week – last season he ranked second in GIR and seventh in strokes gained: tee-to-green. Casey’s current form and strengths make him the obvious favorite this week.
Matt Kuchar +1400
Off the Ryder Cup Kuchar is one guy in the field that has played at the highest level and has succeeded the last month. Before the Ryder Cup he was playing well too – a T4 at the BMW Championship is further evidence.
He finished T21 in his only appearance here – an event he was T3 after 54 holes and melted down on Sunday. Kuch is a consistent guy that should be on the leaderboard of this slightly watered down event.
Phil Mickelson +1400
Phil was supposed to be paired with Tiger before Woods withdrew.
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He tees it up on this track for the first time this week off a very nice performance at the Ryder Cup.
His accuracy off the tee has me a little wary however – so does my fear that he may be due for a letdown after the Ryder Cup. That said Phil is Phil and in his home state he should be a factor.
2016 PGA Safeway Open Contenders:
Emiliano Grillo +1800
Defending champion begins his second year on TOUR in decent form. He finished 11th in the FedEx Cup standings and finished T10 in the last event of last season – at the TOUR Championship. He also had a T2 at the Barclays.
Grillo has quietly become one of the more consistent guys on TOUR and is in a great position to repeat this week. He ranked 26th on the PGA Tour in birdie average last season.
Jon Rahm +2200
Love the Spaniard’s game – not sure about the price. He had three top 25s in his last four starts, including a tie for second at the RBC Canadian Open and returns after a very long layoff. His stats are crazy-good and he does own a pair of top 25s on this track already. Rahm is an interesting prospect – if the rust isn’t a factor!
Justin Thomas +2200
Defending third place finisher in this event was T2 in GIR last year. His last start was a good one as well – a T6 at East Lake. He is a guy that eats up par 5s which makes any par 72 right up his alley.
Thomas’s game is well suited for this track and based on his play at last year’s Safeway Open he has to be in the conversation this week.
Kevin Na +2500
Lost to Grillo in last year’s edition of this tournament and will be out for revenge this week. For some reason Na is a guy that seems to elevate the level of his play in the less-stout events – especially at the beginning of the wrap-around season.
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He also has a penchant for scoring on par 5s which helps. He wasn’t great in his last event at the TOUR Championship but he did rank second on the PGA Tour in strokes gained and approach-the-green last season, and was 23rd in scoring average.
Na should be in the hunt this week!
2016 PGA Safeway Open Sleepers (+5000 or higher):
Jhonattan Vegas +5000
Johnny Vegas! Defending 10th place finisher found his stride in the second half of last year culminating in a good win at the Canadian Open – he had six top 25s in his last eight starts of last season. He’s a bomber which will help this week for a guy that will be looking to continue his resurgence.
Grayson Murray +8000
Super Sleeper has been lights out on the Web.com Tour – a third place finish and a win in his last two starts.
He led the tour in earnings and was tops on the Web.com in scoring average, par-5 scoring and all-around scoring. He looks like he could be the Emiliano Grillo of this year and warrants at least a little attention.
2016 PGA Safeway Open Picks:
My pick this week is Justin Thomas at +2200 – he was T3 here last year and has the length and the touch to make some noise this week. Thomas is on the cusp of becoming a near-elite caliber player – a win this week would make a serious statement.
My Sleeper is Grayson Murray at +8000 – call it a hunch!
Golf handicapper DAVE B weighs in each week with his top selections. Including top picks and sleepers!
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