Featured Groups: Safeway Open
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NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA - SEPTEMBER 07: Phil Mickelson of the United States plays his shot from the first tee during the second round of the BMW Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on September 7, 2018 in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
The 2018-19 PGA TOUR season begins this week with the Safeway Open in Napa, California. It’s the first of 43 regular season events, to be followed by the reformatted three-event FedExCup Playoffs next August.
The Golf Channel will provide live coverage for all four rounds, with the first two rounds starting at 5:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. local time) on Thursday and Friday. PGA TOUR Radio will air live coverage starting at 3 p.m. ET for each of the first two rounds, and 4 p.m. ET on the weekends.
Here’s a look at the Featured Groups for the first two rounds (last season’s final FedExCup ranking in parentheses):
Jason Dufner (100) – One of 23 players to have qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs in 11 or more seasons.
Hudson Swafford (156) – Missed the FedExCup Playoffs but had a strong finish to the regular season with two top-15 finishes in his last three starts.
Wesley Bryan (163) – Ranked second on the PGA TOUR last season in putts per round with a 27.36 average.
Tee times: Rd. 1 (3:20 p.m. ET); Rd. 2 (10:40 a.m. ET)
Phil Mickelson (21) – California native has collected 11 of his 43 career PGA TOUR wins in his native state.
Brendan Steele (56) – Two-time defending champ looking to become first player since Steve Stricker (2009-11 John Deere Classic) to win the same event three consecutive years.
Sangmoon Bae (202) – The 2014 Safeway Open champ regained his PGA TOUR card with a victory in the 2018 Web.com Tour Finals.
Tee times: Rd. 1 (3:30 p.m. ET); Rd. 2 (10:50 a.m. ET)
Andrew Landry (37) – Led the Safeway Open field last season in Strokes Gained: Putting while finishing T-7.
Michael Kim (81) – Won his first PGA TOUR event last season at the John Deere Classic by making 30 birdies – highest total at any TOUR event since 2016.
Jhonattan Vegas (95) – Had the sixth highest clubhead speed on the PGA TOUR last season at 121.87 mph.
Tee times: Rd. 1 (10:40 a.m. ET); Rd. 2 (3:20 p.m. ET)
Patrick Cantlay (20) – One of five players with an active cuts made streak of 10 or more events.
Brandt Snedeker (40) – One of 10 players who has qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs every year.
Fred Couples (230) – Making his first start in this event since 2009 when he finished T-66.
Tee times: Rd. 1 (10:50 a.m. ET); Rd. 2 (3:30 p.m. ET)