Power Rankings: Fantasy golf advice for the Safeway Open

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FANTASY

Power Rankings: Safeway Open
- October 03, 2018
  By Rob Bolton , PGATOUR.COM Follow @RobBoltonGolf
Inside the PGA TOUR

Fantasy Outlook: Safeway Open

As we reset following the 12th annual FedExCup Playoffs, we're reminded of where it all begins – at the Safeway Open.

For the sixth consecutive season, it serves as the launching pad. Forty-eight tournaments are scheduled for the 2018-19 PGA TOUR. Eight who competed at Silverado Resort and Spa's North Course last year advanced to the TOUR Championship two weeks ago. Five represented the United States in last week's Ryder Cup.

For more on what the field of 144 faces at Silverado, how Brendan Steele has dominated and more, scroll beneath the ranking.

RANK

PLAYER

COMMENT

15		Curtis Luck	Needed to rally in Web Finals to secure his card, but now he can stretch. Finished the 2018 Web.com Tour at T3 in putting, fifth in birdies-or-better after hitting GIR and T9 in par-5 scoring.
Needed to rally in Web Finals to secure his card, but now he can stretch. Finished the 2018 Web.com Tour at T3 in putting, fifth in birdies-or-better after hitting GIR and T9 in par-5 scoring.

14		Cam Davis	So far, he's all or nothing, but he connects often enough to be dangerous. Registered a pair of third-place finishes in the Web Finals and ranked second in the all-around for the season.
So far, he's all or nothing, but he connects often enough to be dangerous. Registered a pair of third-place finishes in the Web Finals and ranked second in the all-around for the season.

13		Anders Albertson	The Web.com Tour's scoring leader clinched his card during the regular season, and then went 4-for-4 during the Finals with a pair of top 10s. Ranked fifth on the circuit in putting.
The Web.com Tour's scoring leader clinched his card during the regular season, and then went 4-for-4 during the Finals with a pair of top 10s. Ranked fifth on the circuit in putting.

12		Hunter Mahan	Despite needing the Web Finals to regain his card, he finished inside the top 45 on the PGA TOUR in fairways hit, GIR and strokes gained: putting. T3 (2014) and T13 (2017) at Silverado.
Despite needing the Web Finals to regain his card, he finished inside the top 45 on the PGA TOUR in fairways hit, GIR and strokes gained: putting. T3 (2014) and T13 (2017) at Silverado.

11		Abraham Ancer	Until further notice, the sum is greater than his parts and he doesn't mind pressure putting (27th in scrambling). Closed out a breakout season with three top 10s in last eight starts.
Until further notice, the sum is greater than his parts and he doesn't mind pressure putting (27th in scrambling). Closed out a breakout season with three top 10s in last eight starts.

10		Joaquin Niemann	No doubt champing at the bit to start his first season as a PGA TOUR member. Off since the Wyndham, he connected for four top 10s after turning pro in April. He'll love Silverado.
No doubt champing at the bit to start his first season as a PGA TOUR member. Off since the Wyndham, he connected for four top 10s after turning pro in April. He'll love Silverado.

9		Denny McCarthy	Second half served as a foreshock to an eruption in the Web Finals. Won the Web.com Tour Championship and led the series in earnings. Ranked 20th on TOUR in strokes gained: putting.
Second half served as a foreshock to an eruption in the Web Finals. Won the Web.com Tour Championship and led the series in earnings. Ranked 20th on TOUR in strokes gained: putting.

8		Martin Laird	Horse for the course at 4-for-4 with two top 10s, a T17 and a scoring average of 69.81. While his week-to-week results don't reflect it, he's one of the most balanced performers in the sport.
Horse for the course at 4-for-4 with two top 10s, a T17 and a scoring average of 69.81. While his week-to-week results don't reflect it, he's one of the most balanced performers in the sport.

7		Brandt Snedeker	A little over a month removed from victory at Sedgefield, he overcame back spasms to finish 40th in the FedExCup. Finished the season 18th in strokes gained: putting. T17 here in 2015.
A little over a month removed from victory at Sedgefield, he overcame back spasms to finish 40th in the FedExCup. Finished the season 18th in strokes gained: putting. T17 here in 2015.

6		Phil Mickelson	Concern of post-Ryder Cup fatigue is mitigated in knowing that he'd be making his third straight start at Silverado where his scoring average is 68.75 with a T8 in 2017 and T3 last year.
Concern of post-Ryder Cup fatigue is mitigated in knowing that he'd be making his third straight start at Silverado where his scoring average is 68.75 with a T8 in 2017 and T3 last year.

5		Adam Hadwin	He was the only golfer in the Playoffs with three top 25s who didn't reach East Lake, a fitting conclusion to a season just off the radar. Statistically sound and balanced. Fourth appearance.
He was the only golfer in the Playoffs with three top 25s who didn't reach East Lake, a fitting conclusion to a season just off the radar. Statistically sound and balanced. Fourth appearance.

4		Emiliano Grillo	The 2015 champ was T5 through three rounds last year before getting blown back to a T28 with a closing 77. Last of career-best six top 10s last season was a T7 at TPC Boston a month ago.
The 2015 champ was T5 through three rounds last year before getting blown back to a T28 with a closing 77. Last of career-best six top 10s last season was a T7 at TPC Boston a month ago.

3		Patrick Cantlay	The slump-proof 26-year-old is making his Silverado debut. Concluded last season at East Lake and at eighth in GIR, ninth in strokes gained: tee-to-green and T17 in par-5 scoring.
The slump-proof 26-year-old is making his Silverado debut. Concluded last season at East Lake and at eighth in GIR, ninth in strokes gained: tee-to-green and T17 in par-5 scoring.

2		Ryan Moore	Stalled in the Playoffs, which means he's rested. Ended his regular season with four top 15s in seven starts. Ball-striking and scrambling have yielded top 20s in both appearances at Silverado.
Stalled in the Playoffs, which means he's rested. Ended his regular season with four top 15s in seven starts. Ball-striking and scrambling have yielded top 20s in both appearances at Silverado.

1		Brendan Steele	Two-time defending champ has been the Man of Steel at Silverado. Also logged top 25s in first two appearances. Arrives again after a similar lull to last year's before going back-to-back.
Two-time defending champ has been the Man of Steel at Silverado. Also logged top 25s in first two appearances. Arrives again after a similar lull to last year's before going back-to-back.

Chris Kirk, Chez Reavie, Danny Willett, Sam Burns and 2014 champion Sangmoon Bae will be among the notables reviewed in Tuesday's Fantasy Insider.

Ever since the wraparound schedule was introduced in 2013-14, the season opener has benefited golfers fresh off earning their cards in the Web.com Tour Finals. Sure, there's the emotional lift of securing one's job, but when the focus returns to the task at hand, gone are the days of having to wait a month or so before reconnecting with the form that got them there. So, anticipate a final leaderboard that reflects this phenomenon.

It doesn't hurt that Silverado presents a proper test. At 7,166 yards, it's short for the current generation of PGA TOUR talent, yet it's a par 72 with four par 5s. Not surprisingly, distance off the tee has proven to have value over accuracy. However, like any other par 72 that has surrendered respective winning scores of 18-under and 15-under to Steele, who has been the model of consistency on the track, it's vulnerable on approach before handsomely rewarding those who are in tune with their putter.

Eight of the 12 who finished inside the top 10 in last year's Safeway also finished inside the top 20 in proximity to the hole and/or strokes gained: putting. En route to both of his victories, Steele slotted inside the top 15 in strokes gained: approach-the-green, proximity, par-5 scoring and scrambling, while also excelling across the board in all other notable metrics.

Silverado doesn't make it easy, though. It limited last year's field to a conversion percentage of just 85.73 percent from inside 10 feet, the second-lowest split of any course all season but in line with its historical stinginess. Meanwhile, while its scoring average of 71.757 was the four-year tournament high, strong winds in the finale inflated it disproportionate to the projection.

A similarly breezy final round is possible this week, but daytime highs will be more seasonable than what last year's heat wave generated. It's unlikely to touch 80 degrees until Sunday. The threat for rain will have ended by the time the tournament – and the season – it poised to begin.

ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE

PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled.

MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings

TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Fantasy Insider

WEDNESDAY: One & Done, Twitter live fantasy show

* - Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.

Power Rankings: Safeway Open

Fantasy Outlook: Safeway Open