Power Rankings: Fantasy golf advice for the 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. 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.

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