Safeway Open: Power ranking the top 10 golfers at Silverado

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NAPA, CA – OCTOBER 08: Phil Mickelson reacts to his putt and the crowd after finishing his round on the 18th hole during the final round of the Safeway Open at the North Course of the Silverado Resort and Spa on October 8, 2017 in Napa, California. (Photo by Marianna Massey/Getty Images) /

This was a tough one. A rational thinker could make the case for Phil inside this week’s top five in the power rankings, or could you argue he is a complete fade.

I tend to lean toward the latter as I think the meat grinder of a Ryder Cup makes playing the next week a dubious task, especially coming off a loss.

Phil looked plenty limber at the after party in France, but his golf game was not so spry.

Lefty went 0-3 in what could be his final time representing the stars and stripes. He appeared jovial in the hours afterward, but some reflection could leave a sour taste in his mouth.

Mickelson can be enigmatic, though, and surely hears the whispers of his game deteriorating.

He’ll have something to prove this week at a course he’s handled fairly well. Mickelson is 26-under in eight rounds at Silverado with his worst score an 80. He tied for eighth in 2016 and 2017.

Prior to Le Golf National, Mickelson picked up a pair of top-15s in the FedEx Cup Playoffs to squeak into the Tour.

He may not be worth the price to bet or play Phil in DFS, but he could surprise some folks and post a solid finish. Plus, Phil is often at his best on his native poa annua greens.

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