Fantasy Golf Preview: 2019 Safeway Open at Silverado Country Club
By Hans Geevers
Fantasy golf enthusiasts are in for a treat with an especially strong field for the 2019 Safeway Open.
The PGA Tour travels to Napa, California for the 2019 Safeway Open. This year, the Safeway Open will present fantasy golf players with the strongest field in the tournament’s history. Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, and Phil Mickelson are a few of the marquee names that are in the field.
Before we get into my fantasy golf selections, let’s take a look at the golf course the field will be presented with this week as well as the key statistics I will be focusing on for this event.
This event will be contested at Silverado Country Club. This golf course is a par 72 that measures approximately 7,166 yards. This track is a classical golf course with tight tree-lined fairways. It should be noted that this tournament has been held at Silverado Country Club every year since 2014.
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To assist me with determining my Fantasy Golf/Draftkings selections for this event, I reviewed the statistics of the last three winners of the Safeway Open (all played at Silverado). Upon review, one key statistic popped off the page for me, strokes gained tee to green.
Here are the last three winners of this tournament with how they performed against the field with regard to strokes gained tee to green the week each golfer won the event: Kevin Tway (2018)-third, Brendan Steele (2017)-first, Brendan Steele (2016)-11th.
Obviously, other statistics are important regardless of the track the field plays on a given week. However, I love to find a specific correlating statistic for success if possible. For me, it is clear that outstanding ball-striking is absolutely imperative to succeed at Silverado Country Club.
Additional key statistics I will be focusing on this week are strokes gained approach, driving accuracy, and scrambling.
Ok. Let’s dive into my Draftkings player selections for the 2019 Safeway Open!
Emiliano Grillo $8,800
If you are looking for an outstanding and consistent ball striker look no further than Mr. Grillo. He has consistently been among the PGA Tour leaders in all of the total driving statistics over the last few years.
Let me provide some clear data to back up my comment regarding Grillo’s statistics. In 2019, Grillo finished the PGA Tour season ranked third in strokes gained approach,15th in strokes gained tee to green and 27th in driving accuracy.
Grillo has also performed well at the Safeway Open previously. More specifically, he has never missed the cut at the Safeway Open when it has been held at the Silverado Country Club.
Additionally, it should be mentioned that Grillo also won the 2015 Safeway Open. Clearly, Grillo should have no problem performing well on this golf course.
It has to be said that I love Grillo’s Draftkings price of $8,800. I think dropping down to Grillo and bypassing the likes of Justin Thomas, etc. is an outstanding strategy this week.
Bronson Burgoon $8,000
I have simply liked the look of Burgoon’s game over the last few weeks. He looks like a player that has the potential to win on the PGA Tour very soon.
He has started the new season with some outstanding results. In the last two weeks, he has a 19th place result at A Military Tribute at the Greenbrier and a seventh-place finish at last week’s Sanderson Farms Championship.
It also has to be said that Burgoon finished 17th at the 2017 Safeway Open. I fully expect Burgoon to continue his outstanding play in this week’s 2019 Safeway Open.
If you are looking for lower-priced golfers to complete your Fantasy Golf/Draftkings lineups I like the following to make the cut and possibly top 25.
Harris English $7,900
Arrives at this event on the heels of two consecutive top six finishes to start the new PGA Tour season.
Harold Varner III $7,800
He finished 14th at the 2018 Safeway Open. For my money, one of the best ball strikers on the PGA Tour.
Brendan Steele $7,400
Steele is a two time champion of the Safeway Open. He won the event in 2016 and 2017.
Tom Hoge $7,100
Had a runner up finish at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier two weeks ago. Hoge finished 17th at the 2018 Safeway Open.
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As always, good luck to everyone with their fantasy golf selections, and to those playing at this week’s Safeway Open.