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2021 Fortinet Championship: Top 10 power rankings at Silverado

By Mike Randleman

NAPA, CA - OCTOBER 07: A general view of the 18th hole during the final round of the Safeway Open at the North Course of the Silverado Resort and Spa on October 7, 2018 in Napa, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
NAPA, CA - OCTOBER 07: A general view of the 18th hole during the final round of the Safeway Open at the North Course of the Silverado Resort and Spa on October 7, 2018 in Napa, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /
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Sep 5, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Jon Rahm hits out of the sand on the 9th hole during the final round of the Tour Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Jon Rahm hits out of the sand on the 9th hole during the final round of the Tour Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports /

A half decade has gone by since Jon Rahm’s last trip to Napa. He played well as a youngster on the PGA Tour, securing T-15th (66-71-62-67) in 2016.

He’s come back to get some reps in before next week’s Ryder Cup. Funny enough, the other 13 guys are taking the week off or are already in Wisconsin.

In a vacuum, Rahm is the clear cut favorite here at the Fortinet Championship. The concern is where his head will be at and what type of strategy he will employ at Silverado.

I think Rahm’s reason for playing this week is he’s a competitive guy who wants to get the juices flowing leading right into Whistling Straits.

Maybe he’ll dabble with different shot shapes he anticipates needing at Whistling Straits, but I don’t think any diversions get in the way of him contending.

Rahm tied for the low gross score a couple weeks ago at the Tour Championship where he settled for second in the official net leaderboard due to his four-shot disadvantage to Patrick Cantlay to begin the tournament. That was the 26-year-old Rahm’s sixth straight top-10 that includes his U.S. Open win.

The streak would likely be eight if he did not have to withdraw due to a positive covid test after leading by six shots through 54 holes at the Memorial Tournament.

Rahm played in the Pac-12 at Arizona State and has had success on the west coast. The former Sun Devil won and was runner-up at Torrey Pines for the Farmers Insurance Open, won the U.S. Open at Torrey and also won in Palm Springs.

He ranked first on the PGA Tour last season in strokes gained tee to green (1.767), second in SG off the tee (.834), first in scoring average (69.3), first in birdie average (4.51) and on and on.

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