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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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Aug 19, 2021; Jersey City, New Jersey, USA; Harold Varner III studies his putt on the 3rd green during the first round of THE NORTHERN TRUST golf tournament at the Liberty National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 19, 2021; Jersey City, New Jersey, USA; Harold Varner III studies his putt on the 3rd green during the first round of THE NORTHERN TRUST golf tournament at the Liberty National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

Harold Varner III has a nice little resume at the Fortinet Championship. In six starts, all since 2015, he’s made every cut with four finishes between T-15th (2016) and T-29th (2020).

Last year, HVIII fired 67-71-71-66.

His success at Silverado is flanked by solid recent form leading in. Varner III owns four top-20s in his last six starts. He finished T-11th at The Northern Trust and T-12th at the BMW Championship in a good run through the FedEx Cup Playoffs. He was just a little too far back at playoffs’ beginning to get to East Lake, but six out of eight rounds in the 60s has got to be a confidence booster.

Nonetheless, the extra week off could help Varner prep for Napa in search of his first career PGA Tour win. He was the first round leader after a 62 last month at the Wyndham Championship.

Now, it’s time for him to string together four rounds. His closest call to date came in 2021 when Varner III finished T-2nd at the RBC Heritage.

The former East Carolina Pirate gained strokes in every category last season on the PGA Tour. Varner III isn’t the longest hitter out there, but he’s still top-60 in distance. His bread is buttered with his irons where he finished 26th in SG approach (.47). The 31-year-old is 10th in proximity from 175-200 yards (30’7”).

It’s tough to play par-3s in a round under par, let alone over the course of a season. Varner was sixth in par-3 scoring, playing 364 of them in 2020-21 at a 2.99 average.

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