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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 27, 2021; Owings Mills, Maryland, USA; Hideki Matsuyama plays his shot from the second tee during the second round of the BMW Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 27, 2021; Owings Mills, Maryland, USA; Hideki Matsuyama plays his shot from the second tee during the second round of the BMW Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports /

Even before his Masters title this year, Hideki Matsuyama has risen to the stature where he doesn’t need to play many fall events if he doesn’t want.

That’s evidenced in part by just one appearance at the Fortinet Championship since 2015. Matsuyama’s results at Silverado in his early days on the PGA Tour indicate it might be wise to put it back on the calendar.

Japan’s golf star finished T-3rd (70-67-69-70) at the 2014 Frys.com Open. He returned in 2015 for another strong showing, T-17th (70-70-69-69).

Feasting against a weak strength of field this week in Napa will be welcomed for Matsuyama.

He posted T-4th at the Olympics and T-2nd at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational leading up to the FedEx Cup Playoffs, but seemed to run out of gas finishing middle of the pack in the three playoff events.

A week off to recharge the batteries after East Lake will do him some good.

The 29-year-old showed us again last season he’s one of the top ball strikers in the world. He finished 15th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained tee to green (1.074). Matsuyama blends just enough power and accuracy off the tee with an iron game that consistently produces results. Even when Matsuyama drops the club after impact, the ball’s still probably inside 25 feet.

Matsuyama has never won in California. Usually his balky putter is trying to navigate poa annua greens. Perhaps Silverado’s bent/poa mix will be more conducive to rolling putts in.

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