Safeway Open betting tips

If you’re looking for your first PGA Tour win then the omens are very good as the wrap-around season moves on to America’s west coast. Both Joaquin Niemann and Sebastian Munoz opened their accounts in the first two weeks of the year. Will we see the treble this week, or is a refreshed big name going to take all the glory? Here are my Safeway Open betting tips…

The details

Venue: Silverado Resort and Spa North, Napa, California, USA

Date: September 26-29, 2019

Course stats: Par 72, 7,166 yards

Course summary: Tight and with rough that needs to be avoided, the consensus is that Silverado will suit an accurate driver, who also finds a lot of greens. Water comes into play on plenty of holes but, unlike most PGA Tour venues, length isn’t necessarily an asset here.

Purse: $6.6 million

Defending champion: Kevin Tway (-14, beat Ryan Moore at the third play-off hole)

TV coverage

Thursday: Featured groups – Sky Sports Golf, 5pm; Sky Sports Golf, 10pm

Friday: Featured groups – Sky Sports Golf, 5pm; Sky Sports Golf and Main Event, 11pm

Saturday: Sky Sports Golf and Main Event, 11pm

Sunday: Sky Sports Golf, 11pm

Safeway Open betting tips: Steve’s players to follow

How do you respond after a setback? I reckon Sungjae Im (20/1 with bet365) will be just fine and could right his play-off wrongs in Napa this week.

Im blew sudden death at the Sanderson Farms Championship, failing to get up and down from the grandstand as Sebastian Munoz took the honours.

But that was his sixth top 20 in recent weeks and, having finished fourth here last year, it would be no surprise to see him bounce back in style.

Im’s first full season on tour was a huge success, with seven top 10s and 16 top 25s as he made the Tour Championship.

He looks too good not to cross the threshold for a win and, in that context, last week’s experience may do him the world of good in the long term.

Adam Scott (16/1) is an interesting entrant – as Napa has hardly been on his to-do list over the last few years.

The Australian had a mixed year last time out, finishing second twice but not winning, but was clearly trending in the right direction as the season wound up in August.

Three consecutive top 10s in the FedEx Cup play-off should bring him here in fine fettle and, as one of the world’s best players from tee-to-green and in approaching the green, Silverado should definitely suit.

If he can hit the ground running after a month off, it would be a surprise should he not be in the mix.

Kevin Na (35/1) produced a nice defence of his title at the Greenbrier – particularly within the context of a month off.

A tie for 14th should see him nicely tuned up ahead of a tournament where he has put in some decent displays in the past.

The most notable came in consecutive years, as he was runner-up in 2015 and seventh 12 months later.

A fast start to a season is not unusual for Na – he posted three consecutive top 10s to start the 2015/16 season and came close at the CIMB Classic the year before.

Usually a decent scrambler, both from the rough and the fringe, PGA Tour win number four might not be too far away. At that price, he’s worth a pound or two.

Finally, Dylan Frittelli (55/1) showed everyone Stateside what he was capable of when winning the John Deere Classic last season.

The South African got this year off to a decent start when finishing tied for sixth in Jackson last week.

He was on the edges of the top 20 on his first appearance here last season and can be backed at 55s to improve this time.

For the latest prices, visit bet365