Procore - a global construction management platform if you’re asking - are the new sponsors of the first Fall Series event of the season.
Punters will be pleased to know that the venue - Silverado Resort - is the same though and we have a decade’s worth of form to peruse at the Napa venue in California.
Silverado is a relatively short par 72 that measures 7,123 yards.
It’s fairly tight and has modest-running poa annua greens that are a staple on the west coast.
This is the first of eight events that decide who will finish in the top 125 and secure their playing status for 2025.
For some, it’s a late chance to earn playing privileges while those nearer the top end of the market view it as an opportunity to rack up a win.
One other angle to note this week is that six players taking part in Napa will contest the Presidents Cup in Canada in a fortnight’s time.
They are: Sahith Theegala, Wyndham Clark and Max Homa (United States) along with Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes and Min Woo Lee (Internationals).
With nationalities in mind, it’s worth noting that the last eight winners at Silverado were home American players.
Two of those, Theegala (2023) and Stewart Cink (2020), share the course record of 21-under.
Angles to consider
1/ Par 4 Scoring
Despite Silverado being a par 72 with four par fives, it’s scoring on the par fours that counts for most. Last year highlighted the point. Winner Theegala ranked 2nd for Par 4 Scoring while Cam Davis, who played them in a tournament-best 11-under, finished third.
2/ Strokes Gained: Approach
Approach is the only main SG category in which the last five winners have all ranked in the top 20. Theegala was 17th for SGA last season while runner-up SH Kim was 3rd, fourth-placed Eric Cole 1st and fifth-placed Justin Thomas 6th.
3/ California
Theegala was born in California and grew up playing there, as did Max Homa, the champion in 2022 and 2023. Add in another player from the Golden State, 2019 winner Cameron Champ, and four of the last five winners at Silverado were Californians.
Selections
The above angles have been used to create a shortlist from which the following players are selected.
J.J. Spaun
Spaun is one of those in the field this week that ticks California in the birthplace, residence and college boxes. He was 28th for Par 4 Scoring in the season just gone and 13th for SG: Approach. He looks a great fit and ninth place (2020) and 11th (2023) in two of his last four starts at the course back it up. Spaun didn’t make the playoffs but ended his campaign in great form with third at the Wyndham and ninth in the 3M Open.
Maverick McNealy
Another local Californian who showed he could thrive at Silverado by finishing runner-up on his penultimate appearance in 2021. McNealy was 14th for Par 4 Scoring last season and 10th in Scrambling, another key factor here in the past. Like Spaun, he ended the campaign just gone in fine fettle with third in the 3M Open and 12th at St Jude.
Sahith Theegala
Theegala played some superb golf to finish third in the Tour Championship and now returns to defend the title he won with a joint-record score last year. Add in an upcoming Presidents Cup debut and he’ll be walking tall on his return to Silverado. He’s the third Californian in the staking plan and will hope to emulate another, Max Homa, who made a successful defence here in 2022.
Tips 0-3; -6.00pts
1pt e.w. J.J. Spaun at 30/1 (Betfair, Paddy Power 1/5 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8) 17th
1.5pts e.w. Maverick McNealy at 22/1 (Betfair, Paddy Power 1/5 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8) mc
