Safeway 2020 Picks

In the first tournament of the year, the PGA Tour travels to Napa Valley for the Safeway Open at Silverado Country Club.

The field is mostly a tune-up for the upcoming US Open at Winged Foot next week. The headliners include Jordan Spieth, Sergio Garcia, and Phil Mickelson who is starting his 30th season on Thursday.

With a weaker field and longer odds, this is a chance for a bomb. The favorites are teetering around 20/1 with 50 year old Phil Mickelson atop the list, which is surprising to say the least.

Given the circumstances those who have thrived at the Safeway have either been less than household names, or players who have potential to jump to the next level. As in the case in last year's winner, Cameron Champ.

Here are the picks (odds according to golfodds.com):

Picks to Win:

Favorites

Erik Van Rooyen- 30/1

A lot of people may know Van Rooyen as the guy who wears joggers on the course, but the South African has always shined been playing some of his best golf over the past year. This could be a real chance for Van Rooyen to jump into the forefront of golf fans minds.

Chez Reavie- 30/1

Reavie has always been guy who never gets the respect that he dererves. While he is not a very long hitter, he is incredibly consistent and is one of the top 50 players in the world, as well as one of the highest ranked in the field. 

Bud Cauley- 50/1

Cauley two years ago made the golf headlines for reasons he wish hadn't when he suffered injuries from a car accident at the Memorial. The injury took Cauley out for a lot of the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Since his return the University of Alabama golfer has been playing incredibly well and will try to get his first win on the PGA Tour.

Longshots:

Kristoffer Ventura- 80/1 

While Matthew Wolff and Viktor Hovland gain almost all of the attention from the recent batch of Oklahoma State grads, Ventura has the talent to be amongst the stardom the two new stars have had. 

Joseph Bramlett 150/1

The local knowledge will look to be an advantage for the Stanford kid as he gets his first Tour win. Bramlett, 32, has played his best golf on Tour in California so he will look to continue this week in Napa.