Niall Lyons shares his betting tips and preview for the Fortinet Championship at Silverado.
Fortinet Championship - Winner
The new season kicks off with a fair bit more fragility to the tour than what there was at this time last year. These fall season events remain a good opportunity for recent graduates from the Korn Ferry Tour whose quality more often than not tells when they land at events such as these. Formerly the Safeway, the Fortinet may have had a name change in recent years but the venue remains the same, the Silverado Resort in California.
Form on poa greens is certainly worth looking at as are those performing well from tee to green as that is a stat that most contenders here down the years flourish in. It is a short track around 7200 yards so shorter hitters can certainly contend here, just like Stewart Cink who won here in 2020. Back in 2019 it was a different story with Cameron Champ bulldozing his way to victory with a much different method to that of Cink's.
Max Homa at 16/1 (Eight Places)
Max Homa deserves the jolly tag for me this week and I can't resist at 16/1 with eight places on offer. With four wins spanning the last four seasons Homa is one of the most prolific winners in the field and still probably has the biggest upside to anyone alongside him this week. The Californian doesn't have a weakness and his long game is right up there with some of the best in the game.
His irons went slightly off the boil since arriving in Scotland but returned to form last time out at East Lake where he finished 3rd in the 72 hole scoring market. He rarely has a bad week with only cut missed since late January. Growing up in California he is used to these putting surfaces also and he out done all his previous efforts here by winning on his 5th attempt last year.
He has since cemented his place at the top of the game by winning the Wells Fargo at Potomac which displayed his flexibility with certain venues. Numerous solid efforts have come since and I think 16/1 in a field of this calibre is certainly worth nibbling at.
2.5 pts Each Way M.Homa (1/5 8)
Taylor Pendrith at 28/1 (Eight Places)
Taylor Pendrith has come back from injury in fine style with finishes of 13-11-2-13-68-8 since returning after a four month lay off. The Canadian has often come to life at this time of year also going close in last years Bermuda eventually finishing 5th. A runner up on the KFT in September of 2020 and a win on the Canadian circuit on the same week in 2019 shows this is the time of year he may click into gear.
It must be said he has already done that the last few months and bookmakers are no doubt aware of his lively chance. His tee to green game is in superb nick and that bodes well for Silverado, where he made his debut last year finishing a respectable 36th despite a poor week with the irons. His approach play now is much more consistent and if he can heat up the putter a little we should see another big effort. He is a winner in waiting no doubt and I'm prepared to take anything around 25/1 or above.
1.5pts each-way T.Pendrith 28/1 (1/5 8)
Luke List at 110/1 (Eight Places)
Luke List is a winner on tour this season and looks overpriced at anything triple figures or above. He managed his maiden win back at Torrey Pines in January with his best putting performance of the year. Weeks like that on the greens have been few and far between as has been the story in his career to date. His long game of course continues to be hugely impressive and we know the only question mark lies with the putter. Nevertheless Silverado is a venue that suits List.
Tee to green game is important around here and List has a great record around courses of this yardage, despite being someone more than powerful enough to take on the longer, tougher tracks. Last time out at the BMW it was another poor display on the greens despite flushing it off the tee and on approach. From six appearances here he has finished 22nd and 27th in putting for the week displaying he does prefer these Poa greens. 4th place back in 2019 was one of those better putting efforts and all he requires is another decent week like that to figure here once again.
1pt each-way L.List 110/1 (1/5 8)
Patrick Rodgers at 110/1 (Eight Places)
Always on the look out for guys who look to be playing better than what their results suggest, and Patrick Rodgers fits that bill. I'm very surprised to see him quoted at triple figures despite the fact he hasn't won on tour. Like Luke List their careers were blighted by the lack of wins and with List having put his to bed, Rodgers may well be next.
He missed the cut last time out in Memphis largely down to an abysmal performance on the greens. Off the tee he remains in great form and with a very decent short game it's not difficult to see why he plays well around here.
In eight appearances he has managed two top six finishes and has a great record on these Poa greens. His 6th place last year was obtained with an ordinary week with the irons also. He is capable of better and the course fit aligns perfectly here this week. Despite the difficulty in getting over the line I'd have priced him around the 66/1 mark so anything at triple figures is certainly worth getting involved with.
1pt each-way P.Rodgers 110/1 (1/5 8)
Cameron Champ at 80/1 (Six Places)
Cameron Champ is tempting around the 80/1 mark and looks impossible to leave off the list despite the inconsistencies in his results. I don't quite see how he arrives at a price similar to that what we seen at the Wyndham where he missed the cut. He has a win at this venue three years ago and prior to the Wyndham had posted two top 20 finishes at the 3M Open and Rocket Mortgage. The putter misbehaved at Sedgefield and that was the main reason for the missed cut.
This week we see a field not quite as strong as that and a course where he has tasted success upon before. Champ is capable of anything and a win here certainly can not be ruled out.
1pt each-way C.Champ 80/1 (1/5 6)
Kevin Streelman at 80/1 (Eight Places)
Charley Hoffman is an interesting enough runner this week with his long game seemingly in good condition. Another is David Lipsky whose long game is suited to a venue like this. Recent results in slightly better fields suggests he is capable of posting a good finish here. I prefer Kevin Streelman though who is usually suited to a shorter track so returning to Silverado is always welcome. He has been a fine performer from tee to green most of his career with the putter being the one club that has held him back.
With a couple of wins on tour, the last being back in 2014 at the Travelers he has achieved plenty and the hot weeks with the putter usually result in high placed finishes. He putted well here last year on route to finishing 3rd and we all know his affiliation for Pebble where Poa is prominent.
Runner up at the Barbasol only four starts ago and with two other top 25 finishes here to go with his top three last year this looks like the perfect place for him to kick off the new season. These surfaces represent a good chance for him to putt better than average and should he arrive with his long game where he left off in Memphis then he should improve on recent results.
1pt each-way K.Streelman 80/1 (1/5 8)
