PREVIEW FORTINET CHAMPIONSHIP

PREVIEW FORTINET CHAMPIONSHIP

Silverado Resort N. Course Napa CA

Sept 14 to 17, 2023 Par 72 

Purse $8.4M +$400K= 5%

There will be 155 golfers, including the winner of the last 2 years Max Homa, and Justin Thomas.  Last year Max Homa chipped in from off the green on 18 for the lead.  Danny Willett missed a 3 1/2’ putt to tie and another 6’ putt, and looses by 1 stroke.  If Homa wins it will be his 3rd in a row.  The last player to win the same PGA event 3 times in a row was Steve Stricker who won the John Deere in 2009, 2010, 2011.

This is the start of Golf’s Fall season which will have 9 events with a total purse of $61M.  Players who did not finish in the top 50 can be eligible for the 1st 2 Signature events in 2024by finishing from 51 to 60.

The next important PGA event will be the Ryder Cup from 9/29 to 10/1 in Rome.  

Coincidentally Steve Stricker was the Ryder Cup Captain in 2021 at Whistling Straits.  

FAVORITES ODDS

Max Homa 7.5/1 Last years win given to him by Danny Willrett’s 18th hole meltdown.

Justin Thomas 12/1 A win would get his game going for the Ryder Cup.

Sahith Theegala 20/1 Has been close to a win and had a good year, so it my be his time.

Cam Davis 22/1 Would be a good comeback win for him and get him into the Senty in Jan.

Stephan Jaeger 25/1 I don’t see any of these 6 players winning, except for Eric Cole.

Beau Hossler 30/1

Lucas Herbert 35/1

J.J. Spahn 35/1

Eric Cole 35/1  With these odds he may be  a great bet.

Brandon Todd 35/1 No chance!

LONG SHOTS

All of the remaining 145 players should be considered long shots.  This will be the type of field for the remainder PGA events.  Some of the top 50 may play in an event or 2 but most will take some time off.  Some Europeans may play in a few key DP World events.

My Fall 2023 Preview gives some opinions and facts about the PGA Fall season which I will expand upon with future blogs.