(Image by: srtheegala)
The dust has barely settled on Scottie Scheffler’s FedEx Tour victory, but as that season has come to an end, a new one is just beginning.
Recognised as the ‘Fall stretch’ of the PGA Tour, this is a funny time of year as the best players in the world usually use this period to rest and relax and it provides an opportunity for some of the Tour’s lesser lights to make their mark.
Formally known as the Fortinet Championship, this year’s tournament has a new sponsor and will be called the Procore Championship. The official start of the new PGA Tour this season, this week will see a host of established stars tee it up as they aim to find their form ahead of the Presidents Cup that is due to start in a few weeks time.
Ahead of the action teeing off this Thursday, here is everything that you need to know.
The Course
The action will take place at one of the most beautiful courses in America, the Silverado Resort. Located in the heart of the Napa valley, be prepared for plenty of picturesque views and stunning backdrops as the players try to kick off the new season in style.
Measuring at just over 7,200 yards, the layout for the week is tight and accuracy off both the tee and fairways is an absolute must. Usually the best players in the world can overpower the course and over the last few years we have seen winning scores as low as -21. A PGA host tournament since 2014, Silverado is your typical PGA course. With the rough minimal and greens accessible we should be in for another low scoring affair.
The Favourites
Six players who are due to play at the Presidents Cup will be teeing it up at this week’s Procore Championship and there will be several players who will be looking to play their way into form.
Set to lead the betting is Sahith Theegala. The defending champion this week, Theegala made his PGA breakthrough at this venue last year and the popular American will be hopeful of having another big week.
A birdie machine, Theegala has had a brilliant season. Selected to represent America for the very first time in his professional career, he arrives in California fresh off the back of a brilliant showing at the Tour Championship where he finished second.
Currently sitting just outside the top ten in the official world rankings, Theegala would have moved inside it for the first time in his career had he not given himself a penalty for grounding his club in the bunker. Picking up a two stroke penalty he would have won the tournament outright had he not been so sporting.
Looking to cement his status as one of the very best players in the game, Theegala will be hopeful of repeating his success from last year.
Next in the betting comes Wyndham Clark. It’s been a strange season for the former U.S. Open Champion. A winner of one of the PGA Tour’s new eight signature events, his win in the AT&T Classic masked some pretty poor performances at the four majors where he barely featured.
Clark finds himself in the upcoming Presidents Cup team and he will hope to have a far better showing than what he showed at last year’s Ryder Cup. It’s fair to say that as the year has progressed so has Clark’s form. He has managed to post four top ten finishes in his last six starts and is currently one of the hottest men on Tour to back.
California has fond memories for Clark who posted his AT&T success with his last visit to the Sunshine State. Another big week should lie in store.
Rounding out the top three in the betting is Corey Connors. A leading contender for the international team, Connors is a consistent professional who is usually never too far out of contention.
A multiple winner on the PGA Tour, few can boast as strong a resume as the Canadian and he will be looking to end his year strongly.
Quiet and unassuming when out on the course, Connors has posted top ten finishes at both the Canadian and U.S. Opens and also posted a top ten finish at the Olympics.
Making his first start at the Procore for two years, he will hope to fare better than his last appearance where he would go on to miss the cut.
(Image by: wyndhamclark)
Value Angle
At tournaments like this there is always plenty of value that can be found. Without doubt the best value option of the week lies with Max Homa. A winner of this tournament back in both 2021 and 2022, Homa usually saves his best golf for when he returns back to his home state and he will hope for another positive week.
Since coming close to landing the 2024 Masters, Homa’s game has been well below the levels that we have become accustomed to seeing. With his season ending after the BMW Championship, he would have been devastated not to have been able to tee it up at the Tour Championship.
Handed a Captain’s pick for the upcoming Presidents Cup, Homa has plenty to prove after an up and down season. He will hope to get his game trending in the right direction this week.
Eric Cole
Eric Cole has managed to make a big impression on Tour this season. Qualifying for the FedEx playoffs, Cole’s impressive year saw the former Alabama graduate post top ten finishes at the Wyndham, Rocket Mortgage Classic and John Deere.
Yet to win on the PGA Tour, many believe that he could be a leading contender this week and at a big price he could be one to follow this week.
(Image by: ericjamescole)
Procore Championship Betting Odds
If you fancy placing a bet before the action tees off this week here is how the top ten currently look in the betting odds.
Sahith Theegala - 8/1
Wyndham Clark - 11/1
Corey Connors - 14/1
Max Homa - 18/1
Maverick McNealy - 20/1
Luke Clanton - 20/1
Min Woo Lee - 25/1
Keith Mitchell - 28/1
J.J Spaun - 28/1
Eric Cole - 30/1
Jack Hartman
A keen golfer and huge fan of the game, Jack has been covering golf for the last five years. Bringing you all the latest coverage and news from the PGA, LIV, LPGA and DP World Tours, never before has golf been so popular and Jack can’t wait to bring all the excitement to his readers.
