This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
The 2015-16 PGA Tour season will go down as one of the most unique in years. Although it was expected to play out much differently, it was still very exciting in its own way.
There were four first-time major winners and all four were seemingly worthy winners. There was a two-major month in July, (though many were not fond of that one). Olympic golf made its triumphant return. The Tour Championship went to a playoff and, of course, the 2016 Ryder Cup was one for the ages.
All of that is in the rear-view mirror now, though, and there's just nothing much to look forward to as we head into the fall season. Oh, wait, there is this one tidbit that some might find interesting — arguably the greatest player to ever pick up a club is making his return to the PGA Tour this week!
Seriously, as golf fans, we are spoiled now. The only way it could get better is if Tiger actually contends this week. Which brings up an interesting question -- how will he play? Although the national pundits are telling the public to temper expectations, I have a feeling he will come out blazing. Not early-2000s blazing, but enough to make us think he has something left. As hard as it is to believe now, he's only three seasons removed from a five-win year. Although age is undoubtedly catching up with him, it's the injuries that have led to his premature demise, but if he's
The 2015-16 PGA Tour season will go down as one of the most unique in years. Although it was expected to play out much differently, it was still very exciting in its own way.
There were four first-time major winners and all four were seemingly worthy winners. There was a two-major month in July, (though many were not fond of that one). Olympic golf made its triumphant return. The Tour Championship went to a playoff and, of course, the 2016 Ryder Cup was one for the ages.
All of that is in the rear-view mirror now, though, and there's just nothing much to look forward to as we head into the fall season. Oh, wait, there is this one tidbit that some might find interesting — arguably the greatest player to ever pick up a club is making his return to the PGA Tour this week!
Seriously, as golf fans, we are spoiled now. The only way it could get better is if Tiger actually contends this week. Which brings up an interesting question -- how will he play? Although the national pundits are telling the public to temper expectations, I have a feeling he will come out blazing. Not early-2000s blazing, but enough to make us think he has something left. As hard as it is to believe now, he's only three seasons removed from a five-win year. Although age is undoubtedly catching up with him, it's the injuries that have led to his premature demise, but if he's fully healthy, which he just might be after all this time off, then why think the worst? Can you imagine how entertaining a golf season would be if the guy who won five times in 2013 were to reappear this season?
That was what I was planning to write about this week. Then Monday morning the news broke about Tiger Woods withdrawing from the Safeway Open. As much as we'd like to see a top-notch version of Tiger, I think we'd take just about any version at this point, but that's not what this comeback is all about for Tiger. It's not about just getting back out there, it's about being great again and in his mind at least, a poor start means the end of hope for anything spectacular.
This week: Safeway Open - Silverado Country Club - Napa, Calif.
Last Year: Emiliano Grillo shot a final-round 69 on his way to a playoff victory over Kevin Na.
PLAYERS TO CONSIDER
Emiliano Grillo
Week 1 of the season is always tough to predict because we generally have little in the way of recent play, and this week is made even more difficult because we have only two years of course history. With that in mind, Grillo obviously knows how to get around this track. It's tough taking the defending champ out of the gate, but there aren't many great options on paper this week.
Justin Thomas
Thomas will look to improve his consistency this season as it is the only thing holding him back. Thomas played fairly well toward the end of last season and finished T3 here last year, so this could be a good spot to show that improved consistency.
Patrick Rodgers
After a hot start during the fall portion of the season last year, expectations went through the roof, but Rodgers struggled to live up to the hype for much of last season. With the experience behind him, Rodgers should be a better player this season and it should start again during the fall season. Rodgers finished T6 here last year.
Hudson Swafford
It is the fall season, so you have to expand your horizons when looking for players. Swafford is the only player in the field this week who has finished inside the top 20 the last two years at this event, coinciding with the venue change two years ago. He also ended last season on a run of 13 consecutive cuts made.
Wesley Bryan
This is the time of season when young guys often thrive, and while I'd like to see how Bryan adapts on tour before pulling the trigger, he might just be ready to go. Bryan won three times on the Web.com Tour last season and seems primed to be one of the best rookies on the PGA Tour this season.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Hunter Mahan
Is it too early? Look, Mahan was awful last year, and not just by his standards — by any standards — and he certainly could improve, which I expect actually, but to use him now would be insane. If he is to improve, let him show some signs first, then take a chance.
Ricky Barnes
As I've mentioned numerous times in this space, you have to be at a certain level to be considered for the "avoid" list and Barnes' improved play last season, made him eligible ... for me to tear him down. I know, it seems counterintuitive, but there has to be some value in these picks and Barnes is now good enough to consider on a weekly basis -- just not this week as he's performed poorly on this track the last two years.
Phil Mickelson
A couple reasons why Mickelson is here this week. First, there will be much better spots to use Mickelson this season, namely the West Coast Swing. Second, he's coming off the high of the Ryder Cup and the disappointment of not playing with Tiger early this week. It's a lot to soak in, and I wonder if he'll be mentally in it this week.
Geoff Ogilvy
Ogilvy's earned the right to be on this list due to past performance, but he hasn't resembled that guy in quite a while. If he doesn't figure it out this season, then we'll probably just forget about him. Ogilvy missed the cut on this course last year.
Jon Rahm
Rahm is in for a good season, but his play down the stretch last season has me a little worried. It might be best to take a wait-and-see approach on Rahm as if he's as good as we think he is, you might want to wait until he gets rolling.
ONE AND DONE GOLFER
This week: Hudson Swafford - It's the first week of the new season and I don't want to burn anyone who might have better use later in the season, so Swafford it is. He has the track record here, so I'm hoping to get something out of him this week.
SURVIVOR PICK
This week: Hudson Swafford - See above. Swafford is not generally a guy you'd think of using for a "last-man" pool, but he's been comfortably inside the cut line at this event and on this course the last two years.
