Still suffering from a Presidents Cup hangover? Well, you’re in complete luck as the PGA Tour returns with a bang this week with the Frys.com Open. The world’s best golfers will compete on Silverado’s North course in Napa, California for a chance to win the PGA Tour’s first tournament of the 2015-16 season.
Who will emerge victorious from this rich and talented field? Read on below as we breakdown the favorites for this prestigious tournament. While you’re at it, you can also check out our sleeper picks for the 2015 Frys.com Open here.
After enduring an abysmal 2014-15 season, Rory McIlroy begins his road to redemption with his participation in this week’s Frys.com Open. Many were expecting McIlroy to dominate the PGA Tour last season after his two-major haul in 2013. That didn’t go according to plan, however, as McIlroy slumped to a 15th-place finish in the 2015 FedEx Cup standings.
[sc:Golf240banner ]That being said, the former World No. 1 remains the overwhelming favorite to win the Frys.com Open this week. Even though he failed to grab a major title in 2015, McIlroy did capture three tournament victories last season. He won the Dubai Desert Classic, Match Play Championship and Wells Fargo Championship. His experience in closing out this golf events is a huge advantage especially against this young and inexperienced field. Look for McIlroy (+400) to be in the hunt come Sunday afternoon.
Another golfer who’s a definite threat for the title this week is Justin Rose (+800). Like McIlroy, he will be teeing it up to satisfy an obligation tied to their participation in a non-sanctioned event in 2012. The world no. 7 is the second-highest ranked player in the field this week. Rose had a solid 2015 season, finishing in the top-6 in three of the year’s four majors. He finished tied for second in the Masters, tied for sixth in the Open Championship, and ended up in fourth place in the PGA Championship.
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High-Value Sleepers – Hunter Mahan and Brandt Snedeker
One golfer who’s primed for a breakout performance this week is Hunter Mahan. The American has had some success in this event before, finishing in a tie for third last year. He shot a 12-under-par total of 276 to finish three strokes behind eventual champion Sang-Moon Bae. What makes Mahan such a quality pick this week is his solid play of late. He finished tied for fourth in the Deutsche Bank Championship last September. He is listed at +4,000 to win this coming weekend.
Another American who made waves in the PGA Tour last season is Brandt Snedeker. After going through a major slump in 2013, he finally rediscovered the form that once made him the world’s fourth-best player. He won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in stunning fashion last February, shooting a tournament-record 22-under par.
Key to Snedeker’s resurgence has been his solid putting. He was fifth in the PGA Tour in strokes gained with putting last season with a remarkable .586 clip. With the form that he is in right now, look for Snedeker to be in contention once again this coming weekend. His odds of winning the tournament are currently priced at +4,500.
Long Shot – Graham DeLaet
One guy who can definitely surprise this week is Graham DeLaet. He finished tied for 39th in the Frys.com Open last year, shooting a four-under-par total of 284. DeLaet’s main advantage against the opposition this week is his extreme length off the tee. The Canadian averaged 298.7 yards per drive last season, 32nd in the PGA Tour. That will come in handy when tackling the long 7,203 yard, par-72 North Course layout. He is pegged at +8,500 to win the Frys.com Open this week.
