Jon Rahm has taken the surprising decision to warm-up for the Ryder Cup by playing in this week’s Fortinet Championship but, even with motivation a potential issue, it is hard to ignore the rock-solid claims of Europe’s Spanish bull.
Previously known as the Safeway Open, the Fortinet marks the beginning of the 2021-22 PGA Tour season but, while many big guns have stayed away, three of the four reigning Major champions – Rahm, Hideki Matsuyama and Phil Mickelson – are all in attendance.
Rahm’s Skillset Suits Silverado
The Fortinet has taken place at Silverado Country Club’s North Course since 2014 and has featured winners with various skill sets, although most of them had one thing in common – they all drove the ball supremely well.
That is what Rahm does best. The 26-year-old was second only to Bryson DeChambeau in strokes gained off-the-tee and first in total ball-striking, and this looks like a test which will suit, he is worth a bet at 33/10.
His only previous trip to Silverado, which came in 2016, resulted in a 15th-placed finish – a respectable effort considering that Rahm was ranked outside the world’s top 100 and had played a handful of PGA Tour events at the time.
He would return to California for the Farmers Insurance Open a few months later to claim his first PGA Tour win at Torrey Pines, and he made his Major breakthrough at the same venue earlier this year, further underlining his affinity with the Golden State.
Zalatoris Dreaming of California Glory
If anyone can serve it up to Rahm, Will Zalatoris looks a likely candidate and, at 22/1, the Californian looks a decent each-way price to challenge for home state PGA Tour glory.
One of the breakthrough stars of the 2020-21 season, Zalatoris did not have a PGA Tour card last year but he was brilliant at times, pushing Matsuyama all the way at the Masters and recording two other Major top-ten finishes.
His limited status meant that he was ineligible to compete in the FedEx Cup playoffs but he will be determined to make a fast start to the season in his bid to make it to East Lake this time around.
Zalatoris, born in San Francisco and blessed with brilliant ball-striking ability, makes his Silverado debut this week but he’s already demonstrated that a lack of experience is no barrier to success.
Home Hero Homa Should Relish Conditions
Max Homa has been out of form for a while now but, at odds of 55/1, he is worth chancing when he returns to California, the state where he was born and where he went to college.
At peak form, Homa would be much shorter having won the Genesis Invitational in elite company at Riviera Country Club earlier in the year – one of a number of excellent performances in much stronger fields than he will encounter at Silverado.
The 30-year-old has struggled with putter in hand but, back on poa annua greens, he could rediscover the spark on the dancefloor. He tends to play his best golf on the west coast, which suggests that a big week is not beyond him.
*All odds correct at times of writing.