The PGA Tour returns from its post-East Lake hiatus for the first event in its recently reenvisaged FedEx Cup Fall Series: the Procore Championship.
2025 US PGA Tour
FedEx Cup Fall Series
Procore Championship
The North Course, Silverado Resort and Spa, Napa Valley, California
11-14th September
Formerly known as the Safeway Open and Fortinet Championship, this is a relatively new event that only sprang to life in 2007. Procore took over sponsorship duties last season, making this the 2nd renewal known as the Procore Championship. This will be the 3rd season that this event leads off the revamped FedEx Cup Fall Series. Prior to 2023, the top 125 had already secured their playing rights going into this wraparound season. The stakes rose two years back, with only the top 70 players from the regular season guaranteeing their tour card. The remaining players will be in a race against time as they aim to secure their PGA Tour status. This week’s field will be elite, with ten of Keegan Bradley’s Ryder Cup selections looking to build some momentum ahead of Bethpage Black.
Players will begin this series with all the points they accumulated throughout the regular tour season (plus the first FedEx Cup Playoff event). No’s 51-70 in the regular standings have secured their cards and they will be competing for places in next season’s first two Signature Events (following the Sentry). No’s 71 and up will be competing for one of ten spots available in those Signature Events, but their main priority will be to finish inside the top 100. 500 FedEx Cup points will be awarded to the winner of every event. At the end of the Fall series, those ranked between 101 and 125 will have conditional PGA Tour status for next season. All of those who finish outside the top 100 can improve or regain their tour status via Q-School. Those who finished in the top 50 are allowed to participate but there will be no FedEx Cup points assigned to them (just world ranking points and cash). This year will obviously feature plenty of quality due to the upcoming Ryder Cup. But going forward, the tour may need to come up with more incentives for the top players to take part in these post-season events.
This will be the 12th consecutive year that Silverado Resort hosts this event. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, the North Course was opened way back in 1957. But it has been renovated extensively, with Troon Golf and Johnny Miller having their go at remodelling the layout. The course features a highly decorated honour’s role that includes the likes of Nicklaus, Miller and Watson. Recent winners include Max Homa and Cameron Champ (which suggests that power is essential here). However, accuracy and clean approach play have proven to be far more reliable bellwethers of success around Silverado. But the greens could prove to be the most decisive factors week. Johnny Miller emphasized keeping the greens at tournament speed during his 2011 remodel (despite making the course more amenable to the resort player in every other way). The first seven course winners ranked inside the top 10 for scrambling. These Poa Annua greens are undulating and slick and tend to suit the local West Coasters.
As I noted earlier, ten Ryder Cup selections will be in action this week. Xander Schauffele will be the lone eligible player who won’t compete this week (obviously Bryson is wedded to LIV). World No.1 Scottie Scheffler has 14 consecutive top-eight finishes on tour (including five victories). He will be looking to add more gloss to his sensational campaign. Elsewhere, the likes of J.J. Spaun and Russell Henley will look to carry on their tremendous late-season form. Former Ryder Cupper Max Homa currently sits 111th in the FexEx Cup standings. He will be hoping that returning to the site of two previous triumphs will revitalize his flagging fortunes. Patton Kizzire will be looking to emulate Homa’s recent back-to-back wins. Kizzire romped home to a five-shot victory last here but has struggled this season, missing 13 of 21 cuts.
Past Winners
2024: Patton Kizzire (-20)
2023: Sahith Theegala (-21)
2022: Max Homa (-16)
2021: Max Homa (-19)
2020: Stewart Cink (-21)
2019: Cameron Champ (-17)
Betting Favourites (To Win): Scottie Scheffler (2.25/1), Russell Henley (12/1), Justin Thomas (16/1), Patrick Cantlay (16/1), Collin Morikawa (18/1)
Value Bets
Akshay Bhatia- To Win (28/1)
Stylish lefty Akshay Bhatia could be a solid non-Ryder Cup option. Bhatia started to turn it on towards the end of the regular season, finishing T6 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship and T13 at the Tour Championship. He missed the cut here back in 2023 but did manage a T9 finish back in 2020 (when he was very much an unknown quantity). A strong approach player with excellent touch around the green, Bhatia could be a nice dark-horse option.
Tom Hoge- To Win (100/1)
Tom Hode could offer good value in the more speculative range. Hoge will be making his 10th appearance at Silverado and therefore has plenty of course familiarity. He has been improving in his last three visits, with Silverado form figures reading 36-12-7. Safely ensconced in the top 50 in the regular-season FedEx Cup standings, Hoge can play without any real pressure this week. He is a top scrambler who should be able to negotiate these green complexes.
The Man to Beat- J.J. Spaun- To Win (22/1)
J.J. Spaun perfectly fits the brief this week. He was in outrageous form during the last seven events of the season, winning the US Open before a playoff loss at the FedEx Cup St. Jude Championship. Spaun roared into Keegan Bradley’s Ryder Cup squad and should welcome this return to the West Coast. The LA native has played in this event in each of the last nine seasons, finishing in the top-11 twice since 2021. He returns to Silverado in the form of his career and looks like terrific value at 22/1.
