First Rounder Leader Odds and Picks at 2020 Safeway Open

• The Safeway Open from Napa, California tees off Thursday, September 10th
• Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Si Woo Kim are favored to be the first round leader
• See the best bets and odds to grab the first round lead in the article below 

Just three days after Dustin Johnson wrapped up his first career FedEx Cup title, the 2020-21 PGA Tour season starts at the Safeway Open in Napa, California. This event is the final tuneup before the US Open next week from famed Winged Foot Golf Club in New York.

If you came expecting a good field in this tournament you’ll be sorely disappointed, with just five of the top-50 golfers in the world teeing it up, with most prioritizing rest between the FedEx Cup Playoffs and the year’s second major. With this being a watered down field, Phil Mickelson and Si Woo Kim are co-favorites to win outright.

In this article, we’ll explore which players have the best chance of being the leader after day one, which is totally wide open with so few big names teeing it up.

2020 Safeway Open First Round Leader Odds

Odds taken September 8th

The forecast is expected to be sunny throughout the day, with the morning wave of players enjoying virtually no wind at all, while the afternoon contingent will face some wind that’s expected to gust up to twelve miles per hour.

Another benefit from playing in the morning is the exact same as it is every week – less bumpy greens with fewer players chewing them up.

Si Woo Kim Playing Solid Golf

Despite being 184th in first round scoring average this season, Si Woo Kim has shaken off early struggles to the campaign and has opened in the 60’s in his last three tournaments (68, 65, 69). He very nearly won the Wyndham Championship two starts ago when he was the 54-hole leader before being surpassed by Jim Herman.

Si Woo Kim’s driver off the deck is something to behold. 👀 pic.twitter.com/41PrYr5By9

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 16, 2020

He’s made nine straight cuts and has been a ball striking machine, gaining shots on the field tee-to-green in each of his last five events, including a whopping 26.5 shots gained combined in his last three tournaments.

Simply put, there’s a reason he’s a betting co-favorite to take the first round lead, and at these odds, you’re still getting incredible value for a guy who’s shot in the 60’s in nine of his last twelve rounds.

Pick: Si Woo Kim (+3300)

Mark Hubbard an Intriguing Option

Since golf returned to action in June, Mark Hubbard has made the cut in all nine tournaments he’s completed (one WD). What makes his +5000 odds for FRL all the more interesting is that he’s a very respectable 14th in first round scoring this season.

In those nine events, he’s opened up with a round in the 60’s six times, with a trio of 70’s being his worst score. One of those rounds netted him the first round co-lead at the RBC Heritage.

This chip shot from Mark Hubbard was jaw-dropping. 🔥pic.twitter.com/2S4DumoKib

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) August 27, 2020

Hubbard makes his dough on the greens, as he’s ranked 29th in strokes gained: putting this season, including gaining strokes on the field in that department in eleven straight events.

Hubbard recently just earned a spot in next week’s US Open for the first time, so expect him to continue his steady play going.

Pick: Mark Hubbard (+5000)

Chase Seiffert a Long Shot Possibility

Unheralded Chase Seiffert is sixth in first round scoring this season, and he’s the best among players who are teeing it up this week. In eleven of 17 opening days, Seiffert has posted a round in the 60’s, including three of his last four. He’s also gained strokes tee-to-green in nine of his last eleven events.

A clinic in using the hill to help from @ChaseSeiffert.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/HbAD463kg5

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 24, 2020

The 29-year-old late bloomer is an all-or-nothing type player, mixing in a fourth place result at the Workday Charity Open in between five missed cuts.

That’s the main reason his odds are as high as they are at +14000 to be FRL, but his first rounds haven’t been the problem – his 168th ranked second round scoring is the issue.

For the purposes of this wager, we don’t care about how he follows up day one, making his long shot odds very juicy.

Pick: Chase Seiffert (+14000)