Procore Championship Preview and Picks

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⛳ Welcome to This Week’s GolfStats Insider

Welcome back to GolfStats Insider, your top source for expert tips and insights on the next PGA Tour event. This newsletter is free, but if you want more detailed golf stats, consider a GolfStats subscription. It offers detailed performance charts, easy-to-sort history, and special formulas to help you make the best choices. If you want to improve your fantasy league or betting strategy, now's a great time to upgrade!

For those who are unaware, we also have a DraftKings database covering the last 39 events on the PGA Tour, beginning with the 2025 Sentry and ending with the 2025 Tour Championship. the database includes the number of points a player won during each event and the cost. From this database we can determine total DraftKing points earned, the players’ average points earned per event, and the average points based on the number of rounds played. The feedback has been great on this datasource with a couple of subscribers winning some high dollar DK events!

❗️ Kapalua Water Restrictions and the Impact on 2026 Season Opener

Before getting into the Procore content, we wanted to bring you some developments from Hawaii and the Kapalua Plantation Course, host of the PGA Tour’s season opener. The course has been without irrigation water for more than seven days due to worsening water restrictions stemming from a dispute over Maui’s century-old water system. This severe lack of water puts the course’s preparation for the January tournament in serious jeopardy, as officials are unable to perform necessary turf maintenance. The situation highlights the critical challenges facing golf courses in drought-affected regions and raises concerns about the readiness of one of the PGA Tour’s most iconic venues. See full article here and here.

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🏆 Procore Championship Field

The Procore Championship Open boasts a formidable field this week, featuring a significant contingent of top-tier talent. A total of 29 players from the top 100 in the Official World Golf Rankings are set to compete, with 13 of those hailing from the elite top 50. This marks a notable increase from last year's event, which saw 25 top 100 players and only 5 from the top 50. The presence of such a strong field underscores the growing prestige of this tournament.

Among the notable names teeing it up are Scottie Scheffler (ranked 1), Russell Henley (4), Justin Thomas (5), J.J. Spaun (7), Collin Morikawa (8), and Harris English (10). Other highly-ranked players include Ben Griffin (17), Maverick McNealy (18), Cameron Young (20), Patrick Cantlay (21), and Sam Burns (22). This diverse group of talent promises an exciting week of golf.

Adding to the intrigue, 12 players who participated in the recent FedExCup playoffs are in the field, including major contenders like Patrick Cantlay, Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, and Justin Thomas. This suggests a high level of competition as players look to carry their momentum into the fall season.

Furthermore, 16 players currently ranked between 71st and 110th in the FedExCup points list are also competing, eager to secure their PGA Tour cards for the 2026 season. This group includes Davis Thompson (71), Byeong Hun An (74), Mark Hubbard (77), and Joel Dahmen (93), among others. Their presence adds an element of high-stakes drama to the tournament.

The Procore Championship Open also welcomes back all five past champions: Patton Kizzire (2024), Sahith Theegala (2023), Max Homa (2023 & ’22), Cameron Champ (2020), and Emiliano Grillo (2016). Their familiarity with the Silverado course could provide a significant advantage, making them players to watch throughout the week.

📊 Data-Driven Insights for Fantasy & Betting

If you’re serious about making the best picks this week, our GolfStats tools have you covered.

• Our Performance Chart ranks players by their average finish of all players at the Procore Championship, helping you identify those who consistently contend.

• Our GolfStats Custom Formula highlights the best performers at this event over the last five years, factoring in course history and key stats.

• Our Sortable 8-Year Glance lets you track trends, breakout performances, and potential sleepers at the Procore Championship.

These tools are invaluable whether you’re betting, setting a DFS lineup, or simply looking for an edge in your fantasy league. Check out the full blog post for DK fantasy advice.

⛳ The Procore Pulse

The fall season on the PGA Tour is upon us, with seven events designed to help players secure their 2026 PGA Tour cards and qualify for the initial signature events of the new year. While this might suggest a devalued fall schedule, this week's Procore Championship Open stands out with an exceptionally strong field. A remarkable 13 players from the world's top 50 are competing, including golf's elite such as Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, and Collin Morikawa.

Adding a unique dynamic to this event, 10 of the 12 Ryder Cup participants are using this tournament as a crucial bonding opportunity before the Ryder Cup in two weeks. This gathering of Ryder Cup stars, coupled with the allure of a great course in a fabulous area, has attracted what is likely to be the best field of the entire fall season. Beyond the Ryder Cup contingent, notable players like Maverick McNealy, Akshay Bhatia, and Tom Kim are also in action. The 2023 champion, Sahith Theegala, who has been battling injuries for much of the year, is making a return, alongside two-time event winner Max Homa and Sam Burns.

Perhaps the most intriguing storyline this week is the presence of amateur sensation Jackson Koivun. Fresh off his victory with the American team at the Walker Cup, Koivun returns to the PGA Tour. As the top-ranked amateur, he has already demonstrated his prowess with back-to-back top-10 finishes earlier this summer, including a T-6th at the ISCO Championship and a T-5th at the Wyndham Championship. His strong performance in North Carolina earned him a spot in the Napa field. Also competing are British Amateur champion Ethan Fang and 16-year-old phenom Miles Russell, highlighting the exciting blend of established stars and rising talents.

While the PGA Tour may not openly admit it, the fall season is largely focused on players securing their tour cards for the upcoming year. With only one event, the Zozo Championship, featuring no 72-hole cut, questions arise about how the tour will maintain the credibility of these events for sponsors. Furthermore, a significant change is that the Masters will no longer grant exemptions to fall event winners, removing a key incentive that previously motivated players to compete in these tournaments. For those who enjoy the betting/fantasy game aspect of golf, a lesser event is still better than no event at all, but the overall significance of the fall season, outside of tour card implications, remains a point of discussion. Nevertheless, the Procore Championship Open, with its strong field and Ryder Cup warm up, promises to be a compelling watch.

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Tournament Information

The Procore Championship, while now a staple on the PGA Tour calendar, has a rich and somewhat convoluted history. It began in 2007 as the Fry's.Com Open in Scottsdale, Arizona. After three years, the event moved to CordeValle Golf Club in California, with aspirations of eventually relocating to the ultra-private Institute Golf Course. However, construction challenges prevented this move, and CordeValle served as a temporary home until 2015, when the tournament found its current and popular home in Napa at the Silverado Resort.

Silverado's appeal to players and fans alike led to its continued hosting of the event, even after Fry's sponsorship ended. Safeway took over as the title sponsor, maintaining the tournament's presence at the resort. Following the 2021 event, Safeway's sponsorship concluded, and Fortinet stepped in. Most recently, after Fortinet's departure in 2023, the PGA Tour secured Procore as the new title sponsor. Procore, a highly successful construction software company based in Carpinteria, California, with revenues approaching $1 billion in 2025, represents a positive and stable change for the tournament.

Course Information: Silverado Resort (North Course), Napa, California

The Silverado Resort's North Course, a par 72 stretching 7,138 yards, holds a significant place in professional golf history. It proudly hosted PGA Tour events from 1968 to 1980 and later the Transamerica, a senior event, from 1990 to 2002. This deep-rooted connection to professional golf was revitalized when Johnny Miller assembled an investment group to purchase the resort and its two golf courses, originally designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in the 1960s.

Miller undertook a significant renovation of the North Course, revamping all the greens, installing new bunkering, realigning fairways, and strategically trimming overgrown trees. His focus was on enhancing the course's playability and aesthetics without drastic, costly changes. Miller famously remarked to Golf.com that the greens are "as tough as Augusta at high speeds," indicating the challenge players will face. While the course length of 7,138 yards might seem short for today's pros, its design and Miller's enhancements ensure a demanding test. The course's history of producing champions like Billy Casper, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, and Ben Crenshaw further attests to its quality.

Turf renovation was another crucial aspect of the redesign, with Kikuyu grass removed and the course returned to its original rye and Kentucky bluegrass mix, improving both playability and visual appeal. The course has since become a favorite among players, sponsors, and fans, consistently providing exciting golf.

Over the years, Silverado has presented a consistent challenge. In 2024, the course played to a 71.24 average, making it the 18th hardest course on the PGA Tour. Historically, fairways at Silverado have been among the toughest to hit on tour, with only 46.81% hit in 2024, and similar low percentages in previous years. Despite the tight fairways, players have generally managed to hit a reasonable percentage of greens in regulation, indicating that even with a missed fairway, a short iron approach from the rough is often manageable. The course has also seen a high number of birdies, with 1,596 made in 2024, suggesting that while challenging, opportunities for low scores exist for those who can navigate its intricacies. The average putting distance made on the greens has also been significant, highlighting the importance of a strong short game. 

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Key Stats for Success at Silverado

Success at Silverado Resort’s North Course consistently hinges on a specific set of skills, as evidenced by past champions. Analyzing historical data from the Procore Championship reveals four critical statistical categories that correlate strongly with victory. These insights are derived from the 2025 PGA Tour data for all players in the field, alongside detailed tournament data from previous years, including the unique 2023-1 and 2023-2 events.

1. Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green

This metric is paramount at Silverado, emphasizing a player’s ability to combine length and accuracy off the tee with precise ball-striking to the green. Past champions consistently rank high in this category. Patton Kizzire, the 2024 champion, was 4th in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green, demonstrating a balanced game with 33rd in driving distance and 9th in driving accuracy. Sahith Theegala, the 2023-2 winner, was T-6th in this stat, while Max Homa, victorious in both 2023-1 and 2022, was 1st and 2nd respectively. Even earlier champions like Stewart Cink (2021) and Cameron Champ (2020) showcased their dominance in this area, with Champ leading the field in 2020. Brendan Steele, a back-to-back winner in 2017 and 2018, also consistently ranked among the top in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green, underscoring its enduring importance.

2. Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green

Given that Silverado’s greens are not always easy to hit (ranking 29th in greens hit in 2024 and 38th in 2023-2), a strong short game is crucial. This category measures a player’s proficiency in getting the ball up and down after missing the green. Kizzire, the 2024 champion, was 15th in Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green and excelled in scrambling, getting up and down 83.33% of the time. Theegala (2023-2) was 3rd in this stat, and Homa (2023-1) was 7th, with an impressive 85.71% scrambling rate. Even when champions didn't dominate this category, like Homa in 2022, others such as Stewart Cink (2021) and Cameron Champ (2020) demonstrated its significance by ranking high in Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green and scrambling. With 36 bunkers guarding the 18 greens, sand save percentage also plays a role, as seen with Kizzire’s 1st place ranking in sand saves during his 2024 win.

3. Strokes Gained: Putting

Putting on Silverado’s Poa annua and Bent grass greens requires a special touch. Champions consistently demonstrate exceptional putting performances. Patton Kizzire (2024) led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting, while Sahith Theegala (2023-2) was 2nd. Max Homa, in his 2023-1 and 2022 victories, ranked 15th and 22nd respectively. Stewart Cink (2021) and Cameron Champ (2020) also showed strong putting numbers, reinforcing that a hot putter is often the key to victory on these challenging greens.

4. Par Breakers

To win at Silverado, players must capitalize on birdie and eagle opportunities. This category reflects a player’s ability to consistently score under par. In 2024, Silverado ranked 22nd hardest on tour for Par Breakers, yet champion Patton Kizzire ranked 2nd, making 24 birdies and one eagle. Sahith Theegala (2023-2) was 1st in Par Breakers with 24 birdies and one eagle. Max Homa, in his 2023-1 and 2022 wins, also demonstrated strong par-breaking ability, with 18 and 24 birdies respectively, along with eagles. Even in tougher scoring conditions, such as 2020 when the course was 15th in Par Breakers, champion Cameron Champ was T-4th, making 21 birdies. This highlights that regardless of course difficulty, the ability to convert opportunities into birdies and eagles is non-negotiable for victory.

Who to watch for at the Procore Championship

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