The First Look: Safeway Open

• COURSE: Silverado Resort & Spa (North), 7,166 yards, par 72. The Napa Valley property began as the estate of a Civil War general and later U.S. senator from California, eventually converted into a resort in the 1960s with Robert Trent Jones Jr. signed to build two 18-hole courses. The PGA TOUR soon took interest, launching the Kaiser International in 1968 to begin a 13-year run at the resort. Silverado later was part of the PGA TOUR Champions schedule as host of The Transamerica from 1989-2002. Hall of Famer Johnny Miller and two partners bought Silverado in 2010, with Miller quickly overseeing upgrades to both courses. • FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 points. • CHARITY: The Safeway Foundation, which works with local outlets to improve the quality of life in locales it serves. The Safeway Foundation supports nonprofit organizations whose mission is aligned with its priority areas: Health and human services, hunger, youth and education, veterans and supporting diversity. • FIELD WATCH: Phil Mickelson will get an early jump on the 2017-18 season, joined by three players who made it all the way to last week’s FedExCup Playoffs finale. Webb Simpson, Tony Finau and Adam Hadwin were part of the TOUR Championship field. … Mickelson and Hadwin are among three Presidents Cup participants set to jump into the new season, along with 2015 Safeway champion Emiliano Grillo. … Sangmoon Bae, fresh off two years of mandatory military service in his native South Korea, rejoins the tour with a full season’s exemption. … Sam Saunders, who shot 59 to open the Web.com Tour Championship, heads the list of graduates from either the Web.com Tour or its four-event Finals. • 72-HOLE RECORD: 262, Cameron Beckman (2008 at Grayhawk GC), Kevin Sutherland (2008 at Grayhawk GC), Troy Matteson (2009 at Grayhawk GC), Rickie Fowler (2009 at Grayhawk GC), Jamie Lovemark (2009 at Grayhawk GC). Silverado record: 270, Brendan Steele (2016). • 18-HOLE RECORD: 61, Mark Hensby (2nd round, 2007 at Grayhawk GC), Kevin Stadler (2nd round, 2008 at Grayhawk GC), Troy Matteson (2rd & 3rd rounds, 2009 at Grayhawk GC), Mike Weir (4th round, 2009 at Grayhawk GC). Silverado record: 62, Scott Piercy (1st round, 2016). • LAST YEAR: Brendan Steele made up for a missed opportunity one year earlier, closing with three straight birdies on the final day for a one-stroke victory over Patton Kizzire. Steele overcame a four-shot deficit entering the final round, a 180-degree reversal from the 2015 edition when he held the 54-hole lead at Silverado but shot 40 on the back nine. The California native thought it might end similarly when a three-putt bogey at No.12 left him three shots back, but he found his rhythm while Kizzire struggled off the tee down the stretch. Though Kizzire dropped just one shot the rest of the way, it opened the door for Steele to make his charge. It was Steele’s second career victory, the other coming at the Valero Texas Open in 2011. • STORYLINES: Mickelson makes his second start at Silverado, seeking to add the only California event yet on his victory portfolio. He tied for eighth last year, posting four rounds in the 60s. … Bae makes his first TOUR-related start since the 2015 Presidents Cup in his homeland, where he was on the losing end of the decisive final singles match against Bill Haas. He made one tuneup start two weeks ago on the Asian Tour, missing the cut. … Maverick McNealy, formerly No.1 in the world amateur rankings, is set for his pro debut near his Northern California home. The Stanford alum announced in August that he would forego a business career to pursue golf. … Napa offers a chance to land one of the final spots in the winners-only Sentry Tournament of Champions to open the 2018 calendar year. • SHORT CHIPS: In three of the first four years of the wraparound season, winning the opener has worked as a springboard to reach the TOUR Championship at season’s end. Grillo (2015), Bae (2014) and Jimmy Walker (2013) turned the feat. … The Goo Goo Dolls headline the tournament’s three-night concert series, playing after the final putt drops Saturday. • TELEVISION: Thursday-Sunday, 5:30-8:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). • PGA TOUR LIVE: None. • RADIO: Thursday-Friday, 3-9 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 4-9 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com).

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