Mickelson won’t accept U.S. Open exemption

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• 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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TULSA, Okla. – Count Rory McIlroy among the interested consumers of the copious preview content that precedes every major championship. McIlroy had never played Southern Hills before this week, not that a previous appearance would have helped much. The course underwent a dramatic renovation by Gil Hanse since it last hosted a professional tournament. To get ready for this week, McIlroy watched flyover videos from online outlets like Golf Digest and The Fried Egg to get a feel for the course. He went so far as seeking highlights from last year’s Senior PGA Championship at Southern Hills. “Just did a little bit of digging online, and it sort of seemed pretty apparent that this is an approach shot and short game — like iron play and chipping is going to be really important this week,” said McIlroy, who also shared the videos with his caddie, Harry Diamond. What once was a traditional major test, with thick Bermudagrass rough lining narrow fairways and greens, has been reimagined. The fairways have been widened and short grass is more prevalent around the greens. The new design fits modern trends while also harkening back to the Golden Age of course architecture. After playing practice rounds, McIlroy did say that the course seems wider than it appeared on video and that, despite the plethora of short grass around the greens, putting from off the green is often not an option, requiring players to execute touchy chip shots from tight lies to a putting surface that sits above them. “I think he’s done a wonderful job with it,” McIlroy said about Hanse. “Love the green complexes. I love that he gives you options off the tee. “I think you’re going to see a lot of different strategies this week, guys hitting driver where maybe other guys aren’t and vice versa. It’s a really good track. I really enjoyed playing it yesterday, and I think it’s going to be a wonderful test this week.”

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