The PGA Tour fall schedule kicks off with the Procore Championship in Napa, California. Set against the rolling hills and vineyards of wine country, Silverado Resort plays host to what should be an exciting weekend of golf!
This year’s tournament carries extra weight as ten members of the U.S. Ryder Cup teams are in the field, which is usually not the case. It is clear they are using the event as a final tune-up before the team heads to Bethpage Black to try to capture our third in a row on US Soil. Last year, we saw the winner go low at -20 with second place at -15; players will need to go low to win here.
Silverado Resort’s North Course is a par-72 that measures just over 7,100 yards. Designed with narrow, tree-lined fairways and small green complexes, the course places a premium on distance and accuracy off the tee and well-calculated approach play.
With very few water hazards, this course is fairly easy by PGA standards. Though the penalty for missing a fairway here is average, players who miss the fairway often find themselves scrambling to save par, while those who keep the ball in position have plenty of scoring chances.
Looking at past leaderboards, Silverado has consistently rewarded golfers who thrive in ball striking and precision categories. Strong iron and approach play, added with the ability to drive the ball consistently, tend to separate the leaders here.
The ability to hit out of the rough and get up and down when greens are missed is another critical skill with smaller greens. Putting is what can make or break a low score, and players who gain strokes on Bent/Poa also gain an edge.
No major stats stick out this week, as I usually like to break down key stats that correlate to success. For example, Driving Distance ranks 31st, Driving Accuracy ranks 37th, and Strokes Gained off the Tee ranks 39th, which are the top three major stats, and none rank inside the top fifteen or twenty on tour.
The highest-ranked secondary stat, the only one inside the top 10, is Approaches from 125-150(rough). This all shows it's a mediocre course, and guys should find success scoring in the teens.
Bhatia continues to establish himself as one of the brightest young talents on tour. He closed out his 2025 season on fire, finishing T13, T26, and T6 in his final three events.
Bhatia also finished inside the top 30 in six of his last seven events down the stretch. His ball striking talent continues to improve, ranking 11th on tour in strokes gained approach and 14th in proximity.
He also has the ability to go low, ranking 10th in putting average and birdie average, while ranking 12th in birdie or better percentage. He has all the tools to find another high finish here.
Hossler’s local ties and familiarity with California golf give him an advantage on this type of setup. He’s also peaking at the right time, he’s been striking the ball well, and his putting has begun to return to nice form.
He has placed inside the top 15 in four of his last five events. Even though two of those setups had lesser competition, it still shows he is in great form.
A few things Hossler does well correlate to this course: ranks 25th in strokes gained putting, 53rd in driving distance, 41st in scrambling from rough, and 10th in putts per round.
Hubbard thrives on consistency, making six straight cuts, making 11 out of his last 12. He may not overpower courses, but his accuracy with mid-irons and a reliable putting stroke often keep him in contention.
Mark is also coming in on good form, albeit with the layoff, he finished T3 at the Wyndham, finishing top 40 in four of his last six events.
Mark ranks 38th in total driving, 48th in driving accuracy, and 33rd in birdie average. Just like Hossler, he has had previous success at this course over numerous visits.
Hoey is one of the more intriguing players in the field this week, and I’ll take a shot at backing him. His stats tell a story of a player looking for a major breakout run.
He ranks 2nd in strokes gained off the tee, 16th in strokes gained approach, 1st in total driving, 13th in driving accuracy, 1st in greens in regulation, 8th in proximity, and 31st in scoring average.
As long as his putter is near average or better, the rest of his game is there to compete with the best in this field. Before his last two starts, he finished inside the top 40 in three straight and placed T37 last year.
I like Perez for the money here. Known for his smooth ball-striking and patient style, he has experience in challenging environments that should help on a course like Silverado.
He comes in under solid form as well, placing T38 and T28 in his last two events. He ranks 19th in strokes gained approach, 18th total driving, 3rd in greens in regulation, and 23rd in scoring average.
Even though he ranks 45th in strokes gained putting, his putting average, putts per round, and one-putt % are dragging his scoring ability down. If he can lock in with the putter, just like Hoey, he can contend here.