The 2023 FedEx Cup Fall season makes its debut when play begins in the 2023 Fortinet Championship beginning Thursday at the Silverado Resort in Napa, California. The FedEx Cup Fall will be a seven-event fall season of players who ranked No. 51 and higher in last season's FedExCup standings a chance to continue to earn FedExCup points and improve their chances of playing in the biggest events next year.
The PGA TOUR’s fall schedule is not quite what we’re used to seeing, as the new 2023 “FedExCup Fall” series will feature just seven events between now and the end of the year. The new fall series will primarily incentivize players who fell outside the top 70 FedEx Cup Playoff qualifications to remain inside the top 125 of the standings and retain full-time membership for the 2024 season, which will now begin in January.
Course Preview:
Silverado Resort & Spa will host this PGA TOUR event for the 17th consecutive year since its inception on the schedule in 2007. The event switched title sponsors last year after previously being known as the Safeway Open. At this venue, we have seen players who either have plus-distance or elite driving accuracy separate on this 7,123-yard par-72. With four scorable par-5s, Par-5 Scoring has also proven to be a strong indicator of success leading into the Fortinet Championship. Headlining the field this week will be two-time defending champion and California kid, and close personal friend, Max Homa.
Picks To Win:
Max Homa +700:
You knew this was coming. It's the safe bet, he's one of my favorite golfers on the tour, and he's two time champ. He always seems to play well in California and has especially putted well on Poa greens in his career. Homa has won this event with winning scores of 16- and 19-under par each of the past two years, so it’s clear you need to score here to win. Thankfully, Homa ranked sixth on the PGA TOUR in birdie average last season. Homa is leaps and bounds the best player in this field, and he’s also coming in white hot.
Justin Thomas +1800:
Ryder Cup Captains Pick, JT. He's been posting pics and video's on IG of him putting in the work, whether it has been enough to get him back on track after a horrendous season is yet to be seen. Thomas is back on the course for the first time since ending his season in dramatic fashion with a near chip-in birdie on the 72nd hole of the Wyndham Championship. He has finishes of T4, T8 and T3 in his last three appearances in the Fortinet Championship with the latest coming in 2020.
Eric Cole +3000:
The likely frontrunner to win the 2022-23 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, Cole did just about everything but win in his first stroll in the big leagues. One of six players in this field to finish inside the top 50 of last season's FedEx Cup standings, Cole now has the freedom to play without fear of losing his status and should set up well for his chances in Napa. Over the last three months, he trails only Homa in terms of total strokes gained and ranks top 10 in both strokes gained approach and strokes gained putting.
Bring the mustache back this year, Max.
