PGA Tour

Safeway Open: Top 4 Takeaways from Silverado

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:10 p.m. ET

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Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Brendan Steele hung on for his second career PGA Tour win at the Safeway Open.

Brendan Steele had some waiting to do as he headed to the clubhouse at 18-under, good for a one-stroke lead during the final round of the Safeway Open. Patton Kizzire, Johnson Wagner and Scott Piercy were still out on the course, trailing Steele by one, two and three strokes, respectively. As the trio headed to the 18th, the leaderboard remained the same, with Kizzire having the best chance to catch Steele.

Kizzire didn’t get off to the best start on the 18th, placing his tee shot in the rough. He got back on track and sat in the fairway with 143 yards left after his second shot, but his next shot missed the green, forcing him to settle for par.

As a result, Brendan Steele became the first winner of the 2016-17 PGA Tour season. It was just the second PGA Tour victory of his career.

It was a big win for Steele, but there were plenty of other takeaways from the season opener. Let’s take a look at a few important ones.

Sep 25, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Paul Casey tees off the seventeenth hole during the final round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Paul Casey successfully carried over his momentum from last season.

Paul Casey ended the 2016 PGA Tour season on a torrid pace, coming alive in the FedEx Cup playoffs. The Englishman was particularly good in the final three postseason events; he finished as the runner-up at both the Deutsche Bank Championship and the BMW Championship, and he also notched a fourth-place finish at the season finale, the Tour Championship. Three weeks have passed since that tournament, but despite not playing in an official event during that time, Casey hasn’t missed a step.

He continued to display his good form at the Safeway Open, torching Silverado Resort and Spa for a bogey-free, eight-under 64 in his first round of the season. He followed that up by carding six birdies in the second round to put a four-under 68 on his scorecard. Despite a one-under 71 in the third round, Casey remained in contention heading into Sunday, but he managed only a three-under 69 to close, landing him in a tie for third.

Sep 24, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Justin Thomas tees off the second hole during the third round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Thomas and Kevin Na got their seasons off to a hot start — again.

American golfers Justin Thomas and Kevin Na always seem to thrive during this portion of the schedule. Last year, both players found the top five at the Frys.com Open (now the Safeway Open). Na was eventually outdueled by Emiliano Grillo in a two-hole playoff, while Thomas finished in third place. Just one week later at the CIMB Classic, they once again found the top five. Thomas claimed his first PGA Tour win by beating out Adam Scott by a single stroke, while Na finished in a tie for third, just two strokes off the winning pace.

At last week’s Safeway Open, the duo again got their seasons off to a hot start. Na finished at 15-under in seventh, while Thomas finished at 14-under in a tie for eighth.

Aug 6, 2016; Cromwell, CT, USA; Jon Rahm tees off on the first hole during the third round of the 2016 Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Jon Rahm continued his impressive start to his pro career.

Jon Rahm wasted no time showing off his skills at the Safeway Open. The 21-year-old young gun kicked off his first full PGA Tour season with a hole-in-one on just his second hole on Thursday. He started his first round at the Safeway Open on the back nine at Silverado Resort and Spa, where he notched a par on the par 4 10th. Apparently feeling a par wasn’t good enough, Rahm stepped up to the par 3 11th and knocked it in with just one swing of the club. It was the first hole-in-one of his PGA Tour career, as well as the first one from anybody in the 2016-17 season.

Rahm remained hot throughout the rest of the day, draining six birdies and coming into the clubhouse with a six-under 66 to open the week. He then cooled off in his following two rounds, posting scores of 71 and 72. However, he wasn’t finished yet — he regained his good form by finding the hole for eight more birdies and shooting a five-under 67 to finish the week. He finished at 12-under for the tournament in a tie for 15th.

Sep 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Kevin Na tees off the second hole during the second round of the tour championship at East Lake Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Safeway Open — Final Leaderboard

1. Brendan Steele (-18)