Fortinet Championship betting preview: Can Homa complete the 3-peat?

After an extremely lengthy two-week offseason (did you miss golf?) the PGA TOUR returns with the first event of a reimagined FedEx Cup Fall season from wine country in Napa, California.

The Fortinet Championship kicks off the seven-event series that will help determine priority ranking for the 2024 season. There are no FedEx Cup points up for grabs this fall, but players still have plenty at stake, including entry into The Players Championship and into the first two designated events of 2024.

The Course

• Silverado Resort North Course
• 7,123 yards, par 72
• Tree-lined fairways emphasize accuracy off the tee
• Poa annua-grass greens

Past champions

2022: Max Homa (-16) over Danny Willett
2021: Max Homa (-19) over Maverick McNealy
2020: Stewart Cink (-21) over Harry Higgs
2019: Cameron Champ (-17) over Adam Hadwin
2018: Kevin Tway (-14) in a playoff over Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker
2017: Brendan Steele (-15) over Tony Finau
2016: Brendan Steele (-18) over Patton Kizzire
2015: Emiliano Grillo (-15) in a playoff over Kevin Na
2014: Sangmoon Bae (-15) over Steven Bowditch
2013: Jimmy Walker (-17) over Vijay Singh

The favorites

Max Homa is the back-to-back champion in Napa and the deserved favorite at +700. However, the odds are stacked against him as he looks to become the first to achieve a three-peat victory since Steve Stricker from 2009-2011.

Justin Thomas is in action for the first time since early August. He'll want to shake off some rust ahead of late September's Ryder Cup and prove he was worthy of a selection. However, backing an out-of-form Thomas at +1300 isn't recommended.

Sahith Theegala and Cam Davis are both attractive options at the top of the board.

Theegala made the cut in each of his three appearances in this event, including a sixth-place tie last year. He also ended his 2022-23 season with back-to-back top-15 results in the playoffs.

Davis placed inside the top 10 in three of his final four starts last season and gained over 5.5 strokes tee to green in those high finishes.

The next tier

Akshay Bhatia is the first name that jumps off this list at +4000. He won on the PGA TOUR in early August at the Barracuda Championship, which is hosted only a few hours east of Napa. Bhatia showed elite ball-striking numbers at the end of last season and is a very talented player who could take a giant leap in 2023-24.

Justin Suh is one of a few golfers in the field that played a competitive event within the past couple of weeks. The American flew to Switzerland to play in the Omega European Masters where he posted four straight rounds of 68 or better to finish in a tie for 24th. Those competitive reps could make a huge difference this week.

Chez Reavie also finished last season in very strong form. He missed two cuts in his last 13 starts and consistently gained strokes with his iron play.

Picks

Sahith Theegala (+1600)

Let's open the card with Theegala at a reasonable price of +1600. The young American is poised to win on the PGA TOUR soon, and doing so in his home state at an event he's historically performed well at seems to be the perfect fit.

The form he displayed at the end of last season is encouraging. He also possesses a ceiling that puts him alongside some of the best in the game, and there are not many players in the field who can say that.

Akshay Bhatia (+4000)

Bhatia is in a very similar position as Theegala, except he's over double the price. Bhatia hasn't been competing - and contending - on the PGA TOUR for as long as Theegala has, sure, but he's already found the winner's circle.

Both of these former high-profile amateurs are expected to take big steps forward in 2023-24. Bhatia has all the tools required to win in Napa and no one should be shocked if he's hoisting his second trophy in as many months.

Kevin Yu (+8000)

Kevin Yu is one of the best tee-to-green players in the field, ranking fifth in that category over his past 50 rounds. He missed over four months last year to recover from a torn meniscus but, when he returned, he continued to hit the ball well and finished tied for sixth at the John Deere Classic. He's gained strokes tee to green in 14 consecutive tournaments and is one good putting week away from being in the mix on Sunday.