After a long, agonizing offseason, the PGA Tour is finally back this week with the Procore Championship from Silverado Resort & Spa in Napa, Calif. All jokes aside, Silverado is a smaller golf course at just 7,123 yards, so par-5 scoring and an ability to rack up birdies are crucial at this venue. With that in mind, let's fire on a three-pack of outright bets for the start of the FedEx Fall. 

Golf bets: Let's find a winner in wine country 

Eric Cole (+4000 DraftKings)

Cole has been knocking at the door of his first PGA Tour victory for a while now, and this feels like a good spot for him to get it done. The 36-year-old finished the 2024 season on a hot streak with three top-10 finishes in his last seven starts. He's gained strokes on approach and from putting in seven of his last eight starts, which is an ideal combo for Silverado. 

Cole had one of the best iron weeks of his career at this tournament last year en route to a solo fourth-place finish. He should feel good about his chances this week. 

Matt Kuchar (+6000 FanDuel)

Because Silverado is a shorter golf course, veteran plodders can compete here. Stewart Cink won this tournament in 2021, and Kuchar has fared well in three career starts. The 46-year-old has finished T7, T12 and T36 at Silverado in the last three years. He's also playing his best golf of 2024 coming into the week.

Kuchar closed out the 2024 season with a T3 finish at the 3M Open and a T12 finish at the Wyndham Championship. He was in contention to win both tournaments. After being one of the worst approach players on the PGA Tour for most of the season, Kuchar turned it around down the stretch and gained strokes with his irons in five of his last six starts. 

Neal Shipley (+8000 BetMGM)

We're believers in Shipley's future on the PGA Tour. The youngster impressed with a T53 finish and low amateur honors at the Masters, a T26 at the U.S. Open and a T6 at the ISCO Championship. He also stayed fresh with four starts and two top-three finishes on the PGA Tour Americas tour after the season ended.

Shipley is a stellar iron player, and he bombs it off the tee. He should be able to take advantage of these four par 5s and stack up birdies with how many short approach shots he's going to set up. 

In the news ...

49ers roll Jets to spoil Aaron Rodgers's return — Rodgers returned to the field on Monday night after missing all of last year with an Achilles injury, but his first game back didn't go as planned. The San Francisco 49ers, even without Christian McCaffrey in the lineup, handled the New York Jets, 32-19. Rodgers went 13/21 for 167 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while Jordan Mason rushed for 147 yards and a score in relief of McCaffrey. The 49ers are +550 to win the Super Bowl. 

Puka Nacua lands on IR; Packers to start Malik Willis if Jordan Love can't go — Injuries are already starting to stack up in the NFL. Nacua, who left Sunday night's loss to the Detroit Lions with a knee injury, is headed to the injured reserve with a PCL sprain. He'll miss at least the next four games. Love, on the other hand, avoided a serious injury and won't land on IR. With Love sidelined in the short term, Willis is expected to start for the Green Bay Packers against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2. The Packers are currently 3.5-point home underdogs in that matchup.

Panthers DT Derrick Brown possibly out for the year with knee injury — As if losing 47-10 to a division rival in Week 1 wasn't bad enough, the Carolina Panthers suffered another brutal blow a day later. Brown, who hurt his knee during the blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints, might be out for the season with a meniscus injury. Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Monday that Brown will get a second opinion before deciding whether or not to have surgery. Carolina is a 6.5-point home underdog against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2. 

Today's Bark Bets is written by Jack Dougherty