Steve Palmer's Fortinet Championship third-round preview, best bets, free tips

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event and Golf, 11pm Saturday

Best bets

Byeong Hun An to win Fortinet Championship
1.5pts each-way 12-1 bet365

Sahith Theegala to win Fortinet Championship
1.5pts each-way 12-1 BoyleSports

Byeong Hun An to win 9.45pm twoball
1pt 23-20 general

Robby Shelton to win 9.15pm twoball
1pt 21-20 general

Sahith Theegala to win 9.25pm twoball
1pt 7-10 bet365

Story so far

Max Homa and Danny Willett, 16-1 and 125-1 respectively ante-post, are joint-leaders of the Fortinet Championship at the halfway stage.

Homa, who was contesting pre-tournament favouritism with Hideki Matsuyama, has carded rounds of 65 and 67 to reach 12 under par. Willett rocketed up the board with a Friday 64. Homa has become 11-8 market leader, with Willett available at 9-2.

The leading duo have a two-shot buffer over those in third place at Silverado Resort and Spa, California. Matsuyama has struggled in his final event before next week's Presidents Cup, languishing in 42nd place, nine shots off the pace.

Webb Simpson, Cam Davis, Corey Conners, Maverick McNealy, Jason Day, Cameron Champ and two-time Silverado champion Brendan Steele were among those to miss the cut.

Leaderboard
-12 Max Homa, Danny Willett
-10 Justin Lower, Byeong Hun An
-8 Taylor Moore, Matt Kuchar, Sahith Theegala
-7 Brian Stuard, Ben Martin, Robby Shelton

Best prices
11-8 M Homa, 9-2 D Willett, 12 B An, S Theegala, 14 J Lower, 22 T Moore, 25 M Kuchar, 50 R Shelton, 66 B Martin, 80 bar

Third-round preview

Max Homa is the defending Fortinet champion and his credentials were emphatic coming into his attempt to retain the Silverado crown.

The Californian, who relishes the chance to tee up in his home state, was the third-best scorer in the Tour Championship in his previous event. Two of his four PGA Tour titles have come in the Golden State.

The only reason to overlook the ante-post 16-1 was the fact Homa is making his Presidents Cup debut next week. It will be the first time he has represented his country in a professional team event, becoming a teammate of Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay and other American superstars, so next week's Quail Hollow gig must be on his mind. He admitted in his post-round Silverado interview on Friday how proud he is to have managed to maintain focus on his title defence thus far.

Cam Davis and Corey Conners - both making their Presidents Cup debut for the Internationals next week - missed the Fortinet cut. Homa has been excellent, though, and punters who took the 16-1 should be on great terms with themselves.

The question for those not involved is whether to consider the 11-8 available with 36 holes to play - and it is arguably too skinny a price to entertain. Homa seems by far the most likely winner, but he has missed a lot of fairways and the forecast for Saturday-afternoon breezes in Napa will put pressure on everyone off the tee.

A cool, wet Sunday is forecast, so the weather seems set to get more challenging than it has been thus far, meaning Homa will require steely focus and determination. There is certainly scope for this hot favourite being beaten.

Danny Willett is a peculiar player who can serve up weeks of tripe before suddenly producing a world-class performance in stellar company. The former Masters champion appears in the mood this week and will not be frightened by the task in hand.

From the chasing pack, Byeong Hun An, Matt Kuchar, Sahith Theegala and Robby Shelton are the names who are arguably of most interest.

An turned 31 today with his career being revived. The Korean won the BMW PGA Championship by six shots in 2015 and appeared a world-beater, but putting problems ground him down. Victory last year on the Korn Ferry Tour has got An back on track, though, and there is still plenty of time for this great ball-striker to realise that early promise.

Kuchar can draw upon decades if experience - a nine-time PGA Tour champion who will probably hang around on the leaderboard all weekend - while Theegala is a young Californian bristling with potential. Shelton, a Racing Post Sport 125-1 pre-tournament recommendation, is one of the best Korn Ferry Tour graduates in the Fortinet field.

Backing up Shelton with An and Theegala is the most appealing course of action at this stage. Some punters will opt just for Homa, but An and Theegala are a more appealing package - both on offer at 12-1. An, Theegala and Shelton are a highly motivated trio who are certain to give 100 percent to the finish line.

BoyleSports are still offering four each-way places (fifth the odds), so Theegala is a slightly more appealing option with them at 12-1, rather than Coral and Ladbrokes (quarter the three).

Homa and Willett comprise the final twoball at 9.55pm UK and Ireland time. Shelton, Theegala and An appeal for their twoballs. Shelton is up against Ben Martin (9.15pm), Theegala faces Brian Stuard (9.25pm), while An is out in the penultimate match with Justin Lower (9.45pm).

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