Napa Safeway Open To Feature Mickelson Against A's Ex-Pitcher

NAPA, CA – Former Oakland Athletic’s Pitcher Mark Mulder hopes to strike it big next month and give famed pro golfer Phil Mickelson among other pros a run for his money at the 2018 Safeway Open, a professional golf tournament set in the Wine Country that’s part of the PGA Tour.

The golf tourney is slated for the first week of October at the Silverado Country Club.

The participants join fellow pro golfers Fred Couples and John Daly, who are well regarded for the long drives.

Mulder is a two-time all-star player with the Oakland Athletics in 2003 and 2004 and led Major League Baseball in 2001 with 21 wins and a career-high 159 strike-outs.

Following his career, Mulder has hit the long ball on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe for the American Century Championship, another popular golf tourney at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. He’s won the tournament known more for its parties and escapades than being under par.

Mulder was up to par for the tournament, winning it for three consecutive years from 2015 to 2017. The family man who summoned his children onto the course to help hoist the trophy told this reporter he had considered joining the pro circuit.

He could make history by becoming the first professional athlete from another sport to make the cut in a PGA Tour event.

The incentive for the event slated from Oct. 1-7 is a $6.4 million purse.

Daily tickets are on sale for $30 to the event, which includes admission to the Safeway Open Concert Series featuring red rocker Sammy Hagar, contemporary rock band Young the Giant and ‘80s icon Billy Idol. Plus as all things Napa, there’s a 25,000 square-foot Food and Wine Pavilion.

All the proceeds will be earmarked to assist with relief from the devastating wildland area fires of 2017 known as the Tubbs and Atlas blazes.

For more details or ticket information, click https://www.safewayopen.com/.

• ALSO SEE: Pumpkin-Spice Cravings: Where To Find Coffee, Bagels & More

Images courtesy of Al Francis of napasonomaphotos.com and Kathryn Reed