The RSM Classic could be one of the best betting opportunities on the PGA Tour in a long time. An easy course, a weak field, and plenty of players in form so you know anything can happen.
Course
The next stop on the PGA Tour is Sea Island, Georgia, for the RSM Classic. The tournament will be held at the Seaside Course which is just over 7000 yards in length for a Par 70. The course was designed by Harry Colt and then underwent a major redesign at the hands of Tom Fazio in 1999.
The tournament has been played at this course since its inception in 2010.
While the Seaside Course is technically the ‘host course’ for this tournament, players will play the Plantation Course on either the Thursday or Friday before it goes out of rotation after the cut.
Both of these courses are considered among the easier courses on the Tour. The fairways are wide and easy to hit and even though there are quite a few water bodies around, they won’t really bother the golfers or come into play.
The greens are fast and can play some tricks with some undulations. The rough is not the most penal and players can still scramble if they miss their first shot off the tee a little.
Tournament Overview
The tournament was won by Austin Cook last year and he will look to defend his title again this year. Mackenzie Hughes won in 2016, Kevin Kisner in 2015, Robert Streb in 2014, and Chris Kirk in 2013.
The field for this tournament is quite weak and this is one of those weeks that the Wolf recommend going for some out of the ordinary names because literally anyone can win.
As a short and easy course, players are not going to too worried about length off the tee. If anything, most of the players will be clubbing down and keeping the drivers for the Par -5’s. This course will throw up a birdie fest so players will need to start well and continue to stay on the pace otherwise catching up can be very difficult.
Winning this tournament requires a player that can take advantage of the Par 5’s, putts well and someone who irons are dialed in perfectly.
Stats that Matter
Here are the stats the Wolf is looking at this week:
- Strokes Gained: Tee to Green
- Par 4 Scoring
- Putting: Birdie or Better Percentage
Kevin Kisner won with a score of -22 in 2015 and that remains the record for this course. Austin Cook won with a score of -21 in 2017, Mackenzie Hughes had -17 in 2016, while both Robert Streb and Chris Kirk had -14 to get their victory.
Austin Cook was 39th for Driving Distance, 4th for Driving Accuracy, and 2nf for Greens in Regulation when he won here last year.
Predictions
The Wolf’s favorite this week is Cameron Champ $21.00. Champ has started this season in style and already racked up a victory at the Sanderson Farms Championship a couple of weeks back. He was 10th at the Mayakoba Golf Classic and could have been in contention there as well.
Not too many other golfers are carrying the kind of current form that Cameron Champ has. The stats back up Champ’s claim as well.
He is 6th for Putting: Birdie or Better percentage, 22nd for Par 4 Scoring, and 14th for Strokes Gained: Tee to Green. An easy course, his brilliant current form, and a game that is suited to any condition all make for a deadly combination.
There are plenty of options for the value pick this week but the Wolf likes Kevin Kisner at $34.00 as the best. Kisner is a former winner here and will have very fond memories of the place. In fact, the Wolf is banking on Kevin Kisner finding some good form at this course. He missed the cut at the Mayakoba Golf Classic and did not have a great end to last season either.
Kisner, though, can be absolutely brilliant once he gets on a run. Both the courses to be played at this tournament set up quite well for Kisner. He can take advantage of his length on the Par 5’s and be creative around the greens too.
The only thing to look for a is a fast start from him because Kisner is not too good when he falls back early.
For the long shot, the Wolf likes Luke List at $41.00. List also missed the cut at the Mayakoba Golf Classic but finished T4 at the Safeway Open not too long back. Luke List is 6th in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, 147th for Par Scoring, and 167th for Putting: Birdie or Better Percentage.
Luke List has put himself in many winning positions over the last year or so only to fall short of completing the process. The Wolf thinks he could change that this week. He likes easy courses and the weak field gives him a real chance to shine.
Recommended Bets
Tournament Winner
Best: Cameron Champ ($21.00)
Value: Kevin Kisner ($34.00)
Roughie: Luke List ($41.00)
1st Round Leader: Cameron Champ ($26.00)