What a fantastic weekend it was at The Masters last week as Dustin Johnson won his first green jacket and second major championship to cap off a brilliant 2020. Many players will be taking a well-deserved break after The Masters, but the PGA Tour rolls on this week as we head to the Sea Island Resort in Georgia for the annual RSM Classic.
RSM Classic Betting Tips
The PGA Tour remains in the state of Georgia after a successful Masters tournament last week and due to the close proximity, the field for this weekend’s tournament is actually pretty solid compared to events following the Masters in previous years. The action gets underway on Thursday night Australian time and you can follow it on Fox Sports, Kayo or the Golf.tv website/app.
The Field
Reigning champion Tyler Duncan will be back to defend his title after winning the 2019 edition in a playoff over Webb Simpson. For Simpson, the No.6 ranked golfer in the world, it will be all about redemption, after finishing in the top 10 in four of his last seven trips to the RSM and losing in a playoff in both 2011 and 2019.
Simpson is the only top 10 ranked player in the field this week, but that doesn’t mean it is lacking in star power. Tyrrell Hatton, Sung-Jae Im, Tommy Fleetwood, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Jason Day, Louis Oosthuizen, Shane Lowry , Justin Rose and Kevin Kisner headline the rest of the field in what should be a pretty competitive tournament.
Past winners of the RSM Classic who will be back this season include Duncan, Charles Howell III, Austin Cook, Mackenzie Hughes, Kisner, Robert Streb and Chris Kirk.
The Course
The Plantation Course at Sea Island Resort in Saint Simons Island in Georgia will play host to the RSM Classic once again this season, as it has done every year since 2010. The course plays at just over 7,000 yards as a Par 70 and while it doesn’t pose a massive challenge to players off the tee, the main test comes just off the fairways as a large portion of the holes have winding creeks and lakes in play.
Accuracy off the tee and on approach will be our key focus this week, as well as overall scoring prowess, as a score in the high teens to low twenties under par is usually required to win here. A number of PGA Tour players reside around the area and call the Plantation Course home including the likes of Davis Love III, Harris English and Zach Johnson.
Power Rankings
Webb Simpson ($10.00)
He is favourite to win the tournament this week but it would feel wrong not to have him at the top of the list. He is coming off a fantastic performance at The Masters last week, where he finished T10 and has a great record at Sea Island, finishing T3 in 2018 and losing to Duncan in a playoff last season.
Kevin Kisner ($41.00)
Kis missed the cut at The Masters last week as well as missing the cut at the RSM last season but his record at Sea Island is undeniable. In his previous five starts at the RSM, Kisner racked up four top 10 finishes including a win in 2015. Although his home state is South Carolina, Kisner resides just a few hours from Sea Island in Aiken.
Louis Oosthuizen ($31.00)
Hasn’t missed a cut since the RBC Heritage all the way back in June, making it 11 tournaments in a row where he has played on the weekend. Finished T23 at The Masters last week and ranked 4th in greens in regulation. Has six top 25 finishes in his last eight starts including a 3rd at the U.S. Open.
Sungjae Im ($21.00)
The South Korean star is just a week removed from a really impressive performance at The Masters, where he finished behind only Dustin Johnson for his best placing in a major championship. Is one of the best pure scorers in the game, which should come into play at Sea Island.
Tommy Fleetwood ($26.00)
Fleetwood is arguably the most talented player in the field but comes in with no experience at the course. Is the unknown of the group here but if he comes into the tournament with any sort of form, he should go well. Was impressive at The Masters, recording the best finish for an Englishman at T19.
Prediction
Can’t get enough of Kevin Kisner this week. He might be coming off a less than desireable performance at The Masters, but his record at Sea Island and his starting price is just too good to overlook. Has finished in the top 10 in four of his last six starts here including a win and starts as a $41 pop.
Value: To Win ($41.00)
Kevin Kisner Top 30
$2.37
Dark Horses
Vaughn Taylor ($251 at Sportsbet)
Kevin Chappell ($226 at Sportsbet)
Chris Kirk ($161 at Sportsbet)
Patton Kizzire ($101 at Sportsbet)
