This will be the final full PGA Tour event of the year, with only the President’s Cup and Hero Golf Challenge left on the itinerary. The Seaside Course is the host course and Plantation Course will host one round, on either Thursday or Friday depending on the draw for the players.
The US PGA Tour | RSM Classic
Sea Island Resort, Georgia- Seaside Course and Plantation Course
Thursday 21 November – Sunday 24 November
This will be the final full PGA Tour event of the year, with only the President’s Cup and Hero Golf Challenge left on the itinerary. Brendon Todd’s victory at the Mayakoba Classic made him an early multiple-time winner on this season’s tour. The players head this week to the picturesque Sea Island and the neighbouring St Simons. This idyllic part of Georgia is home to many PGA Tour professionals who have settled down in this veritable golfing Mecca. Davis Love III is the host of an event that contributes hugely to the Davis Love Foundation. This is a generally low-scoring affair that really needs wind to defend it.
This is an intriguing event in that it takes place on two courses. The Seaside Course is the host course. The Plantation Course will host one round, on either Thursday or Friday depending on the draw for the players. The Plantation Course was remodelled by Rees Jones in 1998 and is essentially a parkland course by the sea. The Seaside Course was touched up by Tom Fazio in 1999. Both courses are defined by firm fairways and smaller than average Bermuda greens. Clearly driving distance is not going to be of paramount importance this week. You can expect the more surgical players to likely contend this week.
Charles Howell III will be back to defend his long-awaited title last year. Webb Simpson has been slightly incognito of late but will enter this event as an understandable favourite. Matt Kuchar’s form has nosedived since he was the hottest golfer on the tour some nine months back. Billy Horschel is clearly a factor while the likes of Zach Johnson and Harris English will look to hometown advantage in this test. There is generally an extremely relaxed and convivial feel to this event, which always introduces the chances of long-shot champions.
Past Winners
2018: Charles Howell III (-19)*playoff
2017: Austin Cook (-21)
2016: Mackenzie Hughes (-17)*playoff
2015: Kevin Kisner (-22)
2014: Robert Streb (-14)*playoff
Outright Betting (To Win)
Webb Simpson (8/1)
Billy Horschel (14/1)
Matt Kuchar (18/1)
Charles Howell III (20/1)
Kevin Kisner (28/1)
Value Bets
Scottie Scheffler
To Win (30/1), To Place (13/2)
This event is notable for allowing 20 something pros to breakthrough. Mackenzie Davis, Robert Streb and Austin Cook were all in their 20s when they tasted victory here. Scottie Scheffler has exactly the sort of CV that makes him a candidate for the young vote this year. He won twice on the 2019 Korn Ferry Tour and already has solid PGA tour stats thus far. His PGA form reads 7-16-74-28-3-18. He currently ranks 11th on tour for birdie average, which should prove crucial this week. He has also had some encouraging form in Georgia, finishing runner-up at the Savannah Gold Championship.
Chesson Hadley
To Win (100/1), To Place (22/1)
This is one more towards the speculative end of the spectrum. Hadley is a one-time winner on tour having tasted success at the 2014 Puerto Rico Open: much like one Tony Finau. But unlike Finau, Hadley has struggled to remain consistent on tour. But Hadley has shown some signs of life thus far on tour. He finished 23rd at the Safeway Open prior to an 18th place finish at the Shriners. Hadley has shown signs of competing at Sea Island without closing the deal. He sat in 3rd place at the halfway mark of the 2016 edition. He was also 5th after round 1 in 2014. So perhaps this could be the week where he makes every round matter.
The Man to Beat
Billy Horschel
To Win (14/1), To Place (3/1)
Billy Horschel looks an extremely attractive proposition this week. Granted, he hasn’t won an individual tour event since the 2017 AT&T Byron Nelson: he did capture the Zurich Classic alongside Scott Piercy some 18 months back. But Horschel enters this event in excellent form, after finishing T6 at the Zozo Championship and T8 at the Mayakoba Classic. He only has one appearance at Sea Island in the last six years, finishing in a tie for 2nd in a playoff defeat. Horschel has just the right pedigree to break his solo title drought this week.
Written by Damien Kayat for Hollywoodbets
