Golf Betting Tips For The 2020 RSM Classic
Golf Betting Tips for The RSM Classic
The PGA Tour remains in Georgia this week as it shifts from Augusta to Sea Island for the 11th installment of the RSM Classic. This field is the strongest that we've seen at this event since its inception since some of the Masters' players figure that they are in Georgia anyway, so why not play in another event before the holiday season comes?!
The 2020 RSM Classic features a full-field of 156 golfers, the first we've seen in some time. There's $6.6M on the line this week, the winner gets $1.188M and banks 500 valuable FedEx Cup points. This year's RSM Classic will again be played at the Sea Island Golf Club on the Seaside Course and the Plantation Course. Seaside and Plantation will be played for the first two rounds for all players, and the weekend will see Seaside being played for both rounds - it's 7,005 yards in length, a par 70, and the greens are composed of Bermuda grass. The Plantation course is 7,060 yards in length, is a par 72, and also has Bermuda greens. Pay attention to driving length and accuracy, the short game is important and, as always, tee to green and approach are two key stats as well.
Below you will find two players from each of five different betting tiers (from DraftKings Sportsbook) to win outright, these are the golfers that I like the most for this week as fantasy golf bets, plus a golfer in each tier that I would stay clear from. I would also advise you to throw in some top 5, top 10, and even top 20 bets for the long shots as well to hedge against your outright bet(s).
30 to 1 and lower
Webb Simpson (8.5 to 1) - Simpson is the clear-cut favorite to win this week and should be since he had two wins last season, keeps having excellent results, and has finished 3rd and runner up here at the RSM Classic over the last two years. He's solid in every facet of his game and he's due to win again very soon - I suspect this week.
Russell Henley (28 to 1) - Henley is playing some outstanding golf with 4 top 9's over his last 7 starts and does have two top 10's at this event over the last five years. The Georgia-native is now elite in all categories of ball striking, he has three PGA Tour wins so far in his career and it wouldn't surprise me if he added number four this week in his home state.
Avoid: Tommy Fleetwood (25 to 1) - Fleetwood had a decent showing at the Masters last week with a T19, but typically plays badly on the PGA Tour compared to the European Tour. He has yet to win on the PGA Tour and I don't expect him to win anytime soon.
31 to 1 - 50 to 1
Corey Conners (35 to 1) - Conners is such a strong player from tee to green and when he gets the putter going he is poised for success. He has two top 10's in his last three starts, including a T10 at the Masters last week, and has been good at this tournament with two starts in the books. He had his first win on the PGA Tour last year and I suspect that we will be seeing more victories from the Canadian in the not-too-distant future.
Sebastian Munoz (45 to 1) - Munoz was heading towards a top 10 finish last week at the Masters before shooting a 75 on Sunday and settling for a T19. He has 3 top 9's in his last 8 events (all elite fields) and has been knocking on the door for his first PGA Tour win. He earned a solo 3rd here last year thanks to his 63 in round 2, so you know he can go low at this venue.
Avoid: Jason Day (35 to 1) - Day was playing some great golf with 4 top 7's in July and August but has since tailed off with lots of missed cuts recently including at the Masters last week. He did have a T7 two weeks ago in Houston but with his ailing back and inconsistent play I would recommend staying away from the Aussie most weeks and this week is no exception.
51 to 1 - 70 to 1
Doc Redman (60 to 1) - Redman has been at the top or around the top of the leaderboard over the past three months but just hasn't been able to lock up his first PGA Tour win just yet. I like him at 60 to 1 this week to breakthrough and he was T23 here last year so with the experience under his belt, and with lots of first-time winners at this event, he seems like a great fit this week.
MacKenzie Hughes (70 to 1) - Hughes won this event three years ago for his sole PGA Tour win to date, and now he's an even better player so I could see him winning for the second time at this event. He has 5 top 14's in his last 8 events and is coming off a T7 at the Houston Open so he's in fine form to strike again at a place that is very special to him.
Avoid: Matt Kuchar (70 to 1) - Kuchar is playing some awful golf right now and I don't expect things to get any better for him any time soon. He could finish T30 this week but that's not going to move the needle in most betting situations.
71 to 1 - 100 to 1
Denny McCarthy (85 to 1) - McCarthy has been seen on leaderboards over the past three months since getting a new swing coach and is dedicating himself to be a better player outside of the greens where he was the top putter last season and the season before as well. He's currently 44th in putting this season but his tee to green game is in great shape and all it takes is one great putting performance for him to win his first PGA Tour title. He has a strong record at this event including last year's T8, so this could be his big week.
Lee Westwood (90 to 1) - Westwood looked so strong in his first round at the Masters last week with a -4 and did finish T38 so not a bad performance for the experienced vet. He had a win last season and has been consistently in the top 20 on the PGA and European Tour over the past few months. His calculated game fits with what's needed here and I think we will see him have a strong finish this week. I wouldn't necessarily bet him outright but would feel comfortable with a top 20 bet, for example.
Avoid: Keegan Bradley (100 to 1) - I have zero trust in Bradley and why would I as he has missed 4 cuts in his last 6 events. He did have a T4 at the Sanderson Farms Championship last month but I believe that to be an outlier finish and sure wouldn't place a bet on him or even use him in DFS for that matter.
101 to 1 and higher
Cameron Davis (125 to 1) - Davis has a strong game with lots of distance so it should play well here. The Aussie has had a bunch of top 15's lately including a T6 three starts ago, and I can see him winning at some point on the PGA Tour.
Patton Kizzire (150 to 1) - The local Seaside resident is coming off a T11 in Houston, he has been good at this event finishing T15 two years ago and was in top 10 form last year before firing a 75 in his final round to destroy his chances. He has two PGA Tour wins so far and could add a third this week if he can play four consistent rounds.
Avoid: Henrik Stenson (150 to 1) - I personally wouldn't bet an outright winner in this range, and especially not Stenson who has been pathetic lately with four straight missed cuts and only one made cut in his last seven starts. There must be something wrong with him as he used to be a threat to win major championships, now he's just a threat to leave golf courses right after his Friday round twos.
Be sure to do lots of research before parting with your hard-earned money, and all the best in having a profitable week!
Jeremy Campbell
Jeremy has been playing fantasy sports for over 20 successful years, and actively plays golf, hockey, baseball, and table tennis. He has over three years of fantasy sports writing experience - including writing a daily fantasy sports strategies and tools eBook in 2016. He is an active member of DraftKings - specializing in NHL and PGA contests over the past 5 years. He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling to hot places in the frigid Canadian Winters, binge-watching on Netflix, and starting and managing digital businesses.
