LAST CALL – RSM CLASSIC

Time to fire back that final shot, pay your tab, and GET INTO THE TOP 125 or THE NEXT 10!

Read more: LAST CALL – RSM CLASSIC

RSM Classic

Sea Island Golf Club

Seaside (host) course

St. Simons Island, Georgia

Weekly Readers:

Horses for Courses – click here

Betting Stat Pack – click here

Expert Picks – click here

Odds Outlook – click here

Chalk (via Bet365.com)

My thoughts on the top 10 players

Ludvig Aberg (11/1): Listing him as the favorite in a field with 11 of the top 50 in the OWGR tells you what the book thinks! This is an event where first-time winners have flourished over the last 13 years.

Russell Henley (14/1): I’m never crazy about backing a guy who hasn’t played in almost three months in a shootout. One quiet round this week to knock the rust off might be too much to overcome. With the wind in play in Round 1, he might find the perfect storm.

Brian Harman (20/1): No current resident has ever won.

Cameron Young (22/1): With the way he hits it, he would prefer windy conditions all four days.

Corey Conners (25/1): Looking to become the third Canadian winner, he’s never cashed better than T10 in four trips.

Eric Cole (25/1): It’s time. Hop on. Bermuda expert.

J.T. Poston (28/1): Already a winner twice in shootouts, his red-hot form is hard to ignore.

Si Woo Kim (33/1): Hasn’t posted a top 10 since June and has MC in his last three visits here. Hits it great tee-to-green so I better throw a top 10 ticket on here just in case!

Denny McCarthy (33/1): Almost three months to the day since his last competitive round. Not many roll it better on the greens.

Adam Svensson (35/1): Reigning champion defends for the first time. Yeah, I’m out.

Alex Noren (35/1): White hot form. Once I back him, you shouldn’t.  I’ll give you an early Xmas present by fading him.

NOW PLAYING:

Host CourseSeaside
Yards (per official scorecard):7,006.
Par:70 (35-35).
Greens:TifEagle Bermuda; 7,200 square feet on average.
Stimpmeter:12.5.
Rough:Ryegrass overseed at 2 inches.
Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play47/14/13
Architect(s):Colt & Alison (1929); Tom Fazio (1999).
Defending Champion (event):Adam Svensson (-19).
Multiple Champion(s) Entered:Robert Streb (2014, 2020).
Course Record (last):60; Set twice in 2021 (both not entered); Tommy Gainey 2012, Round 4.
72 Hole Tournament Record (last):260 (-22); Talor Gooch (2022); Kevin Kisner (2015).
Fact of the Week:Oldest TifEagle Greens on TOUR.
Fact of the Week II:19-under or better is the winning score over the last SIX editions.

Notes:

  • Field of 156.
  • The OWGR is represented by 11 of the top 50.
  • FINAL EVENT of the FedExCup Fall.
  • $8.4 million – $1.512 million – 500 FedExCup points – Sentry and Masters ticket punched.

Season Winners

2022-2023 Season Winners

EventWinner
Fortinet ChampionshipMax Homa
Sanderson Farms ChampionshipMackenzie Holmes
Shriners Children’s OpenTom Kim
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPKeegan Bradley
CJ CUP at CONGAREERory McIlroy
Butterfield Bermuda ChampionshipSeamus Power
Mayakoba ChampionshipRussell Henley
Cadence Bank Houston OpenTony Finau
The RSM ClassicAdam Svensson (first TOUR win)
Sentry Tournament of ChampionsJon Rahm
Sony Open in HawaiiSi Woo Kim
The AMERICAN EXPRESSJon Rahm (2)
Farmers Insurance OpenMax Homa (2)
AT&T Pebble BeachJustin Rose
WM Phoenix OpenScottie Scheffler
The Genesis InvitationalJon Rahm (3)
The Honda ClassicChris Kirk
Arnold Palmer InvitationalKurt Kitayama (first TOUR win)
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipTaylor Moore (first TOUR win)
Corales PuntacanaMatt Wallace (first TOUR win)
WGC – Dell Technologies MPSam Burns
Valero Texas OpenCorey Conners
MastersJon Rahm (4)
RBC HeritageMatt Fitzpatrick
Zurich Classic of New OrleansDavis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each)
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau (2)
Wells Fargo ChampionshipWyndham Clark (first TOUR win)
AT&T Byron NelsonJason Day
PGA ChampionshipBrooks Koepka
Charles Schwab ChallengeEmiliano Grillo
MemorialViktor Hovland
RBC Canadian OpenNick Taylor
U.S. OpenWyndham Clark (2)
Travelers ChampionshipKeegan Bradley (2)
Rocket Mortgage ClassicRickie Fowler
John Deere ClassicSepp Straka
Genesis Scottish OpenRory McIlroy (2)
The Open ChampionshipBrian Harman
3M OpenLee Hodges (first TOUR win)
Wyndham ChampionshipLucas Glover
FedEx St. Jude ChampionshipLucas Glover (2)
BMW ChampionshipViktor Hovland (2)
TOUR ChampionshipViktor Hovland (3)
Fortinet ChampionshipSahith Theegala
Sanderson Farms ChampionshipLuke List
Shriners Children’s OpenTom Kim
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPCollin Morikawa
World Wide TechnologyErik van Rooyen
Butterfield BermudaCamilo Villegas

Recent Winners – RSM Classic

Italics – not entered this week.

YearWinnerNotes
2022Adam Svensson (-19)Wins by two for first victory on TOUR.
2021Talor Gooch (-22)Matched tournament scoring record; wins by three for first victory on TOUR.
2020Robert Streb (-19)Defeated Kisner in a playoff to become the only two-time champion.
2019Tyler Duncan (-19)Defeated Webb Simpson in a playoff to win for the first time on TOUR.
2018Charles Howell III      (-19)Defeated Patrick Rodgers in a playoff for his first win since 2007.

Angles

The Seaside course, covering 7,005 yards and Par-70, will be used in three of the four rounds.

The Plantation course, stretching to just 7,060 yards and playing to Par-72, will be used once before the 36-hole cut.

Both courses are tee-to-green Bermuda grass and TifEagle Bermuda greens.

Svensson is the only winner to sign for a round over 70 on the scorecard. He opened with 73 last year.

Winners here annually rank in the top 10 GIR, SG: Putting, and Scrambling.

Kevin Kisner is the only player in the field this week to post 22-under as a winning total, equaling the tournament scoring record.

The last six winning totals have been 19-under or better. Go low!

The field of 156 contains 11 of the top 50 OWGR.

Stretching

Justin Suh (40/1) will enjoy the generous landing areas and inviting Seaside greens as targets. A super putter, he rolls into town after T10 and a career-best solo fourth in Mexico in his last two starts.

Sea Island resident Davis Thompson (55/1) has been watching this event for as long as his father, Todd, has been running it. Making his fifth appearance, he should be ready to contend on the weekend.

Chesson Hadley (55/1) has cashed T7 in his last two starts on TOUR on resort courses in Las Vegas and Mexico. No point overthinking it.

Sleepers

Will Gordon (100/1), T15 and T21 in his last two on TOUR, is top 10 GIR, and that plays this week. … 2017 winner Austin Cook (150/1) has cashed T10 and T13 in his last two starts on TOUR. … If Kevin Kisner (175/1) is going to figure it out, it’s going to be this week.

Butterfield Bermuda Championship

Aruba, Jamaica, ooooo I wanna take ya

Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama

Read more: Butterfield Bermuda Championship

Butterfield Bermuda Championship

Port Royal Golf Course

Southampton, Bermuda

Weekly Readers:

Horses for Courses – click here

Betting Stat Pack – click here

Expert Picks – click here

Odds Outlook – click here

Chalk (via Bet365.com)

My thoughts on the top 10 players

Adam Scott (16-1): Sitting on top of the heap this week in a very muted field at Port Royal, he will put the “class v form” argument to the test. The winner of the 2013 Grand Slam of Golf on this track posted T41-MC in Japan in his last two starts. The optimist will point out he’s cashed T7 twice in his last five worldwide.

Alex Noren (18-1): Never a winner on TOUR, it’s hard for me to jump on this number.

Brendon Todd (18-1) owns the tournament scoring record and has posted three top-10 paydays from his last six on TOUR.

Akshay Bhatia (18-1) has the most recent win from this point on the list and up. Superior wind player.

Lucas Glover (20-1) busted his rust with T59 last week after ten weeks on the sidelines. He’ll be hoping the wind blows all weekend!

Thomas Detry (20-1): Making cuts for fun, his streak has reached nine worldwide. Runner up here last year, he also cashed T8 in March in the Dominican Republic. Interesting, yet I’m not sure there’s any value here for a guy who hasn’t won anywhere in the world since 2016.

Alex Smalley (20-1): Cashing in the top 10 twice this summer with T9 at TPC River Highlands and TPC Deere Run, he also produced T11 and T12 the last two years.

Lucas Herbert (22-1): Champion from 2021, the Australian did so in blustery conditions. Hell, I might just stack an all-Aussie card this week just to have some fun in this moribund field.

Taylor Pendrith (22-1): All gamers are looking for an angle. Double-dip here with the “revenge factor” and solid, current form (T15-T3).

Ben Griffin (22-1): Cashing T25 or better in five of his last nine worldwide, he also has unfinished business on the island. Playing from the final group, he was 23-under with seven holes to play. He played the next five holes SIX-OVER PAR (four bogeys, one double) and settled for T3. I wouldn’t have come back.

NOW PLAYING:

Host CoursePort Royal Golf Course.
Yards (per official scorecard):6,828.
Par:71 (36-35).
Greens:TifEagle Bermuda; 8,000 square feet on average.
Stimpmeter:10.5 feet.
Rough:419 Bermudagrass at 2 inches.
Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play87/4/7.
Architect(s):Robert Trent Jones (1971); Roger Rulewich (2008).
Defending Champion (event):Seamus Power (not entered).
Multiple Champion(s) Entered:N/A.
Course Record (last):61; Taylor Pendrith, Round 2, 2021.
72 Hole Tournament Record (last):260 (-24); Brendon Todd, 2019.
Fact of the Week:Shortest course on TOUR.
Fact of the Week II:Par-71, 6,828 yards for the fifth consecutive event.

Notes:

  • Field of 132
  • The OWGR is represented by 2 of the top 50.
  • Sixth of seven events of the FedExCup Fall
  • $6.5 million – $1.170 million – 500 FedExCup points – Sentry and Masters ticket punched.

Season Winners

2022-2023 Season Winners

EventWinner
Fortinet ChampionshipMax Homa
Sanderson Farms ChampionshipMackenzie Holmes
Shriners Children’s OpenTom Kim
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPKeegan Bradley
CJ CUP at CONGAREERory McIlroy
Butterfield Bermuda ChampionshipSeamus Power
Mayakoba ChampionshipRussell Henley
Cadence Bank Houston OpenTony Finau
The RSM ClassicAdam Svensson (first TOUR win)
Sentry Tournament of ChampionsJon Rahm
Sony Open in HawaiiSi Woo Kim
The AMERICAN EXPRESSJon Rahm (2)
Farmers Insurance OpenMax Homa (2)
AT&T Pebble BeachJustin Rose
WM Phoenix OpenScottie Scheffler
The Genesis InvitationalJon Rahm (3)
The Honda ClassicChris Kirk
Arnold Palmer InvitationalKurt Kitayama (first TOUR win)
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipTaylor Moore (first TOUR win)
Corales PuntacanaMatt Wallace (first TOUR win)
WGC – Dell Technologies MPSam Burns
Valero Texas OpenCorey Conners
MastersJon Rahm (4)
RBC HeritageMatt Fitzpatrick
Zurich Classic of New OrleansDavis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each)
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau (2)
Wells Fargo ChampionshipWyndham Clark (first TOUR win)
AT&T Byron NelsonJason Day
PGA ChampionshipBrooks Koepka
Charles Schwab ChallengeEmiliano Grillo
MemorialViktor Hovland
RBC Canadian OpenNick Taylor
U.S. OpenWyndham Clark (2)
Travelers ChampionshipKeegan Bradley (2)
Rocket Mortgage ClassicRickie Fowler
John Deere ClassicSepp Straka
Genesis Scottish OpenRory McIlroy (2)
The Open ChampionshipBrian Harman
3M OpenLee Hodges (first TOUR win)
Wyndham ChampionshipLucas Glover
FedEx St. Jude ChampionshipLucas Glover (2)
BMW ChampionshipViktor Hovland (2)
TOUR ChampionshipViktor Hovland (3)
Fortinet ChampionshipSahith Theegala
Sanderson Farms ChampionshipLuke List
Shriners Children’s OpenTom Kim
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPCollin Morikawa
World Wide TechnologyErik van Rooyen

Recent Winners – Butterfield Bermuda Championship

Italics – not entered this week.

YearWinnerNotes
2022Seamus Power (-19)Set the tournament record circling TWENTY EIGHT birdies. Won by one over Thomas Detry.
2021Lucas Herbert (-15)Matched the highest-winning score. Won by a shot for his first TOUR victory in just his 20th start.
2020Brian Gay (-15)Defeated Wyndham Clark in a playoff after closing with 64.
2019Brendon Todd (-24)Posted rounds of 63 in Round 2 and closed with 62 to win by four.

Longer Shots, Longest Shots, Others

After a shootout last week in Mexico on Tiger’s track, Mother Nature is probably going to have her say this week. Tight fairways are pinched only by two inches of rough, but awkward, uneven lies will require concentration. Big Bermuda greens, exposed to the elements, will only run around 10 feet.

The winners here have ranged from 20-1, red-hot Seamus Power last year to 200-1 veteran Brian Gay. Wide open would be an understatement.

I can’t look away from Luke List (25-1) this week. With nothing to play for, he’s making the trip. Is it a trip or a trap? … It’s great to see kids Nick Dunlap (50-1) and Peter Kuest (55-1) live, but I’ll take a veteran on the upswing, Lanto Griffin (55-1) at a similar number and take my chances. … Russell Knox (90-1) won’t win but he’ll be playing the weekend. … Kramer Hickok (60-1) will be making his fifth appearance and has posted three previous in the top 30. … Kelly Kraft (110-1) has cashed five in a row and plays ocean courses well. … Satoshi Kodaira (175-1) for a top 40.

Good luck!

World Wide Technology Championship

Hey, at least it ain’t ALL CAPS again!

Way down here, you need a reason to move.

The fifth of seven FedExCup Fall tournaments should provide motivation at Tiger Woods’ El Cardonal at Diamante in Los Cabos, Mexico.

Read more: World Wide Technology Championship

World Wide Technology Championship

El Cardonal at Diamante

Los Cabos, Mexico

Weekly Readers:

Horses for Courses – click here

Betting Stat Pack – click here

Expert Picks – click here

Odds Outlook – click here

Chalk (via Bet365.com)

My thoughts on the top 10 players

Ludvig Aberg (+900): Nothing has slowed him down over the last two months and I don’t believe a resort course setting is going to do the trick. The problem with a shootout and appears to be what we will have on the cards this week, is making enough putts over four days to win. Remember in Las Vegas he needed 62 on Sunday just to hit T13. He won’t be in my win tickets.

Cameron Young (+1200): Rest or rust? Returning to tournament competition for the first time in ten weeks, the big bomber should be licking his chops and cleaning the grooves on his wedges. Time to exact his revenge for the Ryder Cup snub?

Sahith Theegala (+1400): The interesting angle this week involves, for me, putters versus ball-strikers. With massive targets off the tee and into the greens, I would think the less accurate will have more chances to wield the putter. The absence of rough (there literally isn’t any) combined with only one water hazard should make for a less stressful week. Not many are better on and around the greens than Theegala. With a trophy on the shelf from Fortinet, he should be playing freely for the rest of the FedExCup Fall.

Beau Hossler (+2500): Looking to breakthrough for the first time on TOUR, he continues to sniff around over the last three months. Back-to-back top-10 paydays plus a run of T30 or better highlights his consistency. Add a few more bucks and take the top 20 price.

Stephan Jaeger (+2800): Making his 125th start on the PGA TOUR, he is still looking for his first podium finish. Cashing in 28 of his last 31 events including too many in a row to count, the German is on great form but hasn’t been pushing into contention on the weekends.

Lucas Glover (+3000): Nobody was interested in thinking he would end the regular season with a win and follow it up with another in the first FedExCup Playoff event. Never posting a two-win season in his career, he’s now checked that box. Time for three? I don’t think so. The putter, which was white hot for a month, has had ten weeks off from competition.

Akshay Bhatia (+3000): If this week wasn’t on Paspalum, I’m not sure he’s up here. The winner at Barracuda in July, the lefty hasn’t popped a top 20 in his last six on TOUR. BUT MAN HE LOVES PASPALUM. Opening the 2022 KFT season he won on this surface in the Bahamas, In 2023 he’s cashed solo second in Puerto Rico, T24 Corales Puntacana and solo fourth at Vidanta Mexico Open.

J.J. Spaun (+3000): After cashing in eight straight on TOUR, Spaun rolls in after his best result (T6) last week since The Sentry last January. Finding his form in the FedExCup Fall, he sits at No. 56 entering the week. One more decent finish will push him into The Ten for 2024. Everyone is playing for something!

Emiliano Grillo (+3000): Fade or follow. The man is in form, and he absolutely shreds on Paspalum. With a victory at Colonial in May, another course he annually produces on when playing, stacking his first, two-win season is on the cards. The Argentine is my first name on the team sheet this week.

Thomas Detry (+3300): The only man listed at 33/1, the Belgian has cashed eight straight worldwide. On closer inspection his best of the bunch was T13 at The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. His only win in professional golf was in 2016, but he has cashed second multiple times. Digging deeper, he’s posted T15 or better the last three times at Mayakoba and never missed in five visits.

NOW PLAYING:

Host CourseEl Cardonal at Diamante.
Yards (per official scorecard):7,452.
Par:72 (36-36).
Greens:Platinum Paspalum.
Stimpmeter:11.5 feet.
Rough:There isn’t any!
Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play48/1/1.
Architect(s):Tiger Woods (2014).
Defending Champion (event):Russell Henley (not entered).
Multiple Champion(s) Entered:N/A.
Course Record (last):Inaugural event.
72 Hole Tournament Record (last):Inaugural event.
Fact of the Week:First Tiger Woods designed course to be used on the PGATOUR.
Fact of the Week II:Resort course Par-72.

Notes:

  • Field of 132
  • The OWGR is represented by 5 of the top 50.
  • Nine of the top 10 FedExCup Fall are entered.
  • Fifth event of the FedExCup Fall season (seven events).
  • $8.2 million – $1.475 million – 500 FedExCup points – Sentry and Masters ticket punched.

Season Winners

2022-2023 Season Winners

EventWinner
Fortinet ChampionshipMax Homa
Sanderson Farms ChampionshipMackenzie Holmes
Shriners Children’s OpenTom Kim
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPKeegan Bradley
CJ CUP at CONGAREERory McIlroy
Butterfield Bermuda ChampionshipSeamus Power
Mayakoba ChampionshipRussell Henley
Cadence Bank Houston OpenTony Finau
The RSM ClassicAdam Svensson (first TOUR win)
Sentry Tournament of ChampionsJon Rahm
Sony Open in HawaiiSi Woo Kim
The AMERICAN EXPRESSJon Rahm (2)
Farmers Insurance OpenMax Homa (2)
AT&T Pebble BeachJustin Rose
WM Phoenix OpenScottie Scheffler
The Genesis InvitationalJon Rahm (3)
The Honda ClassicChris Kirk
Arnold Palmer InvitationalKurt Kitayama (first TOUR win)
THE PLAYERS ChampionshipScottie Scheffler (2)
Valspar ChampionshipTaylor Moore (first TOUR win)
Corales PuntacanaMatt Wallace (first TOUR win)
WGC – Dell Technologies MPSam Burns
Valero Texas OpenCorey Conners
MastersJon Rahm (4)
RBC HeritageMatt Fitzpatrick
Zurich Classic of New OrleansDavis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each)
Mexico Open at VidantaTony Finau (2)
Wells Fargo ChampionshipWyndham Clark (first TOUR win)
AT&T Byron NelsonJason Day
PGA ChampionshipBrooks Koepka
Charles Schwab ChallengeEmiliano Grillo
MemorialViktor Hovland
RBC Canadian OpenNick Taylor
U.S. OpenWyndham Clark (2)
Travelers ChampionshipKeegan Bradley (2)
Rocket Mortgage ClassicRickie Fowler
John Deere ClassicSepp Straka
Genesis Scottish OpenRory McIlroy (2)
The Open ChampionshipBrian Harman
3M OpenLee Hodges (first TOUR win)
Wyndham ChampionshipLucas Glover
FedEx St. Jude ChampionshipLucas Glover (2)
BMW ChampionshipViktor Hovland (2)
TOUR ChampionshipViktor Hovland (3)
Fortinet ChampionshipSahith Theegala
Sanderson Farms ChampionshipLuke List
Shriners Children’s OpenTom Kim
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPCollin Morikawa

Recent Winners – World Wide Technology Championship

Italics – not entered this week.

YearWinnerNotes
2022Russell HenleyPosted 23-under, won by four. Paspalum layout at Mayakoba.
2021Viktor HovlandPosted 23-under, won by four. Paspalum layout at Mayakoba.
2020Viktor HovlandPosted 20-under, won by a shot. Paspalum layout at Mayakoba.
2019Brendon ToddPosted 20-under, won by a shot. Paspalum layout at Mayakoba.
2018Matt KucharPosted 22-under, won by one. Paspalum layout at Mayakoba.

Longer Shots, Longest Shots, Others

Now, let’s have some fun! New course, no weather, big fairways, big greens, and plenty of rounds in the 60s should be flying around.

There is plenty of like-for-like between 35 and 50 but I’ll point out Adam Svensson (+3500) has cashed nine straight T41 or better. … I keep falling back to Las Vegas guys again this week in the arid, desert-like setting so don’t be surprised if 54-hole leader in Japan, Justin Suh (+5000), starts rolling in putts from everywhere. … Taylor Montgomery (+6000) is starting to come around again and enjoys Par Breakers for breakfast. … Brandon Wu (+7000) loves Mexico and Paspalum. … Maverick McNealy (+8000) returns this week after a long layoff rehabbing a shoulder. I don’t like the number but when healthy, he can get it going with the putter. … Mackenzie Hughes (+10000) always pops up this time of year and has two previous podiums on this surface. … There’s my Paspalum buddy Cam Percy (+30000) sitting in the weeds. … My three best BOOM OR BUST picks are Harry Hall (+10000), Ryan Moore (+20000), and Brice Garnett (+30000).

Good luck!