It might be the first PGA Tour event following The Masters, but the options for RSM Classic betting picks are surprisingly strong.
Five of the Top 50 players in the World Golf Ranking will tee it up at Sea Island, including Webb Simpson (who lost last year's event in a playoff). And adding to the intrigue is the fact that the first two rounds will be played over two courses, with the Plantation Course in play Thursday and Friday, and the Seaside Course being used as the main 18. Bettors will need to factor in two sets of course specialties when choosing their plays.
We preview the field, break down the course and give our RSM Classic picks, predictions and best bets.
Sea Island Betting Stats that Matter
Let's start with the Seaside Course, where those fortunate enough to make the cut will play 54 of their 72 holes. As the name would suggest, this course tends to be breezier than the Plantation Course, so it might benefit bettors to keep an eye on the wind conditions when making round-by-round prop wagers, and favor players on the Plantation Course when the breeze picks up. That said, the Seaside Course is one of the shortest on tour, and should be a nice playground for accurate drivers.
The Plantation Course gets a much smaller spotlight here, but there should be some crazy-low scores if the weather cooperates. In addition to being less exposed to the wind, this 18 features four par-5s and has long been one of the easiest courses on tour in terms of average scoring. Again, target players with elite driving accuracy over the big bombers, since the course plays so short relative to others that even a modest drive will lead to a manageable approach shot into generous Bermudagrass greens.
RSM Classic Outright Winner Bets
Sportsbooks have a clear favorite this week – and it's Simpson (+800), who closed with an impressive 68 last week en route to a T10 at Augusta National. Tyrrell Hatton is a distant second in the outright odds at +1,800, while Sungjae Im is next at +2,000. Russell Henley (+2,500) and Tommy Fleetwood (+2,500) round out the Top 5, while other notable players in the field include Jason Day (+3,300), Justin Rose (+4,000) and Harold Varner (+8,000).
Who will win the RSM Classic? Here's our best guess:
Webb Simpson (+800)
Simpson is coming off a 25-under performance at last year's event, with all four rounds coming in at 68 or lower – and Sea Island is going to feel like a 5,500-yard mini course compared to what Simpson encountered in Georgia last week. With four Top 20s on his resume in four events in the new PGA Tour season, his overall game is already on point. And he comes in riding a 10-round streak of 68 or lower at this tournament, so he's rather familiar with its nuances. He's the big favorite for a reason.
Denny McCarthy (+6,600)
We love guys like McCarthy at events like this, since he has a distinct advantage over the field in an area that matters a lot. McCarthy doesn't have the strongest game off the tee, and he has struggled with his approach shots. But he's also one of the best putters on tour, and with both courses running shorter than the majority of PGA Tour venues, McCarthy's deficiencies won't matter nearly as much. McCarthy is the kind of player who can win a tournament with the flat stick – and it could be this week.
RSM Classic Matchup Predictions
Russell Henley Over Sungjae Im (+100)
Yeah, we know that Im finished tied for second at The Masters last week and was one of the most consistent golfers all weekend. We're still on Henley this week. He's one of the hottest golfers in the world who didn't appear at Augusta National last week, with two Top-5 finishes in his last five tournaments. He's also ranked ninth in SG: Total on the new season (1.934), and with Im still struggling in SG: Around the Green and SG: Putting, these odds make Henley worth taking a chance on this week.
Joaquin Niemann over Harris English (+100)
English also missed out on The Masters, but recent form certainly wasn't to blame. English has a recent fourth-place finish at the U.S. Open to his credit, and has three Top-30 finishes in four events overall. But we favor fellow non-Masters participant Niemann and his four Top-25 finishes in four events this season. English has also missed the cut in four of his last six visits to Sea Island, which does little to instil confidence in him this weekend.
RSM Classic Prop Bets
Top Canadian: Corey Conners (+187)
No Canuck is running better right now than Conners, who came out of nowhere to post a T10 at Augusta with a strong 71-69 weekend close. That makes three consecutive Top-25 results and four in the last five tournaments for Conners, who has surged into the Top 40 in the FedEx Cup standings. He'll likely meet some resistance from countryman Mackenzie Hughes (+260), but Connors' impressive SG: Total tally so far this season (.871) suggests he has the all-around game to thrive at Sea Island.
Playoff (+300) or 1-Shot Victory (+250)
Whether it's the McGladrey Classic or the RSM Classic, one thing has been consistent with this tournament: the finish has been a tight one. Eight of the 10 tournaments held at Sea Island have been decided either in a playoff or with a one-shot, 72-hole victory. With so many birdie opportunities across both courses, there should be plenty of players in the hunt – and given the strength of this field, you're getting terrific odds on that finishing trend continuing at the 2020 event.
RSM Classic Betting Card
- Webb Simpson Outright (+800)
- Denny McCarthy Outright (+6,600)
- Russell Henley Over Sungjae Im (+100)
- Joaquin Niemann over Harris English (+100)
- Top Canadian: Corey Conners (+187)
- Playoff (+300) or 1-Shot Victory (+250)
Where Can I Bet on PGA golf?
With PGA betting growing in popularity, pretty much all online sportsbooks will offer golf odds for the RSM Classic. Check out our top listings page for the best sportsbooks available where you live and see what PGA Tour odds they have available.
