We still have some golf to enjoy before 2018 comes to a close but for now, we begin the run in to the final PGA Tour event of the year. The RSM Classic is a relatively new event on the calendar, having been first run in 2010 and while the really big names are missing, we retain a tight field with some high-class golfers on show.
Austin Cook is our defending champion this week but there is a clear leader at the top of the RSM Classic outright winner betting as we head towards Thursday’s first tee time.
We have just one clear favorite with the America-friendly sportsbooks this week and that is the highest ranked golfer on show. Webb Simpson (+900 with Bovada) is way ahead in the outright markets and in the Power Rankings. He is also a former runner up here, having lost out in a playoff to Ben Crane in 2011. Simpson has landed top 15s in each of his last three starts but there is plenty of interest down the field.
Cameron Champ (+2000) is second favorite and the hottest property in golf after winning the Sanderson Farms Championship at the end of last month. He now has to back up that promise with some consistency in stronger fields but a tie for tenth at the Mayakoba last weekend suggests that win was not a one off.
Last year’s runner up J.J. Spaun (20/1 as well) also finds himself towards the top of the odds and he is in better shape after a tie for third on Sunday. C.T. Pan is also in the mix, as is our defending champion Austin Cook (28/1) who is the fifth favorite.
Others to mention in this section include Russell Henley (33/1) and Chesson Hadley (25/1) before we get towards the outsiders.
Jim Furyk (50/1) is at a long price in the betting and that interests us this week. He has been to this tournament on three occasions, finishing no worse than tied 11th. He has been in good touch while remaining active at the start of the new season.
He is advancing in years but that long price is in contrast to his fourth place in this week’s Power Rankings and the 48 year old has good relevant stats to succeed this week.
Peter Uihlein (50/1) is another name to watch but there will be concerns after that final day slump at the Shriners. Uihlein led after 54 holes and if he can find that kind of touch then he’s a candidate for a single digit finish at the very least.
Stewart Cink (50/1) is another interesting player who has a good record in this tournament which was highlighted by a career best 62 at the Seaside Course.
We are also going to be coming back to Zach Johnson who is towards the head of the outside bets. Form and a missed cut at the Mayakoba is against us but in a weaker field, this is a week when experience could cut through all of the required playing stats.
Our Preview’s RSM Classic Betting Picks & Predictions Verdict with Course Trends
We have only had eight editions of the RSM Classic since it debuted in 2010. So it is not a huge surprise to see that there have been no multiple winners to date. The field changes a great deal from year to year and the biggest names have tended to sit this one out.
As for the course, this is an event that is played over two different venues on Saint Simons Island in Georgia. The Seaside Course and the Plantation Course at the Sea Island Golf Club will share the honors and with contrasting challenges, we have a tough call on our hands when making our RSM Classic predictions.
Both golf courses come in at just a fraction over 7,000 yards but the Seaside Course is a par 70 as opposed to the Plantation’s par 72. At those lengths, however, it is a case of favoring accuracy over distance across the four days.
Scoring has been traditionally low with the cut here coming in at -3 in 2017. As for those desired stats, last year’s key elements were greens hit, proximity to hole and strokes gained: putting.
It is an interesting field with some experienced names such as Cink and Furyk battling it out with upcoming talent. It’s another week where you may want to stick with top 10 finish wagers but we are backing the experience of Zach Johnson to come through. The form may not be there but he is too good a golfer to be out of touch for long and the course set ups and formats should suit him this week. Our RSM Classic picks and betting predictions are:
- Zach Johnson to win at +4000 with Bovada or Intertops. He is 33/1 with BetOnline.
- Austin Cook (+275), Jim Furyk (+400) and Stewart Cink (+550) for top 10 finishes, all odds with Bovada.
Matt Harris is a golf and soccer expert for USA Betting. His other area of specialist knowledge is cricket. He is well known in sports journalism and contributes articles to a plethora of big-name websites and media outlets. Titles that he writes or has written for include: Betfair, BetVictor, Unibet & Just Bookies.