The PGA Tour ventures over to Georgia on Thursday for the RSM Classic at Sea Island Resort, which is the eighth tournament of the new 2018 season, and final event of the year.
Last time around Mackenzie Hughes bagged his first tour win after after coming out on top in a five-man playoff, but he’ll have a tough time defending his title with the likes of Kevin Kisner, Matt Kuchar, and Brian Harman in town this week.
- Recap: Patton Kizzire bagged his first tour win at last week’s OHL Classic at Mayakoba.
- Course: The opening two days will take place at both the Seaside (Par 70, 7,005 yards) and Plantation (Par 72, 7,058 yards) courses, then after the cut it’s just the Seaside Course.
- TV Schedule: Thursday-Saturday is 6.30pm to 9.30pm, then 6pm to 9pm on Sunday.
Previous RSM Classic Winners
2016 - Mac Hughes
2015 - Kevin Kisner
2014 - Robert Stre
2013 - Chris Kirk
2012 - Tommy Gainey
2011 - Ben Crane
2010 - Heath Slocum
The Favourite: Kevin Kisner
Former champion Kevin Kisner will be looking to bag his second success in the last three editions of the RSM Classic following his triumph in 2015. Kisner won his first PGA Tour event on that occasion, romping to victory by a six shot margin over 2nd-placed Kevin Chappell, while he’s previous finished 2nd and 3rd at Seaside, and holds the 72-hole record (260 in 2015).
Since that debut success Kisner has recorded his second tour win at the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational back in May, which has been followed by an impressive T7 at the PGA Championship, T3 at the Tour Championship, while he helped the US win the Presidents Cup, collecting three points.
The 33-year-old has taken a little time off since the Presidents Cup, meaning he’ll making his first start of the 2018 season. Kisner, has been installed as the 16/1 favourite to finish top of the pile this week, while he can be backed at 13/8 to bag a top-10 position.
Home Comforts
A whole host of players either reside in Georgia or have a connection to the area, including the likes of former champions Chris Kirk and Heath Slocum, while the aforementioned Kisner went to University in Georgia. Whether this familiarity is an advantage or not is open to debate.
Few players will know the courses better than 2013 winner and local Kirk who is a tasty looking 66/1 shot, while the tournament’s first victor Slocum (2010) is a whopping 750/1 outsider for glory, while he could represent a tempting bet at 25/1 to finish in the top-20.
US Open runner-up Brian Harmon is another player who lives in Sea Island and he’s well fancied at 16/1, whereas Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson both live in St.Simons Island, and can be backed at 20/1 and 30/1 respectively to triumph at the coastal course
Tournament host Davis Love III is a 175/1 to win the event, the same price as Sea Island resident Jonathan Byrd.
Play-Off, Outsiders And First Timers
Four of the seven editions of the tournament have been won via a play-off, while six of the tournament’s have been one by a single shot. Mac Hughes (2016), Robert Streb (2014), Chris Kirk (2013), and Ben Crane (2011) all triumphed in the play-offs, with this outcome available at a best priced 10/3 (Bet Victor) to occur for the fifth time in eight years.
Six of the seven previous winners are American, with Canada’s Hughes the only non-American to triumph last time out. There’s tiny odds of 1/5 for yet another American winner, while 10/3 for a rest of the world player.
The last three winners have won their first tour event at Seaside, and with this in mind Jamie Lovemark is worth a look at 35/1 to come out on top, having bagged back-to-back top-10 finishes in his last two appearances, including a T6 last year.
Elsewhere Last week’s winner in Mexico, Patton Kizzire, has been handed odds of 28/1 to double up with a second successive win, while at 80/1 Sean O’Hair is worth keeping an eye on considering he has four top-20 finishes in five appearances at Sea Island.
