We'll start wrapping up the 2021 golf calendar with an old favorite in the RSM Classic.
This is a tournament that's been good to us in the past and is fairly straightforward when it comes to betting angles. We'll be looking for strong wedge play and Bermuda putters this week.
2021 RSM Classic Odds
Click here to see the full odds board as of Monday
| Golfer | Odds |
|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler | +1000 |
| Webb Simpson | +1200 |
| Cameron Smith | +1400 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | +1600 |
| Russell Henley | +2200 |
| Corey Conners | +2200 |
| Harris English | +2500 |
| Talor Gooch | +3500 |
| Adam Scott | +3500 |
| Joaquin Niemann | +3500 |
| Alexander Noren | +3500 |
| Chris Kirk | +4500 |
| Justin Rose | +5000 |
| Kevin Kisner | +5000 |
| Mackenzie Hughes | +5000 |
| Charles Howell III | +6000 |
| Keegan Bradley | +6000 |
| Brendon Todd | +6000 |
| Mito Pereira | +6000 |
| Joel Dahmen | +6500 |
| Seamus Power | +6500 |
| Max Homa | +6500 |
| Jhonattan Vegas | +6500 |
| Danny Lee | +6500 |
| Matt Kuchar | +6500 |
| Robert Streb | +7000 |
| Taylor Moore | +8000 |
| Branden Grace | +8000 |
| Brian Harman | +8000 |
| Kevin Streelman | +8000 |
| Patrick Rodgers | +8000 |
| Jason Day | +8000 |
| Matt Wallace | +8000 |
| Greyson Sigg | +8000 |
| Troy Merritt | +8000 |
| Scott Piercy | +9000 |
| Adam Long | +9000 |
| Aaron Rai | +9000 |
| Alex Smalley | +9000 |
| Luke List | +9000 |
| Matthias Schwab | +10000 |
| Lanto Griffin | +10000 |
| Sebastian Munoz | +10000 |
| Hayden Buckley | +10000 |
| Emiliano Grillo | +10000 |
| Adam Hadwin | +10000 |
| Henrik Norlander | +11000 |
| Brian Stuard | +13000 |
| Brendan Steele | +13000 |
| Matt Jones | +13000 |
| Lucas Glover | +13000 |
| Keith Mitchell | +13000 |
| J.J. Spaun | +13000 |
| Cameron Davis | +13000 |
| Dylan Frittelli | +13000 |
| Patton Kizzire | +13000 |
| Zach Johnson | +13000 |
| Denny McCarthy | +13000 |
| Tom Hoge | +13000 |
| Doug Ghim | +13000 |
| Tyler Duncan | +13000 |
| Harry Higgs | +13000 |
| Chez Reavie | +13000 |
| Adam Schenk | +13000 |
| Stewart Cink | +13000 |
| Chad Ramey | +13000 |
| Camilo Villegas | +15000 |
| Michael Thompson | +15000 |
| Hank Lebioda | +15000 |
| Cameron Young | +15000 |
| Russell Knox | +15000 |
| Austin Cook | +15000 |
| Rory Sabbatini | +15000 |
| Taylor Pendrith | +15000 |
| Matthew NeSmith | +15000 |
| Wyndham Clark | +15000 |
| Stephan Jaeger | +15000 |
| Andrew Landry | +15000 |
| Scott Stallings | +15000 |
| Davis Riley | +15000 |
| Nick Hardy | +15000 |
| Vincent Whaley | +15000 |
| Peter Uihlein | +18000 |
| Jim Herman | +18000 |
| Kiradech Aphibarnrat | +18000 |
| Kyle Stanley | +18000 |
| Sahith Theegala | +18000 |
| John Huh | +18000 |
| Kramer Hickok | +18000 |
| Hudson Swafford | +18000 |
| Vaughn Taylor | +20000 |
| Roger Sloan | +20000 |
| Andrew Putnam | +20000 |
| Seth Reeves | +20000 |
| Graeme McDowell | +20000 |
| Sepp Straka | +20000 |
| Lee Hodges | +20000 |
| Brice Garnett | +20000 |
| Kevin Tway | +20000 |
| David Lipsky | +25000 |
| Chesson Hadley | +25000 |
| Kurt Kitayama | +25000 |
| Kelly Kraft | +25000 |
| Andrew Novak | +25000 |
| Justin Lower | +25000 |
| Anirban Lahiri | +25000 |
| Sam Ryder | +25000 |
| Curtis Thompson | +25000 |
| Bronson Burgoon | +25000 |
| Max McGreevy | +25000 |
| Ben Kohles | +25000 |
| Brandt Snedeker | +25000 |
| J.T. Poston | +25000 |
| Dylan Wu | +25000 |
| Nate Lashley | +25000 |
| Brian Gay | +30000 |
| Richy Werenski | +30000 |
| Sunghoon Kang | +30000 |
| Brandon Hagy | +30000 |
| Nick Watney | +30000 |
| Jimmy Walker | +30000 |
| Dawie Van Der Walt | +30000 |
| Luke Donald | +30000 |
| Peter Malnati | +30000 |
| Doc Redman | +30000 |
| Paul Barjon | +30000 |
| Martin Trainer | +30000 |
| William McGirt | +30000 |
| Joseph Bramlett | +30000 |
| Bill Haas | +30000 |
| Scott Gutschewski | +30000 |
| Jonathan Byrd | +30000 |
| Chris Stroud | +30000 |
| Adam Svensson | +30000 |
| David Skinns | +30000 |
| Trey Mullinax | +30000 |
| Joshua Creel | +30000 |
| Callum Tarren | +30000 |
| Brandon Wu | +30000 |
| Tyler McCumber | +40000 |
| Ben Crane | +40000 |
| Davis Thompson | +40000 |
| Brett Drewitt | +40000 |
| Noh Seung-yul | +40000 |
| Michael Gligic | +40000 |
| Austin Smotherman | +40000 |
| Jonas Blixt | +50000 |
| Jared Wolfe | +50000 |
| Davis Love III | +100000 |
| J.P Griffin | +100000 |
The Courses
The RSM Classic will use a pair of courses at Sea Island for the first two days — the Par 70 Seaside course and the Par 72 Plantation course. Both measure slightly over 7,000 yards.
Neither course is particularly difficult, and we’ll probably get a winner in the 20-under range unless the wind picks up. We usually see a similar type winner here as we do with other shorter, coastal tracks.
As mentioned, we’ll be targeting guys who can keep it in play off the tee, are good with the wedges and have a good track record putting on Bermuda.
With the two-course set up, it’s not a bad idea to target the Plantation course for first round leader bets if you can find them. The two extra par 5s will give you an edge here, although rounds of 61 or 62 are definitely in play on Seaside if the wind is down.
Many books won’t list FRL odds when the opening round is played on multiple courses, but if you dig around, you’ll probably find someone who offers it.
The Favorites
Scottie Scheffler opens at the top of the board, checking in at +1000. He's been in good form, but he let a good chance in Houston slip away on Sunday.
Webb Simpson is next at +1200 and is the prototype for players who have success here. He's finished inside the top 10 three times, including a playoff loss in 2019.
Cameron Smith (+1400) and Louis Oosthuizen (+1600) close out the top of the board. Smith is another strong wedge player who can get hot with the putter. Oosthuizen doesn't play here much and missed the cut in his only start last year.
The Mid-Tier
I'll open in this range with Russell Henley at +3100 on FanDuel. Henley is the top player on the board for me this week. Bermuda is by far his best putting surface, and the irons have been in solid shape for about five months now. He's also one of many players with strong local ties after being born in Georgia and attending UGA.
We'll take a shot on Joel Dahmen at +6600 on BetMGM. Dahmen played well in Houston last week, finishing fifth while gaining over eight strokes with his ball striking. He's still looking for a good result here though. He's never finished inside the top 25, but his game should be a good fit.
The Longshots
I'll go with Taylor Moore next at 120/1 on FanDuel. Moore was one of the most consistent Korn Ferry players in 2021. He's still looking to get settled on the PGA Tour, but does have two top 25s in four starts this fall. He's a solid, all-around player who doesn't rely too heavily on an aspect of his game. A shorter course will hopefully allow his usually solid wedge game to go to work.
We'll try Denny McCarthy one more time at 130/1 on DraftKings. McCarthy had a great ball striking week at Mayakoba, and the short game was completely dialed in for Houston, resulting in a couple of top 20s. It's about time for both of those aspects to line up for a week, and this is the type of course where he could ride that normally strong putting stroke to a solid result.
Next will be Adam Hadwin at 140/1 on FanDuel. He's definitely a better player than the odds would suggest. He was sixth this fall in Las Vegas and had two solid ball striking weeks in Bermuda and Mexico leading in. He's another player who hasn't put up a good finish here, but the style of play should suit him.
I'll close here with Nick Hardy at 170/1 on FanDuel. Hardy was in the same mold as Moore on the Korn Ferry Tour last season. He doesn't really have too many holes in his game, so on courses like this where bombers don't have a big edge, he's capable of playing well.
The RSM Card
- Russell Henley +3100 (1.06 units)
- Joel Dahmen +6600 (.5 units)
- Taylor Moore +12000 (.28 units)
- Denny McCarthy +13000 (.25 units)
- Adam Hadwin +14000 (.24 units)
- Nick Hardy +17000 (.19 units)
Total Stake: 2.52 units
