The one to be on: Branden Grace
I don’t usually opt for defending champions but I was surprised how well the South African performed at Augusta – given he’d had no joy there at all over the past three years.
He has plenty of form at Harbour Town and the RBC Heritage, though, having finished seventh in 2015 before lifting the trophy 12 months ago.
Grace has hardly been a contender so far this season – that 27th at the Masters would count as a highlight.
But he has defended a title before – the Qatar Open – and does appeal to me at 25/1.
As does Matthew Fitzpatrick at an easy-to-back 35/1.
There was a lot to like about parts of his Augusta week, especially his first round.
Shots did get away from him at times but, after that second round 78 ended his Green Jacket hopes, he responded gamely with 73 and 70.
If he gets a liking for Harbour Town, he could be dangerous at the price.
The each-way back: Bryson DeChambeau
Only Jon Rahm has launched himself onto the PGA Tour in recent years with more hype than DeChambeau. Has a flat cap, a set of irons the same length and a side-saddle putting style ever elicited so much comment?
That artificially inflated his prices for quite a while and they are finally starting to regress towards the mean. He’s generally 66/1 for the RBC Heritage and I’ll be taking a little stab at that.
Fourth on his debut 12 months ago is a good omen on a course that seems to reward the same players year in year out – just look at the records of Graeme McDowell, Matt Kuchar and Luke Donald if you need further evidence.
While DeChambeau has got off to a slow start this year – he missed four of five cuts at one point – he did finish second in the Puerto Rico Open. That’s his best finish on the PGA Tour.
Why is that significant? Well, it proves he’s still got some game and it was also a diminished field with most of the top players teeing it up in the WGC-World Match Play.
This line-up is a little stronger but with many PGA Tour stars having a week off after their Masters exertions, it gives him a chance to make another charge for his maiden win.
You can’t mention the RBC Heritage without noting Aaron Baddeley – a former winner who finished ninth last year. A top 20 at the Houston Open means he will have his supporters at 100/1.
The dark horse: Rafael Campos
The Puerto Rican largely frequents the LatinoAmerica and mini circuits but he’s had two shots at the PGA Tour this season and has performed admirably on each occasion.
Tied 10th in his home open, he then doubled up with a seventh placed finish in Houston the following week.
It’ll be interesting to see how he gets on at the RBC Heritage but, with that good recent form in the bank, 200/1 is my kind of price.