PGA Tour preview: RSM Classic TV times and betting tips
After a solid run of winners and value place picks, it appears our luck finally ran out last week. Still, with another top level PGA Tour event coming into vision, there is always another opportunity to find a winner. I have scoured the field at the RSM Classic to find three players I feel have a great chance to get us back on track. But first…
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RSM Classic details
Venue: Sea Island Resort, Georgia, USA
Date: November 18-21, 2021
Course stats: Seaside course: Par 70; 7,005 yards; Plantation Course: Par 72; 7,060 yards
Course summary: The tournament uses two different courses, both of which are short and strategic. The Sea Island Seaside Course is exposed to the elements and plays like a true links. The Plantation course, used for one round before the cut, is a tight parkland track that is also susceptible to strong winds. Bermuda grass greens are a feature on both courses, so an affinity with the surface will be an advantage here.
Purse: $7,200,000
Defending champion: Robert Streb (-19)
RSM Classic TV coverage
Thursday: Featured Groups on Sky Sports Golf and Main Event from 2.30pm; Full coverage on Sky Sports Golf and Main Event from 5pm
Friday: Sky Sports Golf from 5pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 6pm
Saturday: Sky Sports Golf from 6pm
Sunday: Sky Sports Golf (Red Button) from 6pm and Sky Sports Golf from 9pm
RSM Classic staking plan
Bazza’s Banker: Cameron Smith @ 18/1 with bet365
Smith is fast becoming one of the top players on the PGA Tour, and I am confident this is the sort of event he should be challenging to win. In the last 12 months, Smith ranks 10th for SG: Total and is not showing any areas of weakness in his game. With three PGA Tour wins to his name, and some strong correlating course form at Hilton Head, he certainly justifies being one of the favourites in the betting.
The Australian has made two PGA Tour starts so far this season, finishing T9 and T15 in strong fields, indicating he isn’t planning to slow down anytime soon. In the last three months, he ranks 9th for SG: Tee-to-green and 13th for both SG: Approach and SG: Putting – the sorts of figures that make him a leading contender on this highly technical course.
The Each-Way Play: Corey Conners @ 28/1 with bet365
As a very consistent and accurate ball striker, who plays wind-affected courses well, Conners jumps out of the betting card for me this week. Conners finished T10 in this event last season, following a 4th place finish at Hilton Head, and clearly likes this type of test. His performances at the RSM Classic have improved year-on-year, and I am sure he will have been targeting this one as a potential second PGA Tour win.
Conners has the perfect game for this venue, ranking 8th for Greens-in-regulation and 11th for Driving Accuracy this season. In the last three months he ranks 4th for SG: Off-the-tee, and with a putter that is warming up just at the right time he could be a great each-way bet this week.
The Longshot: Matthias Schwab @ 110/1 with bet365
After the success of Lucas Herbert on the PGA Tour recently, it appears another European Tour regular is just about finding his feet stateside. Matthias Schwab has improved week-on-week this season, and registered a respectable T35 finish in Houston last week. European Tour fans will know Schwab as a strong player who loves the challenge of tricky technical courses. That is exactly what we have this week, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he improved again.
The Austrian was 15th at the tough and often wind-affected Valderrama recently, and in the last three months ranks 10th for SG: Off-the-tee and 16th for SG: Putting. If he can manage the conditions at Sea Island, and use some of his European Tour experience, I can see Schwab providing plenty of each-way value at a three-figure price.
