Who to back at the RBC Heritage
RBC Heritage betting: Steve’s top tips
It’s been a long time since Dustin Johnson was in this neck of the woods – nine years to be exact – and the world No. 1 has not made the cut in two appearances.
That was a long time ago and there’s a fair chance DJ, one of the better performers in terms of strokes gained putting and around the greens, could overpower this course.
I’ve got a sneaky feeling Matt Kuchar could also have a good week. I’m loathe to back players who had a hard time at Augusta and the American certainly doesn’t fall into that bracket.
It didn’t look that way after the first round, when he was right in the mix. But a weekend of 72 and 73 saw him tied for 28th.
Kuchar’s generally a money making machine without winning but he did get over the line here in 2014 and has finished 5–9–11 since.
At a best price of 20s, he’s worth serious consideration.
An Augusta weekend of 69 and 65 (which would have been even better but for bogeys on 17 and 18) must put Paul Casey in a fabulous frame of mind.
With the Valspar Championship already in his cabinet it would be no surprise – particularly given how well he performs tee-to-green – to see him continue that form here.
Casey hasn’t competed at Harbour Town since missing the cut in 2016 and is tempting at 16/1.
But he finished 18th two years previously and 11th in 2009. It wouldn’t take much to see those stats improve significantly this week.
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Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
