Wednesday, November 20, 2019

What To Look For: 2019 RSM Classic

The Tour comes back to Sea Island for the 10th annual RSM Classic


The RSM Classic is played on two courses with players playing one of their first two rounds on the Plantation course. If they make the cut, they play three of their rounds on the Seaside course. The Plantation course is generally much easier than the Seaside course.

Sea Island is one of the favorite residences for Tour players and thus the Sea Island course is very well liked. The tournament is an interesting one because the field is somewhat strong, but rookie players, particularly those from the southeast, have had strong performances here.

This is a course that emphasizes accurate driving over distance driving as well as long and short iron shots. Generally, the winners here have been very good putters of the ball, but relying on putting metrics to determine winners is usually an exercise of futility.

The final critical hole on the course is the par-3 17th.



As far as critical holes on Tour, this design is pretty typical for par-3’s with its shallow green. If the wind is blowing, particularly with a tailwind, it can come down to luck between making par or making double bogey.

If the tailwind knocks the ball down too much, now the ball hits the front bunker and possibly becomes a fried egg. If it doesn’t knock down the ball, then it’s impossible to get the ball to hold the green.

Projected Winning Score: -20

3JACK’S FAVORITES

Webb Simpson +800
Charles Howell III +2,500
Russell Henley +4,000
Jim Furyk +5,000
Vaughn Taylor +5,000


3JACK’S DARK HORSE PICKS

Joel Dahmen +6,600
Kevin Streelman +8,000
Sam Ryder +12,500
Mark Hubbard +12,500
Sepp Straka +20,000




3JACK