Fantasy Golf Picks, Odds, & Predictions – 2016 RSM Classic

Fantasy Golf Picks, Odds, and Predictions for the RSM Classic

2016 RSM Classic Fantasy Preview

It was an emotional return, of sorts, for Pat Perez as he secured just his second PGA TOUR title win at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba last week.  Perez’s victory was perhaps made that much sweeter given the fact that he missed the majority of last season through injury.  The win showed that Pat still has what it takes to win a PGA TOUR event and it will be interesting to see how the 40-year-old builds on what we could term a breakthrough victory of sorts.

Perez benefited from almost routine meltdowns from the likes of Gary Woodland and Scott Piercy when in contention, and it will be interesting to see how many DFS managers and Vegas bettors kick that gruesome twosome to the curb after yet another Sunday shocker.

From one Classic to another….this week the Tour heads back to US soil for the RSM Classic from Sea Island, Georgia.  This is one of those events that takes place across split courses – the resort’s Plantation and Seaside stretches – and with this being the final Fall tournament of the calendar year those in the field this week will be looking to sign off in style.

Last Week’s Fantasy Results from the OHL Classic at Mayakoba

Unfortunately, last week the majority of our picks fell victim to the cut line but the three that made it through included Knox who finished with a strong at 3rd and Reavie at T4.

Don’t get down on yourself if you failed to pickup a Rod Pampling or Pat Perez.  The Fall season (which is rapidly coming to an end) always brings out a few surprises and this year has been no exception.

After taking nearly the entire 2015-2016 season off (following surgery) a Pat Perez win came as a shock to many of us.  Regardless, we congratulate Pat on an impressive come-back win and now we move on to this week’s selections.

The 2016 RSM Classic Field

A slightly disappointing field will gather in Georgia for this week’s RSM Classic given that Ryder Cup chief Davis Love III is the host, with the obvious standouts in the field being some of Love’s representatives at Hazeltine in Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker, and Zach Johnson.

There is also the European Tour’s ‘Race to Dubai’ finale and the Australian Open (Adam Scott and Jordan Spieth are in attendance there, amongst others) this week, so this RSM Classic line-up has a rather limited feel to it.

The defending champion Kevin Kisner will it tee up this week as will Kevin Chappell, a fine young talent who will be hoping to emulate Kisner in getting over the line after a series of near-misses.

Others like Bill Haas, Jim Furyk, Chris Kirk, and Harris English will be looking to take advantage of the opportunities that could present themselves in Georgia this week.

This Week’s Course Preview

For the second time in the event’s history, the RSM Classic will be contested cross two courses in the typical rotation format.

The first course is the Seaside stretch, a testing Par 70 measuring in at 7,055 yards that offers plenty of scoring opportunities but some rather vicious winds to contend with too as they whip up from the St. Simons Island coast.

Links-style in nature and Bermuda grass in construction, the Seaside course hosts either round one or two and then both of the weekend 18s, so getting to grips with this track is essential for any player looking to lift the trophy on Sunday afternoon.

The Plantation course opened its doors for the first time in competitive play in 2015, and is a rather more typical 7,058 yard, Par 72 affair.  With expansive fairways and some enticing pin-angles, it is unsurprising to note that Kisner played his Plantation jaunt in a bogey-free 65, which featured five birdies and an eagle at the Par 5 seventh.

Weather Forecast for Saint Simons Island, Georgia

The weather is set to be fair, sunny and warm for this curtain call on the Fall season, with four consecutive days of South Coast sunshine expected.

With just a 10% chance of rain on Friday and Saturday, there should be no weather-related disruptions which will help the smooth progress of this extensive 155-man tournament, although winds ranging from 10mph-15mph (these are likely to be even breezier at local level) could hurt the chances of those without a strong wind game.

Last Year’s Results from the RSM Classic

Let’s be honest here: Kevin Kisner absolutely slayed the Sea Island courses in his winning effort in 2015.  At -22 he was six shots clear of Chappell in second and, for context, eleven shots clear of the group tied for sixth.  That’s some serious dominance even against a “weaker” field.

Kisner opened up at the Plantation course with a 65 to start one shot off the lead, and he never looked back from there with rounds of 67, 64, and 64 showing complete confidence in his game around the Seaside course.  It was one of the most one-sided triumphs of the PGA TOUR calendar in 2015.

It probably helps that Kisner is a Georgia graduate that has played the Sea Island resort countless times, and that familiarity certainly contributed to an outstanding four days.  He ranked first for Birdies Made, naturally, and Bogey Avoidance, but most impressive was the all-round nature of his performance; he ranked in the top ten for Greens in Regulation, two putting metrics and Strokes Gained: Tee to Green.

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This Week’s Broadcast Schedule

• Television Broadcasts
  • Thursday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
• Mobile Broadcasts:
  •  None
• RADIO: (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com)
  • Thursday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com).

Where to Play Fantasy Golf for the RSM Classic this Week

This just may be the last opportunity to play DFS fantasy golf in 2016 as far as the PGA TOUR is concerned (we’re still awaiting word on which, if any, contests will be held for the remainder of 2016 tourneys) , so now is as good a time as any to cash your chips and go into your chosen contests hard.  That said, here’s the pick of this week’s DraftKings slate:

• PGA $90K Dogleg: If you’ve got a spare $33 then you could do a lot worse than enter this contest with its $90,000 bounty.  You’ll be battling it out with just 3,151 entries for the big prize, and a top 100 finish will trouser a minimum of $125.

• PGA $100k Fore: The second of this week’s big hitters offers a $100k treasure chest for just a $3 entry.  Finish in the top 400 to win a minimum of 10x that fee.

This Week’s Fantasy Notes for the RSM Classic

Kisner’s dominance was such in 2015 that each and every facet of his game was on fire; making any informed analysis difficult.

Typically this event has proven to be something of a putting contest, which was proven once again in 2015 with Kisner coming alive on the dancefloor and ranking first for Putts per GIR and fourth for Strokes Gained: Putting.  His short game was in fine shape too, and ensured he ranked T9 for Greens in Regulation and 2nd for Strokes Gained: Tee to Green.

Neither of these tracks are long and so no one was surprised to see the shorter hitters off the tee thrive.  Kisner ranked just T54 for Driving Distance but was straight enough (T17 for Accuracy) to still get to the party ahead of schedule.

This is only the second time that the Plantation course has been used in rotation so we are still waiting for more data to make an informed opinion, but it is possible that starting off on this easier course, like Kisner did, can build confidence ahead of a round at the slightly less agreeable Seaside stretch.

A case an be made for a strong local connection as well.  Kisner is actually a South Carolinan homeowner who graduated from the University of Georgia, but at the time of his triumph he was living in the state while his home was being renovated.  Other former champions such as Kirk and Heath Slocum have noted of their familiarity with the Seaside course at least, while other Georgians by birth, education or home – including Russell Henley, Brian Harman, and John Huh – have all recorded top-10 finishes here.

Our Top 5 (and Top 2 Sleeper) Fantasy Picks and Odds to Win the RSM Classic

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Fantasy Golf Predictions Last Season (2015-2016)

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Cover Photo via Instagram