Fantasy Golf Sleeper Report – RSM Classic

2018 RSM Classic Fantasy Sleeper Report

The Fall Season on the PGA TOUR has a habit of throwing up all sorts of weird and wonderful surprises.

We’ve already seen Cameron Champ, surely one of the most exciting young talents to grace the Tour in a long time, pick up the first of what may well be many PGA TOUR titles.

At the completely opposite side of the golfing spectrum is Matt Kuchar, a veritable veteran these days but one with a youthful passion for the game.

And what a treat it was to see Kooch win the eighth PGA TOUR title of his career last week following a drought closing in on five years.

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He largely demolished the Mayakoba track with an excellent display of ball-striking, and despite a late wobble on Sunday it was refreshing to seen old horse blitz a track and win what was nothing more than a birdie shootout.

It’s a slightly different affair in what is the final ‘regular’ event of the calendar year at the RSM Classic. Played across two courses, with the Seaside layout hosting three rounds and the Plantation one of the openers on rotation, this is a coastal test on what is something of a golfer’s paradise on St Simons Island.

Many pros have made this their home through the years, and two of them – Kevin Kisner and Chris Kirk – have won this event in recent times. It’s as good an angle as any to seek out local favourites this week.

The standout features this week is the likelihood of some fierce winds and some tiny Bermuda greens for the players to find. That said, the last three winning scores in the RSM Classic have been -21, -17 and -22, so it’s still a jolly fun way for the players teeing up to sign off for the year.

The likes of Rory McIlroy, Francesco Molinari, Patrick Reed and Xander Schauffele are all off seeking fortune on the European Tour’s season finale in Dubai, and with others already in holiday mode there’s a pretty thin field meeting in Georgia. The top three in the betting are Webb Simpson, Cameron Champ and J.J. Spaun!

As such, finding sleepers to back isn’t easy, but here’s five who might just do some damage at the RSM Classic.

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The RSM ClassicFantasy Sleeper Report

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The RSM Classic Fantasy Sleeper Report

Chris Kirk – Vegas Odds 50/1 – As mentioned, there is a certain amount of evidence to suggest that course form or at least local knowledge is crucial ahead of the RSM Classic.

And on that front, they don’t come much more tuned in than Chris Kirk. He won here in 2013, and has recorded a further pair of top-five finishes on Sea Island since.

His form on paper doesn’t look great, but dig a bit deeper and you see a round of 66 at the Shriners and 66-67 in the middle of his Mayakoba Classic efforts, so maybe he just needs a spark to string four goodies together.

A return to home soil might just be the catalyst for the four-time PGA TOUR winner; in this field, such experience at the sharp end of tournaments is gold dust.

Harold Varner III – Vegas Odds 50/1 – The quest for a first PGA TOUR title goes on for HVIII, although in a field like this he must fancy his chances.

That began in the fall when he just lost out to Kevin Na at the Greenbrier Classic, and his good form has continued to this term. Discounting a missed cut in the Sanderson Farms, his formline reads 6-15-14….is he closing in on that elusive victory?

Seven of his last eight rounds have been in the 60s; a run which includes a trio of 65s. Varner just seems poised to get over the line sooner or later, and as a former East Carolina University student he has knowledge of the game in this part of the world.

Whee Kim – Vegas Odds 50/1 – Even at this early stage of the 2018/19 season, there’s a nice look to Whee Kim’s stats.

He ranks 67th on Tour for Driving Accuracy, 32nd for SG: Approach and 27th for SG: Putting, and if he can put all of those aspects to his game together this week then he should go very nicely.

Coming into the RSM on the back of a top-10 at Mayakoba – where his middle rounds were 63-66, the Korean must be full of confidence. Indeed, five of his last eight rounds have been played at 67 or better.

A winner in his native Korea earlier in the year, this is the kind of event where Kim will be thinking of making his breakthrough Stateside.

Sam Ryder – Vegas Odds 50/1 – Fifth for SG: Tee-to-Green, 22nd for SG: Putting, it’s been an excellent few months for Sam Ryder’s all-round game.

The Floridan banked a T4 at the Safeway Open and followed up with a solo third at Shriners, and even in a T43 return from the CIMB Classic he closed out with an excellent round of 65.

The 28-year-old came off the top at Mayakoba somewhat, but a return to the east coast will suit a player closing in on a maiden PGA TOUR title.

Bud Cauley – Vegas Odds 70/1 – After suffering a potentially life-threatening car crash, Bud Cauley is just starting to work his way back to full fitness.

He’s certainly cranked through the gears in recent weeks, anyway, finishing T10 at the Shriners and T29 at Mayakoba in his last pair of starts; six of his last seven rounds played in the 60s, too.

The 28-year-old really impressed here 12 months ago, finishing T8 after a sublime second round of 63.

Cauley ranked third for Putting Average in Mexico last week, and that hot hand – backed by his time-served class with irons in hand – should serve him very nicely.

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Want more of this week’s fantasy predictions? Check out our full fantasy preview for The RSM Classic here.

Sleeper Report Predictions This Season (2018-2019)

[skill_bar heading=”Total Top 3s” percent=”3.33%” bar_text=”1 out of 30 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Top 10s” percent=”16.70%” bar_text=”5 out of 30 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Top 25s” percent=”40.00%” bar_text=”12 out of 30 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Winners Picked” percent=”16.70%” bar_text=”1 out of 6 events” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Runners-Up Picked” percent=”0%” bar_text=”0 out of 6 events” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Made Cuts (Includes Sleepers)” percent=”83.33%” bar_text=”25 out of 30 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″]

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Cover photo via Instagram