The RSM Classic 2025 Betting Tips: Six to set sail at Sea Island

The fall events on the PGA Tour always deliver fabulous stories, and the Bermuda Championship in particular has been awash with them in recent years. We added another to the list last week, as Adam Schenk claimed not just his first victory after eight seasons on the tour, but sat at 134^th in the FedExCup beforehand, he secured a previously uncertain future in the process.

It’s back to mainland USA for our final official event of the season: the RSM Classic at the Sea Island Resort. It’s set to be a nervy and dramatic week for many, with the top 100 players in the FedExCup at the end of the four days retaining their full playing privileges for 2026.

Our resident golf tipster Jamie Worsley is back with six more value each-way picks this week, so let's check out his The RSM Classic 2025 Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights...

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*You can bet on the tournament and check out the latest The RSM Classic Odds over on betfred.com

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

The RSM Classic debuted in 2010, and it has held the honour of being the final official event of the PGA Tour season since 2015.

Heath Slocum was the first winner, shooting -14 to beat Bill Haas in the joint-toughest renewal to date. Robert Streb won with the same score in 2014 and having regained the trophy in 2020, he is the only player to win multiple RSM Classic titles.

Last five winners:

• 2024

Winner: Maverick McNealy (-16)

Runners-up: Daniel Berger, Luke Clanton, Nico Echavarria (-15)

• 2023

Winner: Ludvig Aberg (-29)

Runner-up: Mackenzie Hughes (-25)

• 2022

Winner: Adam Svensson (-19)

Runners-up: Brian Harman, Sahith Theegala, Callum Tarren (-17)

• 2021

Winner: Talor Gooch (-22)

Runner-up: Mackenzie Hughes (-19)

• 2020

Winner: Robert Streb (-19, playoff)

Runner-up: Kevin Kisner (-19)

Maverick McNealy won a closely-fought contest in Georgia last year. Hitting the lead on day one, the American never sat below 2^nd place at the end of any round, eventually beating the trio of Daniel Berger, Luke Clanton, and Nico Echavarria by one shot. Unfortunately, he doesn't return to defend this week.

THE COURSE

This week's courses:

Seaside Course: 7005-yard par 70; 4x par 3s (179-223 yards), 12x par 4s (368-470 yards), & 2x par 5s (565-582 yards)

Plantation Course: 7060-yard par 72; 4x par 3s (156-219 yards), 10x par 4s (327-481 yards) & 4x par 5s (529-623 yards)

Every edition of the RSM Classic has been played at Sea Island – a luxury resort located on the east coast of the USA that has been home to many PGA Tour pros past and present, including Brian Harman, Zach Johnson, and Harris English.

The tournament uses both the Seaside and Plantation courses at the resort. This week's competitors will rotate across the two setups over the first two days, before the cut-makers return for two final rounds at the Seaside Course at the weekend.

The Walter Davis-designed Plantation Course was the first of these venues to open in 1928. CH Allison and Harry Colt then created the main Seaside Course the following year. Each has been renovated since, with Tom Fazio making changes at Seaside in 1999, and Davis Love III altered Plantation in 2019.

Although they may look rather different, with the Seaside Course an exposed ocean-side links, and Plantation a traditional tree-lined parkland, there are many similarities in how they play. They're both flat, with wide fairways and large, fast bermudagrass greens, making for one of the simplest ball-striking tests on tour. Meanwhile, water is a constant threat at each, coming into play on 23 holes in total.

Whilst Plantation usually sees the lower scoring overall, due to its two additional par 5s and drivable par 4, they're each littered with birdie chances if the wind doesn't blow. The contest averages a winning score of -20.3 across the last 10 renewals.

Danger at Seaside is more prevalent, with strategic bunkering, sandy waste areas and water protecting some severely doglegging fairways. In addition, the putting surfaces are tricky, and if the elements play their part, these undulating, elevated surfaces and their countless shaved run-off areas, will ask players some difficult questions.

THE WEATHER

This week is predicted to be unusually bright, warm and dry for this time of year, with temperatures hitting 26°C each day and no sign of rain. Accompanied by a gentle breeze of 6-7mph throughout, the field couldn't ask for better conditions.

KEY STATS

• SG: Approach/Greens-in-Regulation/Proximity from 125-175 yards

The forecast should mean that birdies are the order of the day this week. This will put an emphasis on strong iron play, especially with the wedges and mid-irons, with the majority of approaches coming between 125-175 yards.

Last year's champion Maverick McNealy was in excellent form with his irons, ranking 6^th in SG: Approach and 1^st in greens-in-regulation (GIR). Runner-up Daniel Berger ranked top-25 in each area, and 5^th-place finisher J.T. Poston ranked 1^st in SG: Approach and 4^th in GIR.

Ludvig Aberg hit his irons strongly on his way to victory in 2023, ranking 14^th in SG: Approach and 15^th in GIR; 2022 winner Adam Svensson ranked 15^th in SG: Approach and 4^th in GIR; Talor Gooch ranked 4^th in SG: Approach when winning in 2021; and 2019 winner Tyler Duncan was 3^rd in SG: Approach and 2^nd in GIR.

• SG: Putting (bermudagrass)
• Birdie-or-Better %

Handling these undulating and potentially speedy bermudagrass greens will be another major asset this year.

Maverick McNealy complemented his excellent ball-striking with a quality putting display in 2024, ranking 12^th. Runner-up Nico Echavarria was 2^nd on the greens and 5^th-place finisher Mackenzie Hughes ranked 1^st.

Ludvig Aberg ranked 4^th in SG: Putting in 2023 – a year in which each of the top-four ranked 6^th or better in this area. Adam Svensson led the field with the putter in 2022; Talor Gooch ranked 6^th in 2021; and 2020 winner Robert Streb ranked 9^th.

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES)

Sony Open (Waialae Country Club)

Waialae Country Club is a flat, coastal course with generous fairways and large bermudagrass greens. It ranks closely in short-game and approach difficulty to this week's test, requiring players to be at their best with approaches from 125-175 yards.

Notable correlating form:

Charles Howell III:

RSM (1^st) / Sony (2^nd, 2^nd, 3^rd, 3^rd)

Chris Kirk:

RSM (1^st, 4^th, 4^th) / Sony (2^nd, 2^nd, 3^rd)

Kevin Kisner:

RSM (1^st, 2^nd) / Sony (3^rd, 4^th, 4^th)

Maverick McNealy:

RSM (1^st) / Sony (7^th)

Tim Clark:

RSM (2^nd) / Sony (2^nd, 2^nd)

Nico Echavarria:

RSM (2^nd) / Sony (2^nd)

J.J. Spaun:

RSM (2^nd) / Sony (2^nd)

Webb Simpson:

RSM (2^nd, 3^rd) / Sony (3^rd, 4^th, 4^th)

Brian Harman:

RSM (2^nd, 4^th) / Sony (4^th)

Briny Baird:

RSM (2^nd) / Sony (5^th)

Brian Gay:

RSM (3^rd) / Sony (4^th, 6^th)

Eric Cole:

RSM (3^rd) / Sony (5^th)

Seamus Power:

RSM (4^th, 5^th) / Sony (3^rd)

Tom Hoge:

RSM (4^th) / Sony (3^rd)

Cognizant Classic (PGA National)

Exposed and coastal with a susceptibility to wind, the conditions at PGA National often mirror what we see at Sea Island. The large bermudagrass greens are similarly challenging to putt, approaches from 125-175 yards are commonplace, and with the ball-striking demands reducing in difficulty in recent years, it represents a fine comp for this week's tournament.

Notable correlating form:

Chris Kirk:

RSM (1^st, 4^th, 4^th) / Cognizant (1^st)

Mackenzie Hughes:

RSM (1^st, 2^nd, 2^nd) / Cognizant (2^nd)

Tyler Duncan:

RSM (1^st, 3^rd) / Cognizant (3^rd)

Ben Crane:

RSM (1^st) / Cognizant (3^rd)

Tommy Gainey:

RSM (1^st) / Cognizant (5^th)

Camilo Villegas:

RSM (2^nd) / Cognizant (1^st, 2^nd)

J.J. Spaun:

RSM (2^nd) / Cognizant (2^nd)

Daniel Berger:

RSM (2^nd) / Cognizant (2^nd, 4^th, 4^th)

Blayne Barber:

RSM (2^nd) / Cognizant (3^rd)

Billy Horschel:

RSM (2^nd) / Cognizant (4^th)

Will Mackenzie:

RSM (2^nd) / Cognizant (5^th, 6^th)

Webb Simpson:

RSM (2^nd, 2^nd, 3^rd) / Cognizant (5^th)

Eric Cole:

RSM (3^rd) / Cognizant (2^nd)

Luke List:

RSM (4^th) / Cognizant (2^nd)

Denny McCarthy:

RSM (5^th, 8^th) / Cognizant (3^rd)

Bermuda Championship (Port Royal Golf Course)

Port Royal Golf Course is another short, exposed layout located by the coast. It has large bermudagrass greens that require strong wedge play to get it close, while the scrambling challenges are akin to what players will face in Georgia.

Notable correlating form:

Patrick Rodgers:

RSM (2^nd) / Bermuda (3^rd, 4^th)

Camilo Villegas:

RSM (2^nd) / Bermuda (1^st)

Brian Gay:

RSM (3^rd) / Bermuda (1^st, 3^rd)

Seamus Power:

RSM (4^th, 5^th) / Bermuda (1^st)

Alex Smalley:

RSM (5^th) / Bermuda (3^rd)

Denny McCarthy:

RSM (5^th, 8^th) / Bermuda (4^th, 6^th)

Wyndham Championship (Sedgefield Country Club)

Although Sedgefield Country Club is densely tree-lined in comparison to our main host course here, it does have many similarities that make it a useful comp. It's short, shares comparable numbers in both GIR and short-game difficulty into its expansive bermudagrass greens, and the bulk of approaches fall into that 125-175-yard range.

Notable correlating form:

Kevin Kisner:

RSM (1^st, 2^nd) / Wyndham (1^st)

Tommy Gainey:

RSM (1^st) / Wyndham (3^rd)

Heath Slocum:

RSM (1^st) / Wyndham (4^th)

Charles Howell III

RSM (1^st) / Wyndham (4^th)

Adam Svensson:

RSM (1^st, 5^th) / Wyndham (7^th, 7^th)

Camilo Villegas:

RSM (2^nd) / Wyndham (1^st)

Webb Simpson:

RSM (2^nd, 2^nd, 3^rd) / Wyndham (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 3^rd)

Billy Horschel:

RSM (2^nd) / Wyndham (2^nd, 4^th)

Tim Clark:

RSM (2^nd) / Wyndham (2^nd)

Bill Haas:

RSM (2^nd) / Wyndham (2^nd)

Luke Clanton:

RSM (2^nd) / Wyndham (5^th)

Brian Harman:

RSM (2^nd, 4^th) / Wyndham (3^rd, 6^th)

J.J. Spaun:

RSM (2^nd) / Wyndham (3^rd)

J.T. Poston:

RSM (5^th) / Wyndham (1^st)

Travelers Championship (TPC River Highlands)

The diminutive TPC River Highlands is also densely tree-lined, but it works as an eye-catching statistical match for the Seaside Course. Driving difficulty rankings are almost identical, with the wide fairways extremely easy to find at both. GIR percentages are also similar, and again, proximity from 125-175 yards is hugely important, accounting for over 40% of approach distances.

Notable correlating form:

Mackenzie Hughes:

RSM (1^st, 2^nd, 2^nd) / Travelers (3^rd)

Heath Slocum:

RSM (1^st) / Travelers (4^th)

Kevin Kisner:

RSM (1^st, 2^nd) / Travelers (5^th)

Brian Harman:

RSM (2^nd, 4^th) / Travelers (2^nd, 3^rd)

Sahith Theegala:

RSM (2^nd) / Travelers (2^nd)

Daniel Berger:

RSM (2^nd) / Travelers (2^nd, 5^th)

Patrick Rodgers:

RSM (2^nd) / Travelers (3^rd)

Tim Clark:

RSM (2^nd) / Travelers (4^th)

Brendon de Jonge:

RSM (2^nd, 4^th) / Travelers (8^th, 9^th)

Tom Hoge:

RSM (4^th) / Travelers (3^rd)

J.T. Poston:

RSM (5^th) / Travelers (2^nd)

THE FIELD

The finale of the FedExCup Fall has attracted a decent list of entries, with 28 of the world's top 100 set to tee it up in Georgia. No. 11 Harris English is the top-ranked player in attendance, followed by No. 31 Brian Harman and returning from a near three-month break is No. 33 Andrew Novak.

In the absence of Maverick McNealy we still have seven former winners in the field: Adam Svensson (2022), Robert Streb (2020, 2014), Tyler Duncan (2019), Austin Cook (2017), Mackenzie Hughes (2016), Kevin Kisner (2015), and Chris Kirk (2013).

We have our eyes firmly fixed on those players around 100^th place in the FedExCup this week. Danny Walker (No. 97) and Takumi Kanaya (No. 99) are most at risk of falling outside of those all-important positions, while Matt Wallace (No. 102), Beau Hossler (No. 103), and Isaiah Salinda (No. 104) will be hoping for a strong performance to keep their full playing privileges.

SELECTIONS 

Market leaders (1/4 5 places): Harris English 20/1, Brian Harman 25/1, Si Woo Kim 25/1, Michael Thorbjornsen 25/1, J.T. Poston 28/1, Rico Hoey 28/1

1.25 pts Nico Echavarria each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 40/1

At No. 62 in the FedExCup, Nico Echavarria has his sights set on making those first couple of Signature Events next season – the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Invitational. He's been in great form in the fall and as a player who excels by the coast, last year's RSM Classic runner-up can go one better this time around.

Beginning the season with a 2^nd-place finish in the Sony Open following a fine 2024 campaign, Echavarria looked set to kick on in 2025. That hasn't quite happened, as he struggled to contend thereafter, but he has looked better in the second half of the year.

He's had five top-25s in his last 10 appearances and has again performed during the FedExCup Fall, finishing 9^th in the Baycurrent Classic, 14^th in the World Wide Technology Championship, and 46^th in the Bermuda Championship on his last three starts.

The putter is his biggest weapon, ranking 8^th on tour this season. Although inconsistent, his iron play has improved, ranking 78^th in SG: Approach, and with these two areas combined he's able to score heavily, ranking 38^th in birdie-or-better %.

Echavarria missed the cut on his first start in this event in 2022, but he's progressed each time since, finishing 44^th in 2023, and last year he was a narrow one-shot runner-up to Maverick McNealy. That 2^nd-place finish in Hawaii strengthens his case and having recorded his first tour victory in the 2023 Puerto Rico Open, this Florida resident is comfortable in this seaside environment.

1 pt Victor Perez each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 55/1

Victor Perez is my first selection this week who has work to do to retain a full PGA Tour card in 2026. He’s played solidly enough this year, but a lack of high finishes has him sat 108^th in the FedExCup. However, as an excellent coastal performer who excels in putting and approach this season, I fancy him to go well in Georgia.

Perez’s 9^th-place finish in Canada is his strongest performance of 2025 and one of eight top-25 finishes, which also includes an impressive 19^th-place finish in the U.S. Open. He began the fall events with promise, finishing 11^th in the Sanderson Farms Championship and 21^st in the World Wide Technology Championship; while he missed the cut last week, he did respond to a disappointing three-over 74 in round one with a 69 in round two.

Ranking 6^th in GIR, 21^st in SG: Approach, and 44^th in SG: Putting, it really is a surprise that the classy Frenchman hasn’t made more of his season. That said, placed at 22^nd in proximity from 100-125 yards, he has the wedge game to put that right this week.

Perez hasn’t played here before, but he has finished inside the top 20 on each appearance at the Cognizant Classic. Furthermore, with wins in the Dunhill Links, Abu Dhabi Championship, and KLM Open on the DP World Tour, he’s proven himself to be most at home on wide open, exposed, coastal courses.

1 pt Luke Clanton each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 66/1

Luke Clanton arrived at this event as a 33/1 shot last year after a sequence of impressive displays when still an amateur. He justified his odds, finishing 2^nd that week and whilst he hasn’t made much of an impact since turning pro back in June, he looks an attractive number as a player with nothing to lose at Sea Island.

The former No. 1 amateur lit up the PGA Tour at the end of 2024, finishing inside the top 10 on four occasions in seven starts, including runner-up finishes in the RSM Classic and John Deere Classic.

Clanton carried that form into 2025 in the amateur ranks, showing supreme form to win four of seven events. He then accepted PGA Tour membership through the PGA Tour University Accelerated – which guarantees him a place on tour until the end of the 2026 season – but he has failed to maintain his high level of form, recording just one top-30 finish in 12 starts.

That said, the long game has been ticking along nicely, ranking 22^nd in GIR, 37^th in SG: Off-the-Tee, and 57^th in SG: Approach. He’s been waiting for the putter to catch fire, which it seemingly did in the Sanderson Farms Championship and Bank of Utah Championship, and as a Florida boy, he’s sure to be more at home on these bermudagrass surfaces.

Clanton shot rounds of 68-65-68-66 to finish 2^nd at the Sea Island Resort in 2024 – ranking 2^nd in SG: Off-the-Tee, 6^th in GIR, and 17^th in SG: Putting. He’s also finished 5^th in the Wyndham Championship, 18^th on his Cognizant Classic debut earlier this year, and with it only a matter of time before he finds his stride as a pro, this looks a fine opportunity for him to sign off the year in style.

1 pt Lee Hodges each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 90/1

Lee Hodges was among our selections last week and whilst he eventually finished a disappointing 61^st, there was enough promise to give him another shot as he looks to improve his ranking of 122^nd in the FedExCup. He did finish 5^th here last year and having played the first two rounds alongside winner Adam Schenk in Bermuda, I’m hoping he can be inspired to produce his own card-saving display in Georgia.

Hodges picked up three top-10 finishes in the first half of 2025: 9^th in the Sony Open, 9^th in the Canadian Open, and 10^th in the Farmers Insurance Open. He’s failed to build on that, recording just the one top 25 since July (a 21^st-place finish in the John Deere Classic), but he has made five of his last six cuts.

His iron play stands out amongst a solid group of stats this season, ranking 16^th in GIR and 29^th in SG: Approach. He’s also been strong from 125-150 yards, ranking 31^st, and being somewhat of a streaky putter isn’t a negative in an event where he needs it to pop for just one week.

Hailing from neighbouring Alabama, Hodges played plenty of golf in this part of the world during his amateur days, finishing 7^th at Sea Island in the 2018 SEC Championship. It took a little time for that to translate to success in the pro ranks, but he sat 2^nd at the halfway point last year before ultimately finishing 5^th, and possessing top-10 finishes in the Cognizant Classic and Sony Open, he has the skillset to gain a hugely important victory this week.

1 pt Taylor Moore each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 100/1

Taylor Moore’s exemption for winning the 2023 Valspar Championship is almost up and currently placed 115^th in the FedExCup, he’s looking at losing full playing privileges for 2026. He did show signs of life in the World Wide Technology Championship two appearances ago, and having generally performed with credit at Sea Island, he can alter the complexion of his season this week.

Following finishes of 7^th in The AmEx and 9^th in the Phoenix Open across his first five starts in 2025, Moore will not have expected to be in this precarious position come the end of the year. Unfortunately, he’s had zero top-10s since and just four top-25s, with a raft of narrow missed cuts limiting any progress.

However, he scored strongly in the World Wide Technology Championship two outings ago, which helped him inside the top 10 after 36 holes. Though he ultimately finished 21^st due to a sluggish final round, his first three rounds there are a major plus back at another low-scoring layout.

Moore finished 5^th in the SEC Championship here as an amateur in 2016 and started his pro debut at the venue brilliantly in 2022, with rounds of 66-65-71-66 helping him to an 8^th-place finish. He was solid enough when 35^th in 2024 and having also finished 5^th in the Wyndham Championship, he’s got the game to find the spark he desperately needs at Sea Island.

1 pt David Ford each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 110/1

Winning the 2022 Southern Amateur at the Plantation Course, Georgia’s own David Ford is a player well acquainted with this venue. The former No. 3 amateur has tour status locked up until the end of 2026, and, having finally found his feet at this level in the Bank of Utah Championship three starts ago, he could be a dangerous challenger this week.

Alongside Clanton, Ford was one of the form players in the amateur game at the beginning of the year, winning three titles, including the prestigious Valspar Collegiate and Augusta Haskins Award Invitationals. He too took up tour membership through the PGA Tour University Accelerated upon turning pro back in May, but he initially struggled, missing seven of his first eight cuts.

He showed promise in the Sanderson Farms Championship, opening with rounds of 68 and 67 to sit 8^th thru 36 holes. A pair of 72s over the weekend saw him slip to 44^th, though he used that performance as a springboard, firing rounds of 67-65-69-67 to finish 3^rd in the Bank of Utah Championship on his following start.

The youngster has established himself as a high-class driver during his short time on tour, ranking 7^th in this field in SG: Off-the-Tee. Meanwhile, he at last demonstrated ability with the irons and putter in Utah, something I’m counting on him repeating this week.

Ford played this event in 2023 when still an amateur, and only narrowly missed the cut by one. His past success at the Plantation Course is sure to give him an added boost and having also won the 2023 Jones Cup Invitational at nearby Ocean Forest Golf Club – located just an eight-minute drive from this week’s host – he’ll be as content as anyone in this week’s surroundings.

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