The RSM Classic 2024 Tips: Kuch to win in former home

As the new season begins in Australia on the DP World Tour, where we’ll be introduced to a whole host of new faces, as well as some familiar star names, the PGA Tour closes out its season with the final official event on the calendar: the RSM Classic at the Sea Island Resort.

It will give one last chance for players to claim a title in 2024, but for many, it’s merely about survival, with most eyes on those players sat around and below that all-important 125^th position on the FedExCup, all hoping to secure their tour card for the 2025 season.

As always, here are our golf tipster Jamie Worsley's RSM Classic 2024 tips, as well as his usual comprehensive preview. 

*Garrick Higgo's price and terms have been adjusted after publication and Rico Hoey's section has been removed following his decision to withdraw from the tournament.

Whether you’re Rory McIlroy winning your third DP World Tour Championship and sixth Race to Dubai title, or Rafael Campos claiming a first PGA Tour victory at the age of 36 in the same week as becoming a dad, golf maintains the ability to stir unrivalled emotions at a variety of levels.

For Rory, the outpouring of emotion was about ending a tumultuous year on a high, tying one of his golfing heroes, Seve’s tally of six Harry Vardon Trophies in the process. Whilst for Campos, it was about the new perspective he’d gained on life after the birth of his child, which no doubt helped him turn around a poor run of form to capture that breakthrough victory, thus securing his future on the tour, for the next two years at least.

These were the latest examples of how completely engrossing golf has still managed to be in this difficult, chaotic period for the sport and there should again be no shortage of storylines this week.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

The RSM Classic was first held in 2010 (then called the McGladrey Classic) and excluding 2020, it has been the final official event on the PGA Tour schedule since 2015. Each renewal has taken place here at the Sea Island Resort.

The inaugural 2010 edition was won by Heath Slocum, who shot -14 to beat Bill Haas by one stroke in the joint-toughest renewal of the event. Chris Kirk in 2013 and Robert Streb in 2014 both won with the same score.

Streb then regained the trophy in 2020 and remains the only player to win multiple RSM Classic titles.

Last five winners:

• 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)
• 2019 – Winner: Tyler Duncan (-19, playoff); runner-up: Webb Simpson (-19)

Ludvig Aberg broke the event scoring record here last year, recording a faultless pair of 61s over the weekend to run out a four-shot winner over Mackenzie Hughes for his first PGA Tour victory. The Swede returns to defend this week, though does so following two-and-a-half months out of action having undergone surgery on a knee injury.

THE COURSES

This week’s courses:

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

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

The RSM Classic is played at the luxury Sea Island Resort on St. Simons Island, Georgia, which has been home to many current and former PGA Tour pros, including major champions Brian Harman and Zach Johnson. It uses both the Seaside and Plantation courses that are located at the resort.

The field will rotate across the two setups over the first two rounds, before those who make the cut return for two final rounds at the Seaside Course at the weekend.

Each of these two courses can trace their histories back to the 1920s. The main Seaside Course was designed by CH Allison and Harry Colt, opening for play in 1929, whilst the Walter Travis-designed Plantation Course was completed just a year earlier. Both have been renovated since, with Tom Fazio completing work at Seaside in 1999, and Sea Island resident, Davis Love III renovated Plantation in 2019.

With the bulk of the event played at the Seaside Course that is where my main focus will be this week. However, that isn’t to say that how a player performs at the Plantation Course is of no importance. There are two additional par 5s there, three of which are reachable in two for all of this week’s field, as well as a collection of shorter par 4s, including the drivable 327-yard 10^th. It’s no surprise that players often shoot their lowest round of the week on that setup and though not a necessity, most winners do take advantage of the plethora of birdie chances there.

That being said, both of the courses are laden with scoring opportunities, and the event possesses an average winning score of -20.1 over the last 10 renewals.

Though the look of the two courses is quite contrasting, with the Seaside an exposed, ocean-side links compared to the tree-lined, parkland setup on show at Plantation, each has wide fairways, large and speedy bermudagrass greens, and lots of water, which is in-play on 23 holes in total. It’s an event that is home to one of the easiest ball-striking tests on the PGA Tour, possessing the third-highest averages in driving accuracy and greens-in-regulation.

The gently rolling fairways at the Seaside Course are generous, but some strategy is required. There are numerous severe doglegs here and the fairways are generally protected on all sides. This protection comes in many forms, from marshland and lakes to large, strategic bunkers and sandy waste areas.

The large green complexes are the most challenging aspect of the course, ranking as 16^th-toughest to putt on the PGA Tour. Whilst they may be easy to hit, there are many shaved run-offs on these undulating and elevated greens, which can send the ball tumbling into greenside collection areas that can be tricky to get up-and-down from.

Having said that, the landing areas in these fairways and on the greens are large and typically receptive enough that players shouldn’t be straying from the short grass too often. Unless wind has an impact – which it often can do here, not just due to the coastal location but because of the Seaside Course’s exposed layout – we should expect birdies to again be the order of the day in our final official PGA Tour event of the year.

THE WEATHER

There is some rain forecast on Tuesday and Wednesday which should soften the course up, though it is predicted to be bright and clear throughout the tournament. We will have some strong, gusty winds over the first two days, reaching highs of 30mph, but they’ll disappear for the weekend to leave us with our typically low-scoring conditions.

KEY STATS

• SG: Approach
• Greens-in-Regulation
• Proximity 125-150/150-175

As an event where birdies tend to flow and at which fairways are easy to find, the tournament often comes down to players who excel with their irons and/or on the greens.

Ludvig Aberg hit his irons strongly last year, ranking 14^th in approach and 15^th in greens-in-regulation.

Adam Svensson was 4^th in GIR and 15^th in approach in 2022, with two of the players in 2^nd, Callum Tarren and Brian Harman, ranking 2^nd and 5^th in approach respectively.

2021 saw quality approach players dominate, with winner Talor Gooch ranking 2^nd, runner-up Mackenzie Hughes ranking 3^rd, and Sebastian Munoz in 3^rd ranking 5^th.

In 2019, Tyler Duncan ranked 2^nd in GIR and 3^rd in approach on his way to victory, as runner-up, Webb Simpson ranked 4^th in approach.

Additionally, with the length of the course it’s no surprise to see the wedges carrying extra importance. With approaches between 125-175 yards the most prevalent.

• SG: Putting (bermudagrass)

The putter was incredibly important last year, with each of the top 4 ranking 6^th or better on the greens, including winner Ludvig Aberg ranking 4^th.

Adam Svensson ranked 1^st in putting when he won in 2022, Talor Gooch was 6^th in 2021 and Robert Streb ranked 9^th in 2020

• Birdie or Better %

Whether because of the putter or irons, players must simply make plenty of birdies to contend in the RSM Classic, which means we can also look simply at players who rank high in birdie or better %.

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES)

Sony Open (Waialae Country Club)

A largely flat, coastal course with generous fairways, large bermudagrass greens and often home to low scoring (if the wind doesn’t blow), Waialae Country Club looks a good comp for the RSM Classic. It possesses a similarly challenging short game test and requires players to hit many approach shots from 150-175 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)

Tim Clark:

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

Seamus Power:

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

Tom Hoge:

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

Cognizant Classic (PGA National)

Though a wholly more demanding course, PGA National’s exposed nature and coastal location can mirror playing conditions at Sea Island. It also possesses a similarly tough short game test around its large bermudagrass greens and emphasises the importance on approach play from 125-175 yards.

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)

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)

The reasonably exposed Port Royal Golf Course is another coastal venue with large, easy-to-hit bermudagrass greens. It’s another short course and plays easy if the wind doesn’t blow.

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)

Denny McCarthy:

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

Wyndham Championship (Sedgefield Country Club)

Sedgefield Country Club is a more tightly tree-lined venue than this week’s main course. Though with large bermudagrass greens that possess similar averages in GIR and short game difficulty, as well as forcing players to hit many approaches from that 150-175 distance, it has plenty in common with the Seaside Course.

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)

Brian Harman:

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

J.J. Spaun:

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

Sanderson Farms Championship (Country Club of Jackson)

With large bermudagrass greens and often home to low-scoring affairs, the Country Club of Jackson and the Sanderson Farms Championship has developed strong form-ties with the RSM Classic.

Notable correlating form:

Mackenzie Hughes:

RSM (1^st, 2^nd, 2^nd) / Sanderson Farms (1^st)

Chris Kirk:

RSM (1^st, 4^th, 4^th) / Sanderson Farms (2^nd)

Ludvig Aberg:

RSM (1^st) / Sanderson Farms (2^nd)

Henrik Norlander:

RSM (2^nd, 5^th) / Sanderson Farms (2^nd, 4^th, 4^th)

Sebastian Munoz:

RSM (3^rd, 3^rd) / Sanderson Farms (1^st)

Luke List:

RSM (4^th) / Sanderson Farms (1^st, 2^nd)

Andrew Landry:

RSM (4^th, 4^th) / Sanderson Farms (4^th)

Tyler McCumber:

RSM (4^th) / Sanderson Farms (6^th)

Denny McCarthy:

RSM (5^th, 8^th) / Sanderson Farms (6^th, 7^th)

Travelers Championship (TPC River Highlands)

Though admittedly a different course on look, TPC River Highlands is a strong statistical match for this week’s test. It has similar averages in both driving accuracy and GIR, whilst is at it’s most difficult on and around the greens. In addition, approaches between 125-175 yards are by far the most important.

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)

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)

THE FIELD

The final official event of the year has brought together a decent field at Sea Island, with 10 of the world’s top 50 and 29 of the top 100 stated to tee it up. Our defending champion and world #5, Ludvig Aberg is the star attraction, as he returns from that lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Aberg is one of nine former winners in attendance, joined by Adam Svensson (2022), Robert Streb (2020, 2014), Tyler Duncan (2019), Austin Cook (2017), Mackenzie Hughes (2016), Kevin Kisner (2015), Chris Kirk (2013) and Tommy Gainey (2012).

Of course, the main point of interest this week is going to be on those players attempting to secure their playing rights for next season by finishing in the top 125 in the FedExCup.

Proven PGA Tour winners, such as Brandt Snedeker, Ryan Moore and Troy Merritt all sit far outside that mark. They will need to replicate a similar performance to that which Rafael Campos managed last week to keep their spot on tour.

However, there are players sat right on the bubble for whom a solid performance may be enough. Zac Blair (123), Joel Dahmen (124) and Wesley Bryan (125) are the players most nervy about holding their position within the top 125; whilst Henrik Norlander (126), Daniel Berger (127) and Hayden Springer (128) will be hoping to take their spots by the end of the week.

RSM Classic Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main RSM Classic market on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this tournament.

SELECTIONS

Market leaders (1/4 5 places): Ludvig Aberg 8/1, Davis Thompson 22/1, Brian Harman 22/1, Denny McCarthy 25/1, Si Woo Kim 28/1

There have been five first-time PGA Tour winners in the last seven renewals of this event and with the two-course rotation in use, along with “putting contest” vibe than can often develop, I’m not keen on delving into the top of the betting.

I’ve gone for a little bit of everything this week: experienced winners, those chasing a breakthrough tour victory and players hoping for a strong week to keep their card.

1.25 pts Matt Kuchar each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 40/1

I begin with former Sea Island resident, Matt Kuchar. The 46-year-old is still a few years away from the playing the senior’s circuit and with signs in recent months that this nine-time PGA Tour winner may not be done winning at this level, he made a lot of sense at this suitable setup.

Kuchar had a poor start to the season, missing eight of his first 10 cuts but it has been much more like it since he recorded his first top 20 of the season at Colonial, finishing 17^th. He’s missed just three of his last 13 cuts and recorded a further five top 25s, the best of which was a 3^rd-place finish in the 3M Open.

He performed adequately when we were on in the World Wide Technology Championship two weeks ago, finishing 30^th, but he should relish this return to a course at which he’s performed well in the past. One that is not dissimilar to the type of venues where he’s made his name as a pro.

His short game has been as strong as you’d expect this season, ranking 25^th around-the-greens and 32^nd on them. However, the reason his form has improved so much in this second half of the year has been the progress he’s made in approach, gaining strokes in eight of his last 10 recorded starts, and excelling in that 125-150yd range.

Kuchar has teed it up in this event no less than 12 times, hitting the top 25 in each of his first five starts. His form has been a little more in and out since, though his 2019 win in the Sony Open – a tournament in which he’s recorded six further top 10s, most recently last year – is encouraging and gives me confidence he can find four good rounds to contend this week.

1.25 pts Keith Mitchell each way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 45/1 

Keith Mitchell resides and practices at Sea Island. Though he’s failed to fire since letting a great chance at victory slip through his fingers in the Sanderson Farms Championship, he should be keen to return to his favoured bermudagrass surfaces and in a comfortable environment, this heavy scorer looks an attractive price to finally claim that second PGA Tour win.

Mitchell has had a positive season in 2024, recording 12 top-25 finishes and has turned four of those efforts into top 10s, the best of which was that 3^rd-place finish in Jackson four starts ago. He entered the final round with a one-shot lead there and looked set for the playoff alongside eventual winner Kevin Yu and Beau Hossler, though inexplicably three-putted the final hole to fall one short.

Understandably, he struggled to recover from that disappointment on his next three starts. Although, I’m hoping the two-week break since Mexico will have done him some good and back on the East Coast he should be raring to go.

He’s hit the ball wonderfully for much of this year, ranking 6^th off-the-tee, 11^th in approach and 22^nd in greens-in-regulation. Ranking 22^nd in approaches from 125-150 yards and 12^th from 150-175, his wedge game is ideally suited to Sea Island and with a ranking of 2^nd in birdie or better %, we know he has the scoring power to go low.

Mitchell has a couple of sound efforts in the event to his name in seven appearances, finishing 14^th in 2019 and 12^th in 2021. His win in the 2019 Cognizant Classic stands out as an excellent piece of comp form, as does that 3^rd-place finish in the Sanderson Farms, and top 10s across the Travelers Championship and Sony Open should also serve him well.

1 pt Greyson Sigg each way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 70/1

A strong burst of form over the last two months has secured Greyson Sigg’s place on the PGA Tour for next season. As another player with ties to this week’s venue, he should be in relaxed mood and with his approach play looking strong, the two-time Korn Ferry Tour winner looks ready to transfer his winning ability to the PGA Tour.

Sigg started the year solid enough, recording a handful of top 20s and hitting the top 10 when 9^th in the Corales Puntacana Championship in April. However, heading into the Procore Championship five starts ago, he’d missed eight of his previous nine cuts and was in desperate need of some positive showings in the FedExCup Fall to keep his card.

He’s responded to this adversity brilliantly, finishing 4^th in the Procore Championship and then following with another three top 25s over his next four starts, including a 9^th-place finish in Bermuda last week.

All of his game has looked in good shape over this period, ranking 25^th in strokes-gained total. That being said, his iron play has shone all season and entering this week, he ranks 8^th in GIR and 23^rd in approach on the PGA Tour.

Sigg finished 49^th on debut here in 2017, only five months after turning pro. Though missing his next two cuts in the event, he’s finished 15^th and 8^th in the last two renewals, and with top 10s in Bermuda and in the Sanderson Farms, he’s shown he can go well on similar setups.

1 pt Pierceson Coody each way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 110/1

I’m going to finish with two players who currently sit outside the top 125 in the FedExCup. First of which is Pierceson Coody. The former #1 amateur jumped up to #129 in the rankings after a 12^th-place finish in Bermuda and will likely need an even better showing to move inside that cut-off point by Sunday evening.

Coody’s rookie season started in chaotic fashion, recording four missed cuts and withdrawing twice across his first seven starts, though he has been relatively consistent since. He’s only missed four of his last 18 cuts and has given indicators of his talent on a few occasions, finishing 2^nd in the ISCO Championship, 5^th in the Charles Schwab Challenge and after missing three of his last four cuts he returned to form last week, with that fourth top 20 of the season in Bermuda.

The driver has looked good in this time as he’s started to get his power under better control, ranking 26^th over the last six months. Although, it’s with the putter he’s looked at his best, ranking 8^th and when combining this with hitting a reasonable amount of greens, it’s easy to see why he’s made plenty of birdies, ranking 32^nd in BOB.

Coody will make his pro debut here this week, but he does have some experience of the Seaside Course, finishing 4^th in the Jones Cup Junior Invitational in 2017. An experience this hugely talented three-time Korn Ferry Tour winner can put to use this week.

1 pt Garrick Higgo each way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 175/1

Garrick Higgo is 135^th in the FedExCup and will need a big performance this week to keep his card. He’s performed well the last two weeks and having resided at Sea Island; this looks a perfect spot for him to do what is required.

Barring a 16^th-place finish in the Cognizant Classic, Higgo’s year had been strewn with disappointments, with more letters than numbers among his results. There had been glimpses of form in the build up to the World Wide Technology Championship two weeks ago, as he recorded finishes of 26^th in the Procore Championship and 54^th in the Shriners Open in his prior four starts, and he took another huge step forward there, finishing 6^th – his best result in over two years. He backed that up with a 17^th-place finish last week and will hopefully be feeling confident of finding another performance in Georgia.

He's underwhelmed in all areas of his game this year, with the putter rating as his biggest weapon. Although, he has started to get the driver under control and did produce one of his better approach performances of the season in the Procore Championship. This improved ball-striking has been carried over to those last two starts, with him ranking 19^th in GIR in Mexico and perhaps more impressively, he was 15^th in driving accuracy and 17^th in GIR in the more difficult conditions of last week, and on a more challenging ball-striking course.

Higgo missed the cut on his only previous start in this event in 2022, though went into that week in no kind of form. A 3^rd-place finish in the 2022 Sanderson Farms bodes well and with two of his three successes on the DP World Tour coming with winning scores of -25 and -27, we can be sure he can score well enough to win this type of contest.