Even though there are two more golf betting events in December, there is sentimentality in the air heading into the RSM Classic this weekend as it is the last official full-field PGA Tour Event until January. Tiger Woods is returning for his Hero World Challenge in December, but that’s an unofficial event and only has a field of 20.
The QBE Shootout from December 9th -11th is a 54-hole team event that will put a bow on the 2022 golf calendar year. Greg Norman was synonymous with the QBE Shootout as the host, and it was even renamed to the Shark Shootout, but he will have no part of this year’s event as he’s off to the LIV.
The RSM Classic might draw some heavier action this weekend because it is the last ‘regular’ event until mid-January. Here’s how the tournament breaks down:
About the RSM Classic
There isn’t a huge history for this tournament, as it has only been played since October 2010. Aside from the 2020 COVID season, the RSM Classic has served as the final official Tour event of the calendar year since 2015.
Because of its scheduling as the finale of the calendar year, the RSM Classic doesn’t always draw the top names, as the likes of Austin Cook, Tyler Duncan, and Tommy Gainey have picked up their only Tour wins at this event.
About Sea Island Golf Club
Course history is kind of hard to use to handicap the RSM Classic because it’s played on both the Seaside and Plantation courses at Sea Island Golf Club.
Tidal creeks, salt marshes, dunes, as well as winds coming off the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Seaside course being linked style does make this trek a bit difficult. That being said, it’s usually -19 to -22 that wins this thing, as Talor Gooch did last year at -22. 15 holes at the Seaside course (where three of the rounds will be played) have an average of even or better, but there is also water in play on 14 holes.
Driving accuracy is huge, especially on the Seaside course, but if the wind blows it kind of limits the advantage that the heavy hitters have. Gooch was only 20th in driving distance and won last year’s event by three strokes.
The RSM Classic Field
Things have gotten a lot more interesting for this weekend with the late-breaking news that Tony Finau was withdrawing from the RSM Classic with an injury. Finau was the only golfer in the top 25 in OWGR headed to Sea Island, and he was the huge favorite coming off a win in the Houston Open last week.
Finau dropping out blows this odds board wide open, with Brian Harman (+2000), Jason Day (+2200), and Seamus Power (+2200) all climbing up to legitimate favorites.
Gooch is obviously not defending his 2021 RSM Championship win as he is off to the LIV, but Robert Streb has some nice value at +12500, considering he’s won this event twice (2014, 2020). Tyler Duncan is +20000 to try and repeat his win here from 2019, while 2018 winner Austin Cook is +15000.
