There is an air of a return to normality on the PGA Tour this week when things move from Augusta National to Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. In fairness this is a decent event in its own right but it looks insignificant in relation to last week.
Branden Grace certainly didn’t find it insignificant in any way as it was he who won the tournament and the tartan jacket that goes with being the champion. He is one of a list of star names teeing it up this week.
Recent Winners
2016 – Branden Grace
2015 – Jim Furyk
2014 – Matt Kuchar
2013 – Graeme McDowell
2012 – Carl Pettersson
2011 – Brandt Snedeker
2010 – Jim Furyk
2009 – Brian Gay
2008 – Boo Weekley
2007 – Boo Weekley
The Course
We are back at Harbour Town Golf Links again this week although the course will look different to the last time the tournament was played. That is because a hurricane blew through the course last year causing a number of trees to be removed. Some more trees have been planted but nothing to the level that was there.
That means the par 71 course which can extend to just 7,099 yards will be more exposed this year so judging the wind becomes an even bigger factor in the event. Traditionally this is a tournament for pure ball strikers and that is unlikely to change. Primarily it is a second shot golf course but playing that second shot from the fairway is better so look for tee to green specialists.
The Field
Many former champions have come back to try and regain the title and they include the defending champion Branden Grace. Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell and Brandt Snedeker all tee it up this week looking for the benefits of winning.
Some of Europe’s rising stars are also in the field with Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick and Shane Lowry teeing it up. Major champions Martin Kaymer, Lucas Glover, Jason Dufner and Keegan Bradley are also here to make a competitive week.
Market Leaders
Matt Kuchar is the 16/1 favourite to win the tournament again. I would imagine his high class finish last week has as much to do with that as the fact he has won around here before but either way he doesn’t win enough for my liking to be taking this sort of price.
Brandt Snedeker is the next former champion in the betting. He is 22/1 to win which offers better appeal but this is a pretty competitive field and I’m not sure I want to be taking that either. Defending champion Branden Grace is alongside Russell Henley and Kevin Kisner at 25/1. The latter two will feature high up on any shortlist but I’m not sure about the former.
Martin Kaymer was another who had an excellent Sunday at Augusta and he will begin the week at a short looking 30/1. I’m not sure he is quite up to winning yet. It is 33/1 those six named players.
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Main Bets
This is a competitive field and one which is difficult to whittle down to just two main bets so after a successful few weeks I’m going to allow myself a third bet this week.
The first main bet is a man who won the last regular tour event in Houston two weeks ago. That is Russell Henley. Henley showed that was no fluke with a really good week at Augusta last week and the way he hits the ball and the ability he has with the putter he has all the tools to be a leading player this week. He’s 20th in greens hit and sixth in strokes gained putting and with six top 15 finishes in nine outings he’s a genuine runner this week.
William McGirt should be nicely suited to this track. He sits sixth in fairways hit on the tour and he has been hitting some lovely iron shots over the last couple of tournaments. If the putter holds up to the levels it was producing for three rounds in The Masters last week he isn’t going to be far away. He has two top 10s here in the last three years and arrives playing as well as ever. He’s a big runner too.
Graeme McDowell is a former winner around here and he can never be ruled out on a short track where putting is a big thing and especially a track that is exposed where the wind is in play. He was clearly aggrieved at not being in The Masters last week and I expect that to have fired the fuel in his belly to ensure he doesn’t miss the event again. In order to not miss it again he needs to get winning and that could start this week.
Outsiders
I’m going with two outsiders for the tournament too. The first of those is on the leader in fairways hit on the PGA Tour this season in Brian Stuard. Stuard is also in the top 15 for proximity to the hole and having made 11 birdies at Augusta last week it appears his putter is starting to warm up. He won the Zurich Classic around this time last year and could be returning to form again. At his price I’ll take a chance on him.
Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston is a player I’m convinced will crack the PGA Tour and if that is going to happen then it is a course like this where he will do it. He looked set to genuinely contend in Puerto Rico recently before a back nine double bogey on Sunday derailed him but there is no reason why he can’t go again here. He is an excellent driver of the ball who finds a lot of greens. If he can find some putts to get to the hole I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Johnston is the latest from Britain to finish high up on the leaderboard here.
Tips
Back R.Henley to win RBC Heritage (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 26.00 with Coral (1/5 1-7)
PLACED – Back W.McGirt to win RBC Heritage (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 41.00 with Coral (1/5 1-7)
Back them here:
Back G.McDowell to win RBC Heritage (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 46.00 with Skybet (1/4 1-6)
Back B.Stuard to win RBC Heritage (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 126.00 with Skybet (1/4 1-6)
Back A.Johnston to win RBC Heritage (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 176.00 with Skybet (1/4 1-6)
Back them here:
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