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Boxing The RSM Classic Tip: 71.00 Pick For This Weekend’s Action
The RSM Classic Tip: Thursday, November 16th
Sea Island Resort is once again the venue for The RSM Classic. We have analysed the betting markets to bring you our best RSM Classic tip.
Odds via bet365 as at 14.55 November 14th 2023. Odds may now differ.
In this article:
The RSM Classic Overview
Thursday, 16th November, 11:00 (UK)
The PGA Tour returns to another familiar stop this week, with Sea Island Resort hosting The RSM Classic for the fourteenth time. Played across two courses, the Seaside and Plantation, the event is usually a lower scoring contest won with a score around 20 under par.
Players will alternate between the Seaside and Plantation courses in rounds one and two, before playing the final two rounds at Seaside. The Seaside course is a links style course which, as you may have guessed, runs alongside the ocean. At just over 7,000 yards, it will play as a par 70, just as it has in previous years. The wind offers the biggest defence but it can yield birdies when conditions are calmer.
The Plantation plays as the easier of the two courses. Only 55 yards longer, it plays to a par of 72 and players will seek to make a score there. Redesigned in 2019 by Tom Fazio, it has shorter rough and is fairly generous off the tee.
The current weather forecast suggests conditions could be tough on Thursday and Friday. Wind and rain is expected both days, giving way to sunny intervals and calmer conditions at the weekend. At the time of writing, those players who have morning tee times on Thursday at Plantation may get the best of the draw.
This is the final event of the season for players to keep their Tour cards. The pressure is very much on those in or around the top 125 in the FedEx Standings.
The RSM Classic Tip
The weather looks to be an equaliser this week and I’d be reluctant to back any of the favourites before the start of the event. Ludvig Aberg and Russel Henley vie for favouritism at the front of the market but neither make significant appeal at 15.00.
I am instead drawn to the chances of a past winner of this event. Mackenzie Hughes lifted the trophy here in 2016 and went close again in 2021, when finishing runner up. Results in intervening years have been less encouraging but I’m certainly not put off given that win and second place.
Looking at his recent form, Hughes was 7th last time out at the World Wide Technology Championship, ranking inside the top 25 for Total Driving and top 15 for Greens in Regulation. Strokes Gained stats weren’t available for that event but the stats available suggest his game is in good shape.
A proven performer in windy conditions, Hughes has strong finishes at the Puntacana Resort & Club Championship, Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Open. His goal for the coming year is to make the 2024 International Presidents Cup team and a win this week would give him the perfect springboard for next year. Take Hughes at 67.00 with bet365 with eight each way places.
Si Woo Kim looks to be a player worth taking on this week given he’s missed three cuts out of four at this event in years gone by and hasn’t played at Sea Island since 2019. In terms of recent form, the Korean hasn’t been seen since the middle of October, when missing the cut at the Shriners Children’s Open by four shots. That missed cut is even more of a concern when you look at just how well Kim has performed in that event over the years. Two top tens and a further pair of top 25 finishes suggests he should have performed better.
Only three players hit their irons worse than Kim at the Shriners. Given that he’s not a player well known for his capabilities in the wind and rain, it’s hard to see this being the ideal spot to rectify those poor approach shots.
How to oppose the world number 41 is perhaps the biggest question, with bet365 offering three possibilities. The first option would be to take Kim on with Justin Suh (2.00) in a 72 hole matchbet. Consecutive top ten finishes for Suh in Japan and Mexico suggest his game is in a great spot right now but his debut in this event last year was somewhat underwhelming. A finish of 66th leaves an element of doubt over his suitability and there are better ways to take Kim on.
Odds of 3.00 on Kim to miss the cut are certainly appealing, especially in a field of 158 players. The top 65 and ties make the cut and a slow start could well see Kim struggle to make the weekend. However, the bet that looks far more enticing, albeit at a shorter price, is to bet on Kim’s finishing positing being 35th or worse at 1.83. A small bet on Kim to miss the cut would be advised with a larger stake on Kim to finish 35th or worse.
Odds via bet365 as at 14.55 November 14th 2023. Odds may now differ.
NOVEMBER 13-19 IS SAFER GAMBLING WEEK 2023
November 13-19 marks an important date in the calendar. Safer Gambling Week is a significant industry-wide event that aims to shed more light on responsible betting. For more information and advice, head to the bettingexpert Safer Gambling hub or our brief explainer below.
