As is tradition, Augusta National and Masters week did not disappoint.
The Scottie Show continued, clearing the field by 3 strokes, despite a 4-putt 18th on Sunday; which made the field seem closer than they ever were. The trouncing is his first career major, 4th win, and 7th top 10 finish this season. Unlike Scottie, we cannot relish in our green jacket, we are onto plaid and the PGA’s only trip to South Carolina.
2022 RBC Heritage Tournament
Dates: April 14-17, 2022
Course: Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, SC
Purse: $8,000,000
Defending Champ: Stewart Cink
What Course is the RBC Heritage Tournament Held At?
Harbour Town Golf Links is a stunning course located on the island of Hilton Head. The course was designed by the Picasso of golf design, Pete Dye, along with help from the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus. While the course is on the shorter side, comparatively to other tour courses, it does not lack its challenges.
The fairways are incredibly tight and players will need the ability to shape shots in all directions to avoid overhanging oaks and pines lining the holes. Competitors will need pin point accuracy to avoid strategic bunkers around some of the smallest greens on tour. Length off the tee will take a backseat to shot making this week.
What Channel is the RBC Heritage Tournament On?
Golf Channel: 3-6 PM
ESPN+ 7:00 AM-6 PM
Listen to the RBC Heritage
SiriusXM: 12-6 PM
RBC Heritage Tournament Field & Betting Odds
The field following the first major champion does not disappoint. It is absolutely loaded with 5 of the top 10 players set to play in this week’s tournament. Headlined by Colin Morikawa (+1200 at Caesars) and Cameron Smith (+1600 at Caesars), both look to continue with recent form after each finished in the top 10 last week. Justin Thomas (+1400 at Caesars) should have a strong showing this week, he is top 5 strokes gained on approach to green this season and excellent ball striker. JJ Spaun (+8000 at Caesars) seems like a lock for a top 25 finish this week, his game sets up nicely for Harbour Town Golf Links and has been playing well as of late.
This week the key metrics that our model is using to compile our portfolio are strokes gained on the approach, fairways gained, past performance on Pete Dye courses, success on bermuda greens, and course history here at Harbour Town.
RBC Heritage Outright Winner Picks
Matthew Fitzpatrick +2200 (BetMGM) – Looking at past champions, it’s very rare that the favorites win this tournament, so Fitz in the second tier in this 20/1 range is a good starting point. Since February, Fitzpatrick has been playing some of the best golf on TOUR. He only has one missed cut in the last two months and has been in the top 15 five times. Fitzpatrick is the top player on tour in total strokes gained and was a solid T-14 at Augusta, so he is coming into here in good form. Fitzpatrick has said multiple times that Harbour Town is his favorite spot on TOUR, and we love his chances to get his first career win here this weekend.
Corey Conners +2800 (Caesars) – Conners put together an impressive showing at Augusta National, finishing sixth in an obviously very loaded field. Conners has not missed a cut since mid-February and has been under par in three straight tournaments. Conners is playing consistent golf and has a good resume on Dye courses, short courses and anywhere that puts a premium on accuracy. He finished 21st in 2020 and 4th last year.
Joaquin Niemann +3300 (BetMGM) – Niemann is a player who we have been backing a lot this season and will continue to do so. He had a great start at the Masters but faded over the weekend, missing the Top 30 by one stroke. That said, his game is still in great form, his wire to wire win at the Genesis was only a few weeks ago. His game translates very well to this course and he had a T-5 here in 2020. He will be in contention come Sunday.
Daniel Berger +3500 (Caesers) – Berger comes into Hilton Head after a disappointing T-50 at the Masters, but Augusta National just has his number for whatever reason. Berger is at his best on small courses like this, all four of his PGA TOUR wins came at short courses that are very similar to Harbour Town. He has excelled here in the past, finishing 13th last year and third in 2019. Berger is #1 in Strokes Gained: On The Approach over his past 50 rounds and if he can avoid losing strokes putting, he has a great chance to get his fifth career win at a course that fits his skill set perfectly.
Maverick McNealy +5000 (FanDuel) – McNealy, like Berger, is at his best on shorter courses. All three of his career top-fives have come on courses 7,200 yards or less, and that includes a fourth place finish here at Harbour Town last year. His Stores Gained: Approach leaves a little to be desired, just outside the Top 50, but he is one of the best putters on TOUR and if his short game comes through, he will be in contention just like he was last year.
Outside of Scottie Scheffler and Matthew Fitzpatrick, there are not many golfers on TOUR playing better than Lowry. He has two top-five finishes in the last two months and four inside the Top 15. Lowry is 10th in total strokes gained, and looked like he might contend for a Green Jacket at Augusta National last week before he shot 73 on Saturday and ended up finishing third. He finished ninth last year and is great value to get a Top 10 finish this year at these generous odds.
Alex Noren has been under-the-radar playing very well, finishing 12th or better in three of his last five tourneys. He’s been closing out well and has never missed the cut at RBC. If everything goes right, Noren will have a chance to contend this weekend and the model loves him to finish in the Top 20.