PGA First Look: RSM Classic

The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.

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Event Preview

Matt Kuchar held off a Sunday charge from Danny Lee to claim his first win on the PGA Tour since 2014. Meanwhile, Lee Westwood picked up his first win in Europe since 2014. That’s already a crazy coincidence, but add in the fact that their victories were in the same week, both in 2014 and in 2018. The PGA Tour now heads to St, Simons Island in Georgia for the last event (outside of the Hero World Challenge) of the calender year. It’s a little sad knowing that we’ll be without DFS golf for the next six weeks, but with all of that time off, it’s a great opportunity to sharpen your skills. Justin Van Zuiden, Jason Rouslin, and myself put together a four-video RotoAcademy course that covers everything you need to know to be profitable in PGA DFS.

This week’s event will be played on two different courses — the Seaside Course (Par 70, 7,005 yards) and the Plantation Course (Par 72, 7,058 yards). Each golfer play one course on Thursday, the other on Friday, and then all golfers that make the cut will play their final two rounds on the Seaside Course. Given that three of the four rounds will be held there, we should place our emphasis on the Par 70. This is a short course that features only two par fives. The fairways are narrow and there is plenty of trouble if you are wild off the tee. Nine of the 18 holes feature water hazards. This is basically America’s version of seaside links golf with man-made sand dunes, fescue grass, and elevation changes. The entire course is made of bermudagrass, so if you like to look at putting splits (or overall grass type splits), focus on bermuda this week.

Looking at past leaderboards, you won’t see many bombers at the top. It’s not that they can’t compete here, but their biggest weapon is taken out of their hands. The average driving distance here is only 275 yards, which is one of the lowest that we’ll see all season. You have to be accurate off the tee in order to give yourself looks at birdie. This certainly sets up as more of a second shot type of course and that’s evident in the ShotLink data from this event. If we look at the top ten finishers here over the last five years, the bulk of the strokes that they have gained on the field have come through approaches and putting. Off the tee and around the green are secondary statistics this week. The name of the game here is to put the ball in play off the tee, be accurate with your irons, and make some putts.

Cut Rule: Top 70 and ties move on after the first two rounds. The MDF rule is in effect if more than 78 golfers make the initial cut.

Recent Winners of this Event: Austin Cook (2017), Mac Hughes (2016), Kevin Kisner (2015), Robert Streb (2014), Chris Kirk (2013)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Approach
2) Birdie or Better %
3) Par 4 Scoring
4) Strokes Gained Putting (Emphasis on Bermuda)
5) Proximity Blend

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2013-2017)

Golfer DK Salary FD Salary FDRFT Salary OWGR Odds DK Odds FD Odds FDRFT Odds Cuts 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Webb Simpson $11,800 $12,200 $17,800 20 9 0% 0% 0% 3/4 500 36 500 41 7
Cameron Champ $10,900 $11,400 $15,900 107 20 0% 0% 0% 0/1 117 500 500 500 500
J.J. Spaun $10,400 $10,100 $15,800 105 22 0% 75% 0% 2/2 2 57 500 500 500
Chesson Hadley $10,100 $10,600 $15,600 60 27 -50% 14% -20% 3/5 37 45 88 32 107
Lucas Glover $9,900 $9,700 $15,500 130 27 0% 74% 17% 4/4 500 36 9 73 40
Cheng-Tsung Pan $9,700 $10,400 $15,700 100 24 33% 56% 0% 2/2 13 6 500 500 500
Russell Henley $9,500 $11,200 $15,400 78 30 0% -133% 0% 4/4 500 10 6 4 65
Austin Cook $9,400 $10,200 $15,300 114 32 0% 27% 0% 1/1 1 500 500 500 500
Kevin Kisner $9,300 $10,000 $15,200 34 34 -11% 29% -11% 4/5 4 110 1 4 20
Luke List $9,200 $10,100 $15,000 59 38 -20% 0% -20% 1/2 500 13 120 500 500
Charles Howell $9,100 $10,800 $14,800 84 42 -36% -200% -15% 4/5 87 13 9 73 27
Zach Johnson $9,000 $10,700 $14,900 63 38 8% -83% 8% 3/5 8 110 75 110 16
Joaquin Niemann $8,900 $11,000 $15,000 149 34 31% -125% 10% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Harold Varner $8,800 $10,500 $14,800 154 40 0% -75% -8% 1/1 500 500 68 500 500
Denny McCarthy $8,700 $9,300 $14,500 169 47 -13% 41% 0% 0/1 105 500 500 500 500
Sam Ryder $8,600 $9,900 $14,300 142 49 -13% -13% 0% 1/1 61 500 500 500 500
Chris Kirk $8,500 $10,000 $14,800 151 40 24% 7% 0% 4/5 4 81 18 4 1
Whee Kim $8,400 $8,600 $14,200 122 55 -28% 44% -21% 2/3 75 27 500 86 500
Peter Uihlein $8,300 $9,700 $14,200 75 52 -16% -16% -16% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jim Furyk $8,200 $9,500 $14,600 197 43 20% 36% 0% 1/1 500 6 500 500 500
Jamie Lovemark $8,100 $9,600 $14,200 138 50 10% 14% 0% 2/3 117 6 9 500 500
Sungjae Im $8,000 $8,700 $14,200 95 52 5% 46% -11% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brian Harman $8,000 $10,300 $13,900 45 65 -23% -170% -4% 3/5 4 135 120 41 10
Patrick Rodgers $7,900 $9,100 $13,800 172 68 -29% 3% -11% 2/3 117 10 44 500 500
Bud Cauley $7,900 $9,800 $14,200 188 51 17% -18% -5% 1/4 8 110 110 500 90
Richy Werenski $7,800 $9,700 $13,800 157 65 -12% -53% -4% 0/2 75 98 500 500 500
Bill Haas $7,800 $9,600 $14,100 167 58 4% -14% -4% 3/4 87 13 33 22 500
Stewart Cink $7,700 $9,800 $14,100 81 57 14% -41% 0% 4/5 25 10 63 32 100
Bronson Burgoon $7,700 $8,900 $13,500 109 72 -18% 6% -3% 1/2 70 500 88 500 500
Michael Thompson $7,600 $8,900 $13,900 297 63 13% 26% 0% 3/4 17 13 120 66 500
Brice Garnett $7,600 $9,400 $13,700 121 65 7% -4% 7% 4/4 29 500 85 73 36
Padraig Harrington $7,600 $7,200 $13,400 178 81 -30% 61% -11% 1/2 54 500 500 110 500
Ryan Armour $7,500 $8,200 $13,500 113 72 -3% 33% -6% 3/3 37 36 500 81 500
Brian Gay $7,500 $9,100 $13,500 132 68 9% 6% 6% 2/3 3 139 500 500 4
Keith Mitchell $7,500 $9,500 $13,700 141 68 3% -28% -7% 1/1 54 500 500 500 500
Benjamin Silverman $7,500 $8,100 $13,300 263 81 -15% 32% 3% 1/1 8 500 500 500 500
Nick Watney $7,400 $9,300 $13,400 129 82 -8% -38% -14% 1/2 96 500 500 85 500
Nate Lashley $7,400 $8,500 $12,700 444 104 -49% -28% -8% 1/1 49 500 500 500 500
Kramer Hickok $7,400 $8,100 $13,100 148 90 -22% 20% -10% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Patton Kizzire $7,400 $8,200 $13,000 101 97 -38% 0% -19% 2/4 45 81 88 54 500
Adam Schenk $7,400 $7,800 $13,100 267 84 -11% 35% 0% 0/1 151 500 500 500 500
Anders Albertson $7,300 $8,400 $13,400 224 80 12% 20% -6% 1/1 500 74 500 500 500
Aaron Baddeley $7,300 $7,800 $13,400 260 79 14% 43% -3% 2/4 105 500 88 48 40
Roberto Castro $7,300 $8,800 $12,800 293 97 -24% -41% -4% 3/3 500 80 52 69 500
Scott Stallings $7,300 $7,900 $12,500 187 113 -45% 0% -5% 3/4 68 70 9 500 90
Talor Gooch $7,300 $7,700 $12,600 304 106 -36% 16% -6% 0/1 138 500 500 500 500
Jason Dufner $7,200 $9,200 $13,000 97 79 26% -13% 19% 1/1 500 500 9 500 500
David Hearn $7,200 $7,900 $12,400 486 120 -36% -5% -3% 3/3 17 500 9 500 40
Robert Streb $7,200 $7,700 $12,700 168 99 -15% 21% -6% 3/4 75 57 25 1 500
Sam Burns $7,200 $8,200 $13,300 119 85 11% 18% -8% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Andrew Landry $7,200 $8,300 $12,700 98 95 -4% -2% 4% 1/2 4 500 110 500 500
Nicholas Lindheim $7,200 $13,000 351 93 0% -9% 2/2 13 54 500 500 500
Vaughn Taylor $7,100 $8,700 $12,600 287 96 6% -28% 7% 1/2 8 500 101 500 500
Johnson Wagner $7,100 $9,400 $12,900 418 97 0% -96% -13% 3/5 17 98 33 81 124
Seth Reeves $7,100 $8,200 $12,300 447 127 -32% -37% -9% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kelly Kraft $7,100 $7,400 $12,500 185 111 -11% 33% -2% 2/3 22 21 110 500 500
Matt Every $7,100 $7,500 $10,000 624 156 -53% -3% 2% 1/4 138 150 500 500 7
Ollie Schniederjans $7,100 $8,300 $10,000 155 130 -34% -48% 14% 1/2 75 6 500 500 500
Henrik Norlander $7,000 $7,100 $12,600 429 106 5% 49% -4% 2/3 54 2 110 500 500
Graeme McDowell $7,000 $8,200 $13,000 223 86 27% 16% 0% 1/2 87 500 3 500 500
Shawn Stefani $7,000 $7,300 $10,000 323 140 -27% 22% 10% 1/3 138 500 152 41 500
Kevin Streelman $7,000 $8,500 $12,900 164 90 24% -5% 4% 2/3 17 36 110 500 500
Hudson Swafford $7,000 $8,400 $12,900 255 90 25% 4% 6% 3/5 29 36 120 12 84
Sung Kang $7,000 $7,800 $10,000 170 139 -22% -14% 13% 3/3 29 33 75 500 500
Chad Campbell $7,000 $7,800 $10,000 261 141 -29% -21% 8% 4/5 75 13 9 41 36
Joel Dahmen $6,900 $9,600 $12,500 184 108 12% -164% 0% 1/2 49 110 500 500 500
Troy Merritt $6,900 $9,000 $10,000 175 116 6% -82% 25% 1/3 54 135 500 500 107
Corey Conners $6,900 $8,600 $10,000 274 121 2% -59% 22% 1/1 37 500 500 500 500
Ted Potter $6,900 $8,500 $12,600 111 94 27% -12% 11% 2/2 13 500 500 500 36
Robert Garrigus $6,900 $7,500 $10,000 333 139 -9% 9% 13% 2/4 105 33 145 500 22
Tom Hoge $6,900 $7,100 $10,000 240 166 -26% 24% 0% 3/4 25 98 9 32 500
Ryan Blaum $6,900 $8,300 $10,000 295 154 -20% -65% 5% 1/2 96 71 500 500 500
JT Poston $6,900 $8,800 $10,000 322 125 -2% -81% 19% 0/2 117 139 500 500 500
Mac Hughes $6,800 $7,800 $10,000 346 154 -5% -24% 6% 1/2 96 1 500 500 500
David Lingmerth $6,800 $7,400 $10,000 298 172 -18% 1% -5% 3/3 17 500 63 14 500
Stephan Jaeger $6,800 $8,100 $12,200 214 117 15% -13% 3% 1/1 29 500 500 500 500
Brandon Harkins $6,800 $8,000 $12,500 250 112 19% -2% -3% 1/1 49 500 500 500 500
Carlos Ortiz $6,800 $7,300 $10,000 377 155 -8% 17% 4% 0/1 500 500 133 500 500
Harris English $6,800 $7,500 $12,400 310 123 11% 16% -6% 2/5 138 81 25 89 27
Cameron Tringale $6,800 $7,200 $10,000 556 180 -23% 9% -10% 3/4 75 27 500 22 27
Sean O’Hair $6,800 $7,000 $10,000 163 196 -32% 18% -18% 2/4 75 500 18 17 90
Peter Malnati $6,700 $7,700 $10,000 292 126 17% 0% 18% 1/3 117 121 75 500 500
Ben Martin $6,700 $7,600 $12,200 355 140 10% -3% -14% 2/4 22 121 500 17 74
Sepp Straka $6,700 $7,000 $10,000 414 195 -17% 20% -16% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Wes Roach $6,700 $7,100 $10,000 412 193 -16% 13% -14% 0/2 500 500 88 500 107
Ben Crane $6,700 $7,600 $12,200 384 126 17% 6% -5% 1/4 117 64 110 500 90
Matt Jones $6,700 $7,400 $10,000 254 153 6% 13% 7% 0/1 500 98 500 500 500
Alex Prugh $6,700 $7,100 $10,000 415 207 -26% 6% -24% 1/2 500 500 85 89 500
Wyndham Clark $6,700 $7,500 $10,000 356 266 -41% -47% -40% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Fabian Gomez $6,600 $7,500 $10,000 562 185 -3% -18% -12% 3/3 61 500 44 8 500
Trey Mullinax $6,600 $7,100 $10,000 229 168 6% 22% -2% 2/3 37 110 25 500 500
Tyrone Van Aswegen $6,600 $7,000 $10,000 446 201 -13% 15% -23% 2/5 45 110 75 89 90
Jonas Blixt $6,600 $7,200 $10,000 392 224 -21% -9% -31% 0/2 500 121 120 500 500
Chase Wright $6,600 $7,000 $10,000 228 200 -11% 17% -20% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Scott Langley $6,600 $7,500 $10,000 318 207 -14% -30% -24% 3/4 500 33 33 110 22
Sang-Moon Bae $6,600 $7,000 $10,000 331 182 -2% 23% -11% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Davis Love $6,600 $7,200 $11,500 1131 225 -22% -10% -62% 2/5 131 129 33 41 123
Alex Cejka $6,500 $7,400 $10,000 314 174 10% 0% -6% 1/2 500 500 6 89 500
Brian Stuard $6,500 $7,200 $10,000 282 226 -13% -11% -34% 2/5 22 81 25 105 116
Tom Lovelady $6,500 $7,400 $10,000 326 175 9% -1% -7% 0/1 75 500 500 500 500
Scott Brown $6,500 $7,100 $10,000 306 200 -2% 8% -20% 2/4 105 500 18 121 4
Ricky Barnes $6,500 $7,600 $10,000 635 282 -23% -68% -46% 1/3 96 81 25 500 500
Dominic Bozzelli $6,500 $7,700 $11,300 459 209 -7% -54% -50% 0/1 500 144 500 500 500
Michael Kim $6,500 $7,100 $10,000 257 170 12% 21% -4% 2/3 96 27 52 500 500
Jose de Jesus Rodriguez $6,500 $7,100 $10,000 313 275 -20% -8% -42% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ernie Els $6,500 $7,400 $10,000 586 276 -22% -36% -45% 0/2 105 110 500 500 500
Hunter Mahan $6,400 $7,600 $10,000 387 156 23% -14% 1% 1/2 45 153 500 500 500
Jonathan Byrd $6,400 $7,300 $10,000 471 187 12% 2% -13% 3/5 105 21 44 100 55
Retief Goosen $6,400 $7,400 $10,000 409 214 0% -22% -29% 2/2 29 500 500 500 65
Curtis Luck $6,400 $7,500 $10,000 460 166 21% -6% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jim Knous $6,400 $7,500 $10,000 578 249 -7% -44% -37% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Andres Romero $6,400 $7,600 $11,400 345 213 1% -47% -54% 2/3 500 27 110 500 69
Julian Etulain $6,400 $7,600 $10,000 341 287 -15% -71% -48% 1/1 500 71 500 500 500
Kyoung-Hoon Lee $6,400 $7,200 $10,000 335 248 -6% -13% -36% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
D.A. Points $6,400 $7,000 $10,000 424 303 -17% -4% -51% 3/4 144 45 58 22 500
Sam Saunders $6,300 $8,000 $10,000 211 179 22% -53% -8% 1/4 105 57 101 89 500
Sebastian Munoz $6,300 $7,200 $10,000 280 196 16% 2% -18% 0/1 500 81 500 500 500
J.J. Henry $6,300 $7,000 $10,000 555 268 -1% 3% -41% 2/3 45 500 500 105 48
Seamus Power $6,300 $7,400 $10,000 339 195 17% -9% -16% 1/2 75 74 500 500 500
Martin Trainer $6,300 $7,000 $10,000 278 500 -22% -18% -71% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Roger Sloan $6,300 $7,000 $10,000 452 335 -10% -7% -54% 0/1 500 500 500 110 500
Martin Piller $6,300 $7,000 $10,000 348 341 -11% -8% -55% 1/2 105 500 82 500 500
Derek Fathauer $6,300 $7,200 $10,000 422 284 -5% -22% -47% 1/2 117 500 70 500 500
Jon Curran $6,300 $7,000 $10,000 326 -9% -5% -52% 3/4 144 65 4 54 500
John Huh $6,200 $7,500 $10,000 303 215 14% -37% -30% 4/4 37 27 9 48 500
Adam Svensson $6,200 $7,100 $10,000 419 275 6% -8% -42% 0/1 500 500 101 500 500
Josh Teater $6,200 $7,100 $10,000 405 250 8% -6% -39% 2/3 37 45 500 105 500
Eric Axley $6,200 $7,100 $10,600 491 358 -5% -20% -85% 3/4 500 81 83 22 48
Jim Herman $6,200 $7,000 $10,000 565 332 -2% -6% -53% 3/5 54 13 18 127 84
Tommy Gainey $6,200 $7,000 $10,000 524 -16% -21% -75% 1/5 131 139 139 32 90
Adam Long $6,200 $7,000 $10,200 399 479 -12% -17% -89% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brendon De Jonge $6,200 $7,000 $10,200 450 -10% -15% -86% 4/5 54 121 33 2 16
Max Homa $6,200 $7,000 $10,000 856 476 -11% -16% -67% 0/2 500 98 500 89 500
Tyler Duncan $6,100 $7,600 $10,000 347 244 16% -56% -35% 1/1 25 500 500 500 500
John Chin $6,100 $7,000 $10,000 461 397 -1% -13% -64% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brady Schnell $6,100 $7,000 $10,200 371 491 -5% -18% -91% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chris Thompson $6,100 $7,000 $10,000 365 397 -1% -13% -63% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Dru Love $6,100 $7,000 $10,100 563 -11% -24% -86% 0/2 149 500 139 500 500
Cody Gribble $6,100 $7,000 $10,000 703 353 3% -8% -57% 0/1 500 98 500 500 500
Jason Gore $6,100 $10,300 719 427 -2% -88% 1/4 138 81 63 105 500
Tim Herron $6,100 $10,000 836 500 -6% -71% 1/2 500 139 52 500 500
Joey Garber $6,100 $7,000 $10,200 423 544 -10% -23% -99% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Wesley Bryan $6,000 $7,300 $10,000 230 291 13% -29% -49% 0/1 500 98 500 500 500
Chad Collins $6,000 $7,000 $10,200 671 524 -1% -21% -96% 0/4 500 129 88 110 107
Hank Lebioda $6,000 $7,000 $10,100 458 574 -5% -25% -88% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Will MacKenzie $6,000 $7,200 $10,200 515 -1% -44% -95% 2/4 500 67 145 2 100
Kyle Jones $6,000 $7,000 $10,000 312 384 7% -11% -60% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Fredrik Jacobson $6,000 $7,000 $10,000 388 6% -12% -61% 1/2 500 500 5 500 74
Lee Hodges $6,000 $10,500 917 365 8% -83% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Garrett Barber $6,000 $7,000 $10,000 553 -3% -23% -78% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ben Griffin $6,000 $7,000 678 -6% -26% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Peter Jones $6,000 $7,000 $10,100 679 -6% -27% -90% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500

Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside of the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.

Legend

Term Description
Site Odds The percentage differential between a golfer’s salary rank and odds rank. The higher the %, the better.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons.
2013 – 2017 Columns Course history at this event in the last five seasons.

About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on Twitter – @RG_Notorious