This article is part of our DraftKings PGA DFS Picks series.
RSM CLASSIC
Purse: $5.7M
Winner's Share: $1,026,000
FedEx Cup Points: 500 to the Winner
Location: Sea Island, Ga.
Course: Sea Island Resort (Seaside and Plantation)
Yardage: 7,055
Par: 70
Defending Champion: Robert Streb
Tournament Preview
Formerly the McGladrey Classic, the RSM will play host at the beautiful Sea Island Resort for its sixth edition. The two major differences this year will be the addition of the Plantation course to the rotation in the first two rounds and the expansion of the field from 132 to 156 players. While the more demanding Seaside course is a par-70 links layout, the more score-able par-72 Plantation course unfolds through forests of oak and cedar. This should ultimately make the scoring a bit better than past years, but don't be surprised if it's similar at least initially as players acclimate to the Plantation layout. Local residents Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar headline the field with recent early-season winners Justin Thomas, Smylie Kaufman, Peter Malnati and Graeme McDowell to close the calendar year strong before resuming the wraparound season in January.
Key Stats to winning at Sea Island Resort
• Par-4 Scoring Average
• Strokes Gained: Putting
• Average Proximity to the hole
• Experience on Bermuda courses (i.e. lives/grew up in southeastern U.S.)
Past Champions
2014 - Robert Streb
2013 - Chris Kirk
2012 - Tommy Gainey
2011 - Ben Crane
2010 - Heath Slocum
Champion's Profile
For a second straight week, it's evident distance is not a factor in success at Sea Island given the short track and list of champions and contenders, but adding the Plantation course into the rotation this year may change the profile, but only slightly. However, the key will be careful shot selection and precision on approaches. Among the players who strike it well, the one who catches fire with their putter will likely win. Another interesting insight is past contenders and champions' ties to the Southeast, where Bermuda greens are common. Past champions Robert Streb (Florida), Chris Kirk (Georgia), Tommy Gainey (South Carolina) and Heath Slocum (Florida) have ties to the Southeast, as do previous runner-ups Will Mackenzie (North Carolina), Briny Baird (Florida), Tim Clark (Florida), David Toms (Louisiana), Webb Simpson (North Carolina) and Bill Haas (South Carolina). This kind of deep-rooted success simply can't be a coincidence, so check player's hometowns, histories on Bermuda courses and current residences if you seek the diamond in the rough this week.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Zach Johnson - $11,500 (Winning Odds: 8%)
Justin Thomas - $10,900 (6%)
Matt Kuchar - $10,800 (6%)
Kevin Kisner - $10,400 (5%)
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Patrick Rodgers - $9,600 (4%)
Brandt Snedeker - $8,800 (3%)
Robert Streb - $8,700 (3%)
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Chris Kirk - $8,500 (2%)
Brian Harman - $8,100 (2%)
David Hearn - $7,400 (1%)
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Chad Campbell - $7,100 (1%)
Shawn Stefani - $7,000 (1%)
Sean O'Hair - $6,600 (1%)
Andrew Loupe - $6,300 (1%)
Ben Crane - $6,200 (1%)
Henrik Norlander - $5800 (1%)
MY PICKS THIS WEEK
Lower-Risk Cash Game Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Bill Haas - $10,100
Patrick Rodgers - $9,600
Brendon de Jonge - $8,700
Brian Harman - $8,300
Mark Wilson - $6,600
Sean O'Hair - $6,600
The cash game lineup this week hones in on good history at Sea Island, with the exception of the hot Patrick Rodgers, who has put together four straight top-20s to start the new season and feels like a surefire selection. Bill Haas owns a runner-up and T22 at Sea Island, while Brendon de Jonge sneakily has four top-16 finishes in five starts at this venue. Brian Harman posted a top-10 here two seasons ago and brings in form with a T7 at the CIMB Classic a few weeks back. Wilson and O'Hair round out a pretty safe lineup with each having posted multiple top-20s at Sea Island the past three years.
Higher-Risk Tournament Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Zach Johnson - $11,500
Matt Kuchar - $10,800
Kevin Kisner - $10,400
Ben Crane - $6,200
Henrik Norlander - $5,800
Tim Petrovic - $5,300
As predictable as the sun rising in the East and setting in the West, the early season's final tournament lineup is again a studs and duds approach, with local residents Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar headlining. Johnson doesn't necessarily have an impressive history here, but he fits the mold for this venue and is transitioning from a stellar 2014-15 season. Kuchar is the "Steady Eddy" of this lineup with four top-25s in as many starts, while Kisner has logged three finishes of T26 or better including a T4 last season, and possesses a knack for Bermuda courses hailing from nearby South Carolina. Crane is a former champion from 2011 but is worth a gamble, as is Henrik Norlander and Tim Petrovic. Norlander is a first-timer here but he's made 3-of-4 cuts this season and has shot par or better in seven of his last eight rounds. Petrovic has a putrid history but has potential to make the cut and provides a bargain bin differentiator.
