This article is part of our FantasyDraft PGA series.
RSM Classic
Sea Island, Georgia
Sea Island Resort - Seaside Course - Par 70 - 7,005 (Plantation Course - Par 72 - 7,058 yards)
Field - 156 entrants
Purse - $6.2M
The Preview
The Sea Island Resort, situated along the southeastern coast of Georgia, plays host to the final installment of the PGA Tour's fall swing as a less-than-stellar field of 156 entrants await their final challenge of the calendar year. Three rounds this week will be played at the Seaside Course, which boasts a par-70 layout that includes 12 par-fours, four par-threes and a pair of par-fives. This will ultimately place a premium on par-four scoring in terms of key statistics, while the par-72 layout of the Plantation Course provides additional scoring opportunities for just one round. Traditionally, players with stout short games and solid putting have excelled at the RSM Classic, so shying away from potentially overpriced players who usually receive a boost due to their distance won't be a bad strategy this week. The weather in Sea Island, Georgia looks to be fairly tame throughout the first three days of the tournament with mild temperatures and about a one-club wind in the afternoons, but a chance of rain along with increasing winds could be in store on Sunday. A Thursday afternoon/Friday morning tee-time stack may have the slight advantage, but weather shouldn't have much of an impact on lineup building this week.
Past Champions
2016 - Mackenzie Hughes
2015 - Kevin Kisner
2014 - Robert Streb
2013 - Chris Kirk
2012 - Tommy Gainey
2011 - Ben Crane
2010 - Heath Slocum
FantasyDraft Value Picks - based on $100,000 salary cap
Cream of the Crop
Kevin Kisner - $17,000
Despite being the highest-priced option this week in Sea Island, the 2015 RSM Classic champion remains affordable as the betting favorite at $17,000 on FantasyDraft.com. Kisner, who attended the University of Georgia, should be well-rested after an extended period of rest following his last start at the TOUR Championship where he finished T3. The well-rounded 33-year-old ranked 19th in driving accuracy and 20th in SG: Putting last season.
Charles Howell III - $16,600
Howell doesn't appear to be affected by his climbing age as of late, posting top-20s in three of his last four starts, including a T4 at the OHL Classic. In Mexico he racked up 20 birdies through four rounds while ranking T12 in FIR percentage and T2 in greens hit. The Augusta, Georgia native also owns an impressive track record at the Sea Island Resort, notching four finishes of T13 or better in seven attempts at the event.
Bill Haas - $16,500
Haas finished runner-up at this event back in 2010, but most recently put up respectable results of T13-T33-T22 in his last three starts at the Sea Island Resort. He finished T17 at the season-opening Safeway Open in October, and should be well-prepared this week as he hasn't teed it up since the WGC-HSBC Champions. Throughout the early stages of the 2017-18 season, Haas ranks 19th in SG: Approach, 27th in proximity and 13th in scrambling from 10-20 yards on Tour.
Glue Guys
Patrick Rodgers - $14,700
Rodgers bounced back from a missed cut at the Shriners Open with a top-15 finish at last week's OHL Classic, while he's two for two in terms of cuts made throughout his career at Sea Island. Last year he placed T10 at the RSM Classic, but he'll head into this year's edition with a bit more momentum as he ranks 20th on Tour in SG: Putting and first in scrambling from under 10 yards this season.
Beau Hossler - $14,300
Hossler has climbed inside of the top-300 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in his young career thanks to a pair of top-10s in his last three starts. He'll be making his debut at Sea Island this week, but he currently ranks 26th on Tour in SG: Putting and 40th in proximity from 50-125 yards through 12 measured rounds.
J.T. Poston - $14,100
Poston will more likely than not become a popular value play at this price as he comes off a T4 at the Shriners Open followed by a T14 at the OHL Classic. He missed the cut in his debut at Sea Island last year, but the Western Carolina grad currently ranks 17th on Tour in SG: Around-the-Green and 21st in SG: Tee-to-Green.
Bargain Bin
Brian Stuard - $13,700
A perfect 4-for-4 in cuts made so far this season, Stuard also notched the second top-10 of his 2017-18 campaign at last week's OHL Classic. He's also finished top-25 twice in five appearances at Sea Island, while he currently ranks top-35 in both driving accuracy and GIR percentage.
Robert Streb - $13,200
Capitalizing on a former champion at this reduced price could pay dividends, while many gamers may elect to shy away from Streb due to his spotty recent form. He hasn't performed too well in five starts since a T10 at the Northern Trust, but he ranked 39th in proximity from 125-150 yards and 19th in SG: Around-the-Green last season.
Camilo Villegas - $13,000
Villegas' relatively busy fall schedule has included five cuts made in five starts, including a top-20 finish at the CIMB Classic. He's also never missed a cut in five career attempts at the RSM Classic at Sea Island, while finishing runner-up just last year at the event. Villegas' generally above-average short game should help him again this week after finishing 24th in SG: Putting and 31st in SG: Around-the-Green throughout the 2016-17 season.
