This article is part of our Yahoo PGA DFS Picks series.
The RSM Classic
Sea Island, Georgia
Sea Island Resort (Seaside 7,005 yards, par 70 -- Plantation 7,058 yards, par 72)
Field - 156 Entrants
Purse - $6.4M
The Preview
The international golf spotlight will be shining on Dubai this week as the European Tour's 2018 season culminates at the prestigious DP World Tour Championship, featuring the likes of Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Jon Rahm. Meanwhile in the United States, Georgia's Sea Island Resort will host the RSM Classic for the PGA Tour's final official event before the turn of the calendar. Both the Seaside and Plantation layouts will be used in order to account for the limited daylight this time of year, with the 156 golfers in the field getting a crack at each course before the 36-hole cut. The Seaside course is especially vulnerable to ocean breeze coming off the Atlantic and will be the site of the final two rounds. Peeking at the list of past champions, it becomes clear that distance is unnecessary to excel while accuracy and short-game prowess are paramount. As for the weather, scattered showers and wind could create difficult scoring conditions Thursday morning, but the forecast is relatively favorable throughout the weekend.
Recent Champions
2017 - Austin Cook
2016 - Mackenzie Hughes
2015 - Kevin Kisner
2014 - Robert Streb
2013 - Chris Kirk
2012 - Tommy Gainey
2011 - Ben Crane
2010 - Heath Slocum
Key Stats to Victory
SG: Putting - Experience on Bermuda greens is essential at this southeastern venue that
emphasizes the importance of a quality short game
Par-4 scoring - The Seaside course features a dozen par-4s compared to just two par-5s
Scrambling - Austin Cook is not a great ball striker, but he led the field in scrambling during his 2017 victory
Yahoo Value Picks - based on $200 salary cap
Cream of the Crop
Webb Simpson - $47
As the lone member of the Official World Golf Ranking's top 30 in attendance, Simpson earns the top price on this week's board as the clear betting favorite. He was a perfect 5-for-5 in cuts made with three top-12s at the RSM Classic before a withdrawal in 2017. In terms of recent form, he posted no result worse than a T15 in his past three starts. Simpson's short game was outstanding throughout his 2017-18 campaign, as he ranked sixth in SG: Putting. He also led the entire Tour in scrambling.
Kevin Kisner - $43
A native of the southeastern United States, Kisner grew up in South Carolina before playing his collegiate golf at the University of Georgia. His affinity for Bermuda and Sea Island Resort's layout is evident by his track record at the RSM Classic, where he won in 2015 and owns two additional top-4s. The hope is a missed cut at the Mayakoba Golf Classic and spotty recent form aid in driving down Kisner's ownership percentage.
C.T. Pan - $39
This might be the only event all season that Pan earns himself a spot in the 'Cream of the Crop' section, but he's racked up three straight top-25s and hasn't missed a cut since late June. Looking at course fit, he ranked 13th on Tour in driving accuracy and sixth in GIR percentage last season. Pan also went T13-T6 during his first two career starts at the Sea Island Resort.
Glue Guys
J.J. Spaun - $33
Spaun is severely underpriced here compared to both his betting odds and other DFS sites, so including him as a value pick is a no-brainer despite the expectation of inflated ownership. He's on pace to join the top 100 of the OWGR for the first time in his career after posting results of T3-T15-T10 in his last three starts.
Jamie Lovemark - $33
Lovemark's game is far from a perfect fit for the Sea Island Resort, but he's found a way to finish top-10 in two of three appearances at this event. He's obviously long off the tee, but has quietly ranked 26th or better in SG: Around-the-Green each of the past three seasons.
Brian Gay - $33
Gay's impressive short game led him to finish top-25 on Tour in both SG: Around-the-Green and SG: Putting last season, and he hasn't missed a cut since the John Deere Classic in mid-July. Two of his past three trips to Sea Island have resulted in a top-4 finish.
Bargain Bin
Bud Cauley - $27
Cauley's return from a June car accident that left him with a handful of injuries has gone surprisingly smooth, as he has posted results of T29-T10-T46 in three events dating back to the Safeway Open. Through eight measured rounds, he's sixth on Tour in SG: Around-the-Green and 28th in one-putt percentage. Cauley collected a T8 at the Sea Island Resort in 2017.
Jim Furyk - $26
Furyk shot a combined 15-under over his final three rounds in Mexico to finish T6, and in the process, he led the field in driving accuracy and tied for second in GIR percentage. The 48-year-old finished top-6 in two of his last three starts and owns a trio of top-11s at the RSM Classic.
Seth Reeves - $20
The rookie has yet to miss a cut after making four starts on the PGA Tour, and he notched a top-10 at the Sanderson Farms Championship. Reeves ranked T12 among the field in GIR percentage at last week's Mayakoba Golf Classic, and issues with accuracy off the tee should limit his exposure in GPP formats.
Strategy Tips on Yahoo this week
As the field lacks a collection of elite talent near the top of the board, there isn't much of an advantage to spend up heavily in cash-game formats. A low-risk outlook translates to avoiding the $20-$25 range as plenty of options around the $33 average salary have an enhanced shot to not only make the cut but also find the winner's circle. The Sea Island Resort can give up a lot of birdies if winds are tame, but the course won't be overpowered, and short-game statistics remain key.
