The RSM Classic: Best Bets, Daily Fantasy Golf Picks, and Win Simulations

The RSM Classic field features just one top-10 golfer by the Official World Golf Rankings and three inside the top 25.

It's a two-course setup with a full field -- and the last chance for us to see full-field PGA Tour golf in the 2023 calendar year.

Here's all you need to know for this week.

Sea Island Golf Club (Seaside) Course Info

All course data from GCSAA unless otherwise noted.

• Par: 70
• Distance: 7,005 yards (around 200 yards shorter than the average par 70)
• Average Fairway Width: 42.6 yards (78th of 86 courses)
• Average Green Size: 7,200 square feet (large)
• Green Type: Bermuda
• Stimpmeter: N/A

Sea Island Golf Club (Plantation) Course Info

All course data from GCSAA unless otherwise noted.

• Par: 72
• Distance: 7,060 yards (around 320 yards shorter than the average par 72)
• Average Green Size: 6,100 square feet (average)
• Green Type: Bermuda

The RSM Classic Tournament History

• Recent Winning Scores: -19, -22, -19, -19, -19
• Recent Cut Lines: -4, -3, -3, -4, -2

RSM Classic Course Key Stats

• Strokes Gained: Approach
• Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
  • Emphasis on Driving Accuracy
• Strokes Gained: Around the Green
• Birdie or Better Rate

The RSM Classic Win Simulations

Here's what my model -- based on long-term scoring trends, recency adjustments, and field-strength weighting -- has to say about this week's event. Golfers with at least 0.10% win odds are included.

Russell Henley (+1600) drew my attention instantly at +1600, as my model is highest on him this week of any golfer in the field. He's a great iron player and an accurate driver, so this should be a good setup for him. He's played well here, historically, as well.

Corey Conners (+2500) was +2200 earlier in the week and has lengthened to a better number. Conners, one of the best ball-strikers in the world, has some great recent form (as of the end of the 2023 season, that is).

Nicholas Lindheim (+8000) also jumps out at a long number. His PGA Tour sample includes some poor putting overall, but he's shown solid splits from within 10 feet, which is a good indication.

The RSM Classic Daily Fantasy Golf Picks

These picks stand out relative to their FanDuel daily fantasy golf salary based on my stats model, which accounts for the most important stats for this week's event. All stats cited below originate at datagolf and reference ranks relative to the field over the past 50 rounds. References to my combo model refer to a combination of long-term, field-adjusted form, key stat performance, and hole-by-hole-level strokes gained data.

The RSM Classic DFS Studs

Russell Henley ($11,600 | +1600)

Henley was a quick bet for me at +1600, and he's also a standout DFS play at a salary of $11,600. Henley ranks first in the field in strokes gained: approach, which is noteworthy in any setup.

Further, Henley is first in the field in strokes gained: approach through putting while also ranking fifth in driving accuracy over the past 50 rounds.

He's finished top-30 in each of his past two starts at this event, as well. He's my favorite anchor play for lineups.

Si Woo Kim ($10,800 | +3000)

Si Woo Kim always gets a bit of an upgrade at courses where driving accuracy matters. Kim's second in the field in fairways gained over the past 50 rounds while also sitting fourth in the field in strokes gained: tee to green.

The putting is what is always a risk (117th), yet his splits from 5 to 15 feet are near the PGA Tour average, which we'll take when tied to such good ball-striking. The current form makes him a core-level play at this salary.

Others to Consider:

• Ludvig Aberg ($12,100 | +1400)
• Corey Conners ($11,400 | +2500)
• JT Poston ($10,600 | +3000)

The RSM Classic DFS Mid-Range Plays

J.J. Spaun ($9,900 | +4500)

Spaun ranks 9th in the field in strokes gained: approach and is top-35 in both off-the-tee and around-the-green play, as well.

The putter? Not great (126th) -- but he's within two percentage points of the Tour average from 5 to 15 feet with the putter.

With all that said, he has two straight top-16 finishes at The RSM and is in great form in terms of the ball-striking.

Harris English ($9,400 | +6000)

English is always someone we can bump up at courses that don't require driving distance. He ranks 8th in the field in strokes gained: approach through putting while sitting 21st or better in all three stats there.

English has finished T6, cut, and T29 here over the past three years.

Others to Consider:

• Alex Smalley ($9,600 | +5000)
• Adam Schenk ($9,300 | +7000)
• Nicholas Lindheim ($9,200 | +8000)

The RSM Classic DFS Value Plays

Mark Hubbard ($8,800 | +7000)

Hubbard is an ideal fit for these two courses. He's a short hitter (97th in distance) but a great iron player (4th) with a good overall short game (24th in combined strokes gained: around the green and putting).

He finished T20 at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship last week and has two more top-20s in the fall (T6 at the Sanderson Farms Championship and T17 at the Fortinet Championship).

Matthew NeSmith ($8,300 | +11000)

NeSmith is a name I target a lot because he's a good ball-striker (27th in combined strokes gained: off the tee and approach). He just isn't a great short-game player, which is why he's salaried this low in a field as weak as this one.

NeSmith, though, has finished top-30 here in three of five starts (with two missed cuts otherwise) and has two top-25s in the fall already. He's an upside play.

Others to Consider:

• Doug Ghim ($9,000 | +8000)
• Webb Simpson ($9,000 | +11000)
• Sam Ryder ($8,800 | +12000)

Looking to use your knowledge to build some daily fantasy golf lineups? Check out all of this week's contests over at FanDuel and all golf betting odds and markets at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.