2020 RSM Classic betting odds, preview, and course notes

The RSM Classic doesn’t usually draw the strongest field, but with golf’s biggest names already in Georgia for last week’s Masters, some decided to stick around for this week’s Sea Island showdown.

Webb Simpson, who finished 10th in Augusta, will headline the RSM Classic as the +900 favorite. The No. 6 golfer in the world has been a frequent participant at the tournament, where he finished third in 2019 and fell to Tyler Duncan in a playoff last season.

Simpson was also runner-up in 2011, the year Ben Crane beat him in extra holes.

His accuracy off the tee and short game give him a leg up in St. Simons this weekend.

Sungjae Im eyes win after top 3 Masters finish

While Simpson is familiar with Sea Island Resort, Sungjae Im (a +1800 contender) has played it just once, when he landed 37th during the 2019 season.

The South Korean star finished second at last week’s Masters and should navigate Sea Island’s Plantation and Seaside courses well.

The 156-player field will complete a round on each course, Thursday and Friday, and the top 65 (and ties) who make the cut will play another two rounds on the Seaside course.

Both courses measure around 7,000 yards, and accuracy off the tee will play a larger factor than length.

Im is tied for 39th on the PGA Tour in accuracy off the tee and is 40th in fairways hit. He also ranks 57th in strokes gained approaching the green and 62nd in birdie or better percentage.

RSM Classic course layout

The RSM Classic is just one of four multi-course events of the season. The American Express, Farmers Insurance Open, and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am are the others.

The par-70 Seaside course includes 14 water hazards that come into play on 13 holes. The par-72, tree-lined Plantation layout features 10 water hazards across 10 holes.

Fast Bermuda greens cover both courses.

Players are tested by 12 par 4s, including 10 at 400-450 yards, on the Seaside course, plus four par 3s and two par 5s.

Golfers will see two additional par 5s on the Plantation course, 10 par 4s (with five at less than 400 yards), and four par 3s.

Players capable of low scores this weekend include Tyrrell Hatton (+1600), Russell Henley (+2200), and Matthew Fitzpatrick (+2800). Of the three, Hatton may have the best shot at a top 10 finish, as his putter has been working far better than Henley's or Fitzpatrick's.

Hatton missed the cut at the Masters last week, but he landed two top 10s in his three prior PGA Tour events.

Of the longshots, Doc Redman (+5000) is an enticing play, as he ranks 15th on the PGA Tour in par 4 efficiency from 400-450 yards and finished fourth at the Bermuda Championship, a course blanketed by Bermuda greens.    

Redman also posted third-place finishes at the Wyndham Championship in August and Safeway Open in September.

How to watch the RSM Classic 

You can follow along with all the action at this weekend’s RSM Classic on the Golf Channel, or stream the event on PGA Tour Live.

The winner of the tournament will receive $1.88 million of the $6.6 million purse and 500 FedEx Cup points.

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