The Masters comedown is somewhat mitigated this week with the time-honoured RBC Heritage being given elevated status meaning much of the field has made the trip from Augusta to Hilton Head including Masters champion Scottie Scheffler.
Key Stats/Skill Set Required
- Scrambling
- Strokes Gained: Putting
- Putting Average
- Bogey Avoidance
- GIR
- Proximity
- Strokes Gained: Tee To Green
- Birdie or Better
- Driving Accuracy
Harbour Town is a ball striker’s course with the key characteristic of the course being the small, fast greens.
Finding greens and the right part of the fairways is essential, and the small greens also mean scrambling is prized more than any other statistic.
Key Correlation Courses/Tournaments
- Sea Island
- Sedgefield
- TPC Sawgrass
- Pete Dye Stadium Course
- TPC River Highlands
- Kiawah Island
BEST BET
LUDVIG ABERG
The future is bright for Ludvig Aberg, who has to be having one of the most unique starts to a professional career in the history of the game.
After making his Ryder Cup debut less than three months into his pro career, he finished second at Augusta in his major debut.
Even though contenders at Augusta tend to struggle here, it is hard to think Aberg won’t go on with it.
He won the top correlation tournament for this event, the 2023 RSM Classic, and has Top 25 finishes at The Players, Travelers and Wyndham.
There is no doubt that he is an elite talent in great form and he clearly loves a Pete Dye course.
BEST VALUE
WYNDHAM CLARK
Wyndham Clark looked to be right in contention at The Masters after a quality opening round but after an unnecessary drive-by on Bryson DeChambeau, he failed to make the cut.
This is a course that should suit him perfectly though.
Clark ranks Top 15 in Birdie or Better, Strokes Gained: Tee To Green, GIR, Putting Average and Strokes Gained: Putting.
Despite all of that, he looks to be a big price once more.
CHRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT
Uber-consistent South African Christian Bezuidenhout has won on the DP World Tour and come close on the PGA Tour and absolutely contends here.
His true strokes gained is at it highest career point and he has nine Top 25s in 14 tournaments including five Top 10s since October last year.
Ranks 4th in Putting Average 5th in Proximity, 10th in Bogey Avoidance and 14th in Scrambling.
In all three of his starts here he has finished Top 33.
BEST ROUGHIES
LUCAS GLOVER
Lucas Glover has been a regular at Harbour Town for a long time and has six Top 33 finishes over the last decade.
He claimed the Wyndham Classic last year with a huge push and currently ranks 6th in Driving Accuracy, 8th in Proximity and 9th in Strokes Gained: Tee To Green.
Finished Top 25 in his last three tournaments including an outstanding T-20 at Augusta.
TOM HOGE
Hoge is an outstanding ball striker who looks well suited here.
He leads the Tour in Proximity while he ranks 6th in Birdie or Better, 13th in Putting Average and 14th in GIR.
Despite a less than great record here, he is fresh looks well over the odds.
TOP CANADIAN
COREY CONNERS
There is a strong Canadian contingent in this one but sticking with the elite Corey Conners who loves it here.
He has finished Top 31 here the last four years with two Top 12s in that run and his ball striking makes him a great bet here.
TOP IRISH
SHANE LOWRY
Very keen to lay Rory McIlroy as he is severe unders.
Those rumours that he is off to LIV will no doubt hover over him this weekend and his form has been way down.
Lowry looks a nice bet off making the cut in Augusta.