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PGA Tour Fantasy Golf: RSM Classic FanDuel Preview and Player Selections

By Hans Geevers

BLAINE, MINNESOTA - JULY 04: Brian Gay of the United States plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities on July 04, 2019 in Blaine, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
BLAINE, MINNESOTA - JULY 04: Brian Gay of the United States plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities on July 04, 2019 in Blaine, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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This week, the PGA Tour travels to Sea Island, Georgia for the RSM Classic. The Fanduel/DFS community will be presented with a quality field of talent. Let’s take a look at this golf tournament from a fantasy perspective!

Before I dive into my player picks, let’s discuss this tournament’s unique format, briefly touch on the the two golf courses the field will contend with this week and discuss my key statistics for this event.

In 2015, the RSM Classic began using a two golf course format at the Sea Island Golf Club. The 156 player man field will play 18 holes on the Plantation course and the Seaside course in the opening two rounds of play. After the first two rounds are complete, the field will be cut to the top 65 and ties. The remaining golfers will play the final 36 holes of the tournament on the  Seaside course.

The Plantation course is a par 72 that measures 7,058 yards. This track is by far the easiest of the two tracks. The Seaside course on the other hand is a much more difficult golf course. As the name suggests, the Seaside course is a coastal track that is much more exposed to the elements. I should also note that Seaside course is a par 70 that measures 7,005 yards.

Due to the fact that three of the four rounds of the RSM Classic will be played at the Seaside course, I think identifying golfers that have a history of performing well on coastal tracks is highly important if you hope to compose a lineup that will win a FanDuel contest this week.

The key statistics I will be focusing on this week are birdie average, strokes gained approach, scrambling, and putts per GIR.

Let’s shift our focus to my FanDuel player selections for the RSM Classic!

Brian Gay $10,000

I mentioned previously in this article that finding golfers for your FanDuel lineups that perform at a very high level on coastal tracks was a smart play this week. Well, I think I have found a golfer that certainly fits that narrative and his name is Brian Gay.

Gay has clearly been playing some outstanding golf over the last few months. Let’s take a quick look at Gay’s recent tournament play.

Mr. Gay opened the new season by playing six golf tournaments. Brian made the cut in all six PGA Tour events that he competed in to start the new season. More importantly, Gay has produced some outstanding results in that six event span.

Gay finished 23rd at the Safeway Open in September, he followed up that quality result with a seventh place finish at the Shriners Hospitals For Children Open in October, he than finished third at the Bermuda Championship, and finally he finished 14th at last week’s Mayakoba Classic.

When it comes to current statistics, Brian Gay certainly checks that box for me as well. Let’s look at a few of his current statistical rankings among his peers on the PGA Tour in what I consider to be important statistical categories for success at the RSM Classic. He currently ranks sixth in total birdies (114), 17th in birdie average (4.75), and 22nd in total scrambling (71.20) on the PGA Tour.

I also like the following players to possibly top 20 this week.

Harry Higgs $9,600

Although Higgs has never played in the RSM Classic, I still like his chances this week. I think this coastal golf course fits Harry’s game. The PGA Tour rookie also has shown that he can perform at a high level on the PGA Tour. An illustration of that ability to perform was Harry’s second place finish at the Bermuda Championship last month.

Brian Stuard $9,600

Stuard has made six consecutive cuts on the PGA Tour. More importantly, he has four top 30 finishes in that six tournament time frame. Brian’s best finish of the new season was a fourth place result at the Shriners Hospitals For Children Open in October. Stuard also has shown that he can perform on the Seaside course. He finished 22nd at the 2017 RSM Classic.

David Hearn $9,000

The 40 year old Canadian has three consecutive top 17 finishes at the RSM Classic, including a 15th place finish in last year’s event. Additionally, Hearn arrives at this event in decent form. He finished eighth at the Bermuda Championship in October.

Henrik Norlander $7,500

Henrik began the new season with four missed cuts. He appears to have turned the corner as Norlander now has made three consecutive cuts on the PGA Tour, including a 28th place finish at the Bermuda Championship. Yes, I know the initial missed cuts to start the season are a concern. However, you are getting Henrik at a FanDuel value price of only $7,500. He is a definite risk/reward DFS play this week.

If you have any comments or player questions feel free to contact me on Twitter at @geeversgolf.

Good luck and enjoy the RSM Classic!

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