The PGA TOUR heads into its final official event of 2024 as we take a trip to Sea Island for the RSM Classic. 

Last week we saw Raphael Campos bring home his first PGA win in Bermuda as a big underdog. Campos was as big as +25000 in the outright market before last week’s event began giving us the second huge longshot winner at that event in as many seasons after Camilo Villegas won in Bermuda the season prior at well above 100-1. 

2024 RSM Classic Betting Preview

The RSM Classic is a duel course event situated over on Sea Island off the coast of South Carolina. The 156-man field will take turns playing both the Sea Course and the Plantation Course once apiece over the first two days of this event before the top 65 and ties (after Friday) switch over exclusively to the Par 70 Sea Course, the tougher of the two venues.

Neither of the two courses in play (Plantation and Sea) is overly difficult but the Plantation course is more inland and wind-protected and plays as a shorter par 72, so going low on your round there is often crucial to putting together a big week.

As with many of these shorter seaside venues that we have on the PGA, the Sea Course is often vulnerable to prevailing winds. On calm days, this 7,005 par 70 is mostly a breeze for PGA pros as the rough on Sea Island is rarely grown out and the fairways and greens have been built on the generous side compared to some comparable venues, like Hilton Head or Pebble Beach. Last season in calm conditions the pros tore this place to shreds with Ludvig Aberg setting the event scoring record at 29-under par.

However, when the wind gets up this venue can put a big emphasis on short games and we have seen several putting and short-game specialists thrive at this venue over the seasons as a result.

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Winners of the RSM have been a mixed bag of sorts, but one thing we have seen is this event become a hot spot for first-time winners. Of the last 10 winners of the RSM, eight have been first-time PGA winners and most have come in with some extremely solid form they built up over the fall.

Last year’s champion, the now 5th ranked golfer in the world Ludvig Aberg, actually won an event over in Switzerland (Omega Masters) in September, and followed that win up with two more top-15 finishes on the PGA TOUR before winning at Sea Island.

In 2021, now LIV Golf member Talor Gooch, posted four top-12 finishes in the fall series on the PGA before running the table for a three-shot win at this event. 

The RSM hasn’t just seen favorites or mid-level golfers win, but even recent longshot winners like Mackenzie Hughes (2016) and Tyler Duncan (2019) showcased some kind of form over the fall before getting their maiden victory on Sea Island.

Regardless, it’s a good time to take a look back at the entirety of the fall series results and see who stands out, and who may have the right ingredients to make a run at this somewhat quirky event, played in what is likely to be heavier winds this season (see below).

(Sea Island forecast for Thursday and Friday, via Windfinder.com)

Here are the last three winners of the RSM Classic and their closing odds. 

• 2021 – Talor Gooch (+4000) -22 (winner over Mackenzie Hughes)
• 2022 – Adam Svensson (+8000) -19 (winner over 3 golfers)
• 2023 – Ludvig Aberg (+1200) -29 (winner over Mackenzie Hughes)

Betting Odds For The 2024 RSM Classic

2024 RSM Classic Top 10 names in betting odds (DraftKings):

Best Bets For The 2024 RSM Classic

Below are my favorite betting targets for the week. I’ve created an entire card you can peruse at the end and also added unit sizing for each play.

While I have a handful of outright plays I do like playing many of these names in the placing department, or as matchup plays as well. I’ve also included placing options for some names if you want exposure to both options (or only want to bet some players for a place).

For odds, I’ve also used the best options available at the time of writing so you know where to look and what to look for.

Additionally, if you can make each-way bets (win and place bets in one) then I’ve included that option for some players as well where the odds are relevant.

For more information on how each-way bets work, you can click here. 

Si Woo Kim Outright (+3000; bet365)

Kim is the typical short-course specialist who thrives in these lower-scoring events. He’s grabbed wins at TPC Stadium, Waialae Country Club, TPC Sawgrass, and Sedgefield CC, while also bagging top-five finishes at Pebble Beach and Hilton Head. 

His record at Sea Island is curiously lacking in top finishes in five career starts with a T18 back in 2015 (his debut at this event) still representing his best overall effort. Kim has certainly been guilty of coming into this event ill-prepared in the past but that doesn’t seem like it will be the case this season. He’s fresh off a T6 effort from the Zozo Championship in Japan a few weeks ago and also landed a T18 finish at the BMW PGA event in England in September.

Kim also needs a good result to end his season. He’s currently ranked 55th in the OWGR and right now is sitting without a Masters invite for 2025. He’ll have other opportunities to rectify that issue before April but a win here would jump him back into the top 50 and get him an automatic spot in the first major as the top 50 in the OWGR as of Jan 1, 2025, automatically qualify for Augusta.

Regardless, with his odds sitting as big as +3000 (bet365) the four-time PGA winner is simply too big in this field for me to pass up.

Eric Cole Each-Way 1/5 Top 8 (+3500; bet365)

I bet Cole at this event last season and while it was nice to cash the placing portion of the bet, it was a little frustrating to see him get left behind by the superior Abreg.

This season does set up a little differently. Cole is playing well, having grabbed a T6 at the Zozo Championship in his last start, while Aberg has taken the entire fall off to rest. Cole’s fall season does have a couple of blemishes on it with missed cuts at the Shriners and Procore, but he’s also showcased a very in-form long game by gaining 10.0 strokes on approach in a T16 finish at the Sanderson Farms in October.

Overall, the 36-year-old has proven to be a great each-way target at these shorter, par 70 courses. On top of his playoff loss at PGA National a couple of seasons ago he’s also gained top-eight finishes here at Sea Island and Sedgefield CC, home of the Wyndham Championship.

A true birdie-maker who comes in ranked fourth in opportunities gained over the last 24 rounds, and with a couple of very promising fall results under his bag, he’s also the ideal kind of first-time winner we’ve seen triumph at this event, season, over season. As long as his number stays above +3500, he’s a solid each-way candidate for me again in 2024.

RSM Classic Longshots and Placement Bets 

Taylor Moore +6600 Each-Way 1/5 Top-8 (+6600; bet365)

• Top 20 (+300; bet365)

This will be Moore’s fifth start of the fall series so like many of the past winners at Sea Island, he’s got a nice resume of fall starts to look back on. While he did miss the cut in Mexico in his last event, his T11 at the Zozo before that stands out as a very promising result and a better indicator of where his game is likely at.

In Japan, Moore couldn’t sink enough putts to contend, but he struck the ball nicely and certainly will welcome the move to this part of the world, and South Carolina in general. His first and only PGA win came last season at the nearby Copperhead venue (home of the Valspar Championship) another course that features Bermuda greens and plenty of water. He’s also played the Sea Island course in competition as an amateur and finished T8 at Sea Island on his debut at this event back in 2021.

Now coming in with a win under his belt and some solid fall form, I don’t see why he should be twice as big in the odds as several other comparable players–many of whom have yet to close out a PGA event on a Sunday. He’s good for me as an each-way down to +6000, and a nice top 20 target given his form and familiarity with the venue.

Daniel Berger Outright (+9000; FanDuel)

• Top 10 (+750; FanDuel)

Berger was in the top 10 in betting odds going into last week, so just the fact that we can now get him as big as +9000 in the outright market seems like a massive overreaction. 

The American has been a little up and down this fall, but his T7 from the Sanderson Farms, where he gained strokes against the field in every major category, stands out as a good indicator that his game is close to peaking again.

If we are to see Berger take another step up, this week’s venue will likely be the spot. A Par 70 specialist who has grabbed wins at other seaside and wind-exposed venues like Pebble Beach and TPC Southwind, Berger should relish the Sea Island tests, which he last played in 2014 as a fresh-faced rookie on TOUR.

The fact he finished T22 at this event that season showcases a venue that is likely a very good fit for Berger, who was an easy add at the current prices and a player we should have no issues betting on in these sorts of weaker-field events while his odds remain this inflated.

Bud Cauley +11000 Each-Way 1/5 Top-8 (+11000; bet365)

I’ll save my final spot this week for another player who fits Sea Island nicely and has shown some progression this fall already, in Bud Cauley. 

Cauley’s short iron game has always been a strength, a fact magnified by some of his best results on the PGA, including two top-five finishes at the Amex (2017 and 2020), and similar results at both Sedgefield (T3 - 2012) and the Greenbrier (T4- 2014).

The 34-year-old is still working his way back from a major injury layoff but has flashed better upside since the start of the fall swing. On top of his T5 finish at the Sanderson Farms in October (his best result on the PGA since the 2020 Amex) Cauley also landed a T34 at the Shriners in his last start, gaining an eye-catching 4.8 strokes on approach that week.

While he’d be an unlikely winner, the course fit here doesn't get much better for a player who is disadvantaged off the tee but can make up a lot of strokes with his short irons and short game on the right track/conditions. Like some recent RSM surprise winners in Tyler Duncan and Robert Streb, Cauley comes in with big odds and some under-the-radar form from the fall, which can hopefully propel him to another big week and potential big cash in this year’s final PGA start.

Betting Card For The 2024 RSM Classic

• Si Woo Kim +3000 0.7u
• Eric Cole +3500 EW-8 .55/.55
• Taylor Moore +6600 EW-8 0.35u/0.35u 
• Daniel Berger +9000 0.2u | Top 10 +750 0.8u
• Bud Cauley +11000 EW-8 0.25u/0.25u