2 weeks agoThe only thing separating the recent mundane finishes for J.T. Poston versus the strong start he had to his 2024 season is putting. He averaged 1.08 strokes gained putting over his first four events compared to a -0.016 average through his last three starts. Ball striking hasn't been anything to write home about, but he has stayed consistent all year with the irons and off the tee. Harbour Town is suited for Poston's strong mid/long iron game, as he is ranked 28th on the season in approach proximity between 175-200 yards (31' 8"), which has made up 28.3% of approach shots here since 2015. There is a potential for ownership leverage here with the recent dip in performance, and at $8,800, he is worth some consideration this week.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
2 weeks agoPatrick Cantlay has had an up-and-down, relatively quiet start to 2024, but his approach game might be coming around at just the right time. In six career starts at the RBC Heritage, the 32-year-old has placed seventh or better FIVE times, with one missed cut in 2021. Cantlay has been the runner-up once, and he's landed in third place three times. The only thing he hasn't done at Harbour Town Golf Links is donned the plaid jacket! A typically reliable ball-striker, the California native has struggled in the SG: Approach category of late, but he did show us at The Genesis and The Masters that he can turn it on at any time. It makes sense to project another strong iron showing from Cantlay here, but fantasy managers will have to pay a hefty price in the betting markets (16/1) and on DraftKings ($10,200) if they want to buy in this week.
--Tommy BellSource: PGA Tour
2 weeks agoAkshay Bhatia has done nothing but play stellar golf in the last four weeks. He's the hottest young player currently with top-of-the-charts ball-striking numbers -- ranking 12th in strokes gained on approach (0.630) and 16th in strokes gained off the tee (0.504). There isn't anything to dislike about how he's been playing, however, a freak dislocation of his shoulder that was made public after his win in Texas was perhaps a culprit of losing strokes (minus-0.95) with his irons at Augusta National, which was just the second time losing strokes on approach all season. It should also be noted that this will be the California native's fifth straight event, which has to be exhausting given the roller coaster of getting your second PGA Tour win and playing in your first Masters Tournament. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him near the lead again this week, but a digression from what he's produced lately would be completely understandable.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
2 weeks agoJake Knapp had a decent T55 finish at the Masters Tournament last week, and he is all set to continue his impressive 2024 season when he tees it up for the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links this week. Knapp has already won one tournament and three top-five finishes in his ten appearances this year. Although it is his first time at the RBC Heritage, Knapp has the skill set to tackle Harbour Town's unique challenges. It is worth noting that over the last 12 months, he ranks in the 75th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway; this is a crucial aspect as over 46% of approach shots were taken from this distance in last year's edition. Even though Knapp is a debutant this week, he could be a valuable consideration for DFS lineups.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
2 weeks agoNick Taylor missed his second cut of the year at the Masters Tournament last week. He only managed to gain strokes off the tee, whereas he lost strokes on approach for the first time in his ten appearances in 2024. However, Taylor will have a chance to bounce back this week when he tees it up in the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links. Taylor has had mixed results at this tournament, finishing T41 in 2023 but missing the cut in 2022 and 2021. Over the past 12 months, Taylor ranks in the 76th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway, showcasing his excellent iron play. Harbour Town should allow him to display his skills, as over 46% of approach shots were taken from 150-200 yards in last year's tournament. Although Taylor had a disappointing week last week, he could still be worth consideration for DFS lineups this week.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
2 weeks agoJustin Rose did not make the cut at the Masters Tournament last week, his third consecutive missed cut in 2024. He started the season with five successive made cuts and one top-15 finish. Despite gaining strokes with his putter in all but one of his appearances this year, Rose has struggled with his iron play and has lost strokes in every tournament except two. However, he hopes to regain his early season form this week at Harbour Town Golf Links for the RBC Heritage, where he has played well. He finished T25 in 2023 and T14 in 2020. It's worth mentioning that over the past 12 months, he ranks in the 89th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is significant because over 46% of approach shots were taken from this distance at last year's tournament. Although Rose has played well at this event, his recent form could make him a risky pick to include in DFS lineups this week.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
2 weeks agoSince being a bridesmaid at The Players Championship, Brian Harman has been in a rough stretch due to horrid iron play; losing an average of -1.29 strokes on approach over his last three starts. Inconsistency from tee to green has been his forte, although his outing at The Masters, where he lost -2.6 strokes with the irons, was his worst performance in nine months. Harman has a ton of history at Harbour Town going back to 2004 and tied his best finish here last season with a tie for seventh. He is still one of the best putters on the PGA Tour, and that tends to make up for a lot. However, even at $9,500 on FanDuel, playing him over the other guys around him is risky business that's hard to justify.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
2 weeks agoErik Van Rooyen had a disappointing T55 finish at last week's Masters Tournament despite firing a 71 in the opening round. Although he had missed two consecutive cuts before the Masters, he had three top-25 and two top-10 finishes earlier. He will tee it up in the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links this week, where he missed last year's cut. It's worth noting that Van Rooyen has ranked in the 76th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway over the past 12 months. Over 46% of approach shots at last year's tournament were taken from this distance, making this stat essential to remember. Although he has struggled with consistency recently, he could be a solid pick for DFS lineups this week, given that he could go overlooked.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
2 weeks agoJason Day is returning to Harbour Town Golf Links for this week's RBC Heritage after missing the cut in 2020. Day has had a decent start to the 2024 season, having missed only two cuts in nine appearances and securing three top-10 finishes. His putting and around-the-green play has been excellent, with him gaining strokes in both categories in all but two events. However, he has struggled with approach play at times this year, ranking in the eighth percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway since January 1, 2024. This is important to note because, at last year's RBC Heritage tournament, more than 46% of approach shots came from this range. While Day has been good with his putter and around the greens, his approach play may make him a risky choice for DFS lineups this week.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
2 weeks agoByeong Hun An ended his streak of consecutive missed cuts at the Masters Tournament last week, finishing T16. He will head to Hilton Head Island for this week's RBC Heritage. Before missing the cut in the Valero Texas Open and THE PLAYERS Championship, An had not missed a cut in 2024. This week, he will aim to continue his strong start to the year at Harbour Town Golf Links. An last appeared at the RBC Heritage in 2021, hoping to improve on his missed cut from that year. An's approach play has been impressive over the past 12 months. He ranks in the 72nd percentile for proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway, which is crucial because over 46% of approach shots at last year's RBC Heritage tournament came from this distance. With a strong 2024 season so far, An could be a valuable addition to DFS lineups this week.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
2 weeks agoHe may not be showing up on the first page of leaderboards, but Si Woo Kim is quietly putting together a nice season. He's 10 for 10 on made cuts including one Major and The Players Championship. Superb ball striking has been the main factor, as he ranks 11th on the season in strokes gained off the tee (0.564) and 27th in strokes gained on approach (0.504). The South Korean has a love/hate relationship with Harbour Town Golf Links, with a tie for second in 2018 as his best finish amongst a slew of missed cuts. However, he is playing well in all the right places this time around, so if he can get some putts to fall, we could be in for a big week.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
2 weeks agoThe wheels on the struggle bus remained firmly fixed to the road for Justin Thomas. He comes to Harbour Town, a place that has been kind to the two-time major winner, off the heels of a missed cut at The Masters; his second in the last three starts. Things with the putter have been abysmal, losing an average of -1.31 strokes on the greens over his past three starts and an average of -0.26 strokes off the tee over that same time. It will be refreshing for him to get back to a place where he has never missed the cut in five career starts and with the recent struggles, there should be an ownership leverage play here over the game's other big names. The floor is undeniably low, but if there was ever a week to take the risk, it's this week.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
2 weeks agoComing off a T7 at the Valero two weeks ago, and a share of third place last week at The Masters, Tommy Fleetwood is on a heater right now. He's gained an average of 1.2 strokes on approach over those two starts and nearly a stroke off the tee during that same span. He has an impeccable history around Harbour Town with a T10, T15, and a T25 in three of four career starts. Could this be the week Fleetwood finds paydirt on U.S. soil? There's a good chance many DFS players will be thinking the same, so if you can stomach the ownership, he is as solid a pick as there is at $10,800 on FanDuel
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
2 weeks agoPerhaps it's because of the fine he received for skipping this event last season, or maybe because of the rumors swirling since leaving Augusta National on Sunday that the once-staunch critic of LIV Golf was in talks to join the rival league. Either way, Rory McIlroy comes to this week's RBC Heritage with just as many questions off the golf course, as on it. From a ball-striking perspective, he is still as deadly as ever; gaining an average of 1.17 strokes on approach over his last three events. Though his strokes gained off the tee have slightly simmered since the start of the year. McIlroy's issues now are the same as they have been, which is his ability to make putts when it matters and to play smart enough golf to get him there. Success at Harbour Town usually demands both of those things, so for that reason, it's best to keep interest light for the Northern Irishman this week.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
2 weeks agoBrendon Todd has not won a tournament in 2024. However, the American golfer has made the cut in all but one event. Furthermore, he comes off a tied for fifth at the Valspar Championship. People forget he had a Top 10 at the Arnold Palmer too. Todd may be 38 but he is playing like it is 2019 once again (won two tournaments). Todd has approached 70% in terms of hitting the green in several events this year much like 2019. Furthermore, he ranks tenth in strokes gained for putting at 0.7. Simply, if Todd can be accurate with his driver and putter, the golfer thrives in conditions like those at the RBC Heritage.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
RADIO
