RSM Classic PGA Power Rankings: Top 10 Golfers To Watch This Week

November 18, 2024

TourPicks ranks his top-10 PGA Tour players to watch for at the 2024 RSM Classic. Insights on the top-10 golfers for the week and reasons why they are primed and ready to win.

There is plenty to play for in the final PGA Tour tournament of 2024 as players descend onto Sea Island this week to take on the Seaside and Plantation courses for the 2024 RSM Classic. Several big names are making their first appearance of the Fall swing, while others continue the grind hoping to secure their entry and status for the 2025 season.

As always, my primary goal with this article is to give you a place to start your research and preparation for the upcoming week. I have carefully evaluated the field-to-project proper course fits and looked heavily into how players' incoming form has been in the categories that matter the most here. Without further ado, Here are my top 10 Power Rankings for the 2024 Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

No. 10 - Doug Ghim

Doug Ghim continues his strong campaign during the fall swing this week for the RSM Classic. He got wiped out by the treacherous winds last week in Bermuda but before that, he had been on a tear this Fall. He's statistically one of the best players in the field in terms of SG: Approach, which he'll need to rely on this week to give himself ample looks at birdie.

His course history here is not particularly strong, but he did finish T18 back in 2020. He seems to elevate his game on shorter golf courses like we have this week because his wedges are insanely precise at the moment. He's the number one ranked player in the field from 125-175 yards. As always, he needs a good putting week which is hard to predict, but Ghim checks all the other boxes. It's a big-time rebound week for Ghim in Sea Island.

Just woke up, no need for ☕. I'll just stare at the caffeinated chaos Doug Ghim has cooked up in his first 13 holes 🤪

cc: @shanebacon pic.twitter.com/XewfRNxQMO

— Byron Lindeque (@TheModelManiac) November 14, 2024

No. 9 - J.J. Spaun

Speaking of players who have made hay this Fall, J.J. Spain has also earned himself a ton of valuable FedEx Cup points and dollars during the past three months. Also like Ghim, Spaun is dialed in with his shorter irons and we see a large uptick in his performances on shorter golf courses where he can accentuate his strengths and wedge-play.

Spaun has played in this event in three consecutive seasons, finishing 16th or better in all three tournaments. He's in much better form heading into this week and will be eagerly looking to capitalize and find his victory to secure his PGA Tour card long-term.

No. 8 - J.T. Poston

From J.J. to J.T.. Get ready to hear the words "Sea Island Mafia" more than enough times the week, but with some good reason. This course boasts a massive amount of PGA Tour pros as they have a world-renowned practice facility and many will call this place home during the offseason. J.T. Poston is one of those guys.

I should also mention that he won his last start. That's the stuff that really matters. Poston was able to hold off Ghim down the stretch to win the Shriners Open a few weeks ago where he putted amazingly on the tricky Bermudagrass greens which show many similarities this week. Statistically, besides the win, Poston has been iffy. That said, he's ultimately a guy you can trust in contention if he gets there on a Sunday afternoon on the coast.

“If you’re going to win a golf tournament, Vegas is a pretty good spot to do it.”

JT Poston had a hell of an after party for his Shriners win.

Presented by @Chevrolet #Ad pic.twitter.com/k3NrLh8grd

— Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) October 24, 2024

No. 7 - Luke Clanton

If you are looking for a player who can completely dismantle this golf course like the way that Ludvig Aberg did last year, Luke Clanton just may be your guy. He hits the ball incredibly long and straight and has shown the ability in his young career to be extremely proficient with his short irons which is a trait that many power players often struggle with.

Clanton is the number one ranked player in the field in birdie-or-better percentage over the past 24 rounds played. He can write circles on the card in bunches and he should be able to really leverage his distance for low scores on the Plantation course in particular. He needs to start out hot on Thursday, but he's the type of player that can keep the gas pedal down and separate from the field.

No. 6. Eric Cole

This course is a perfect fit for Eric Cole. He loves bermudagrass greens and plays his best golf on shorter golf courses that give him a little bit of room off the tee. Welcome to Sea Island Mr. Cole. He's the number one ranked player in strokes gained on short courses over the past 30 rounds played.

He should also have some extra confidence this week coming off a T6 performance at the ZOZO Championship a few weeks ago. Cole also finished in a tie for third place at this event last season. This week presents a great opportunity for Cole to break through before the start of next season and he appears to be primed to capitalize on his chances.

No. 5 - Denny McCarthy

My guy Denny McCarthy checks in at #5 this week in my Power Rankings and I'm excited to see him tee it up one last time in 2024. I spoke with McCarthy on my podcast "Preferred Lines" and he told me that this is one of his favorite tournaments on the schedule, so I had a good feeling we would see him in the field this week.

He's been a stud here. McCarthy has three top-ten finishes in the last five years at this event, which includes a T5 in 2023. I'm a bit nervous that it's been such a long layoff from Tour-level competitive golf, but if he can get it rolling on these Bermuda greens it can cover up so many of deficiencies. I'd love nothing more that to see him win this week! Let's go!

No. 4 - Ben Griffin

While McCarthy has zero reps this Fall, Ben Griffin has been putting in work! He has recently been one of the best iron players on the PGA Tour, and he has always been extremely reliable on and around the greens. He was knocking at the door again last week in Bermuda and it feels like only a matter of time before he lifts a trophy on Sunday.

Griffin has had two very solid appearances at the RSM Classic in the past two years including a T8 result in 2023. If he finds the fairways, which he should be able to do on these golf courses with the natural width, Griffin should easily find himself once again on a Sunday afternoon with a great chance to get his maiden victory and secure his Tour card moving forward.

No. 3 - Davis Thompson

I was excited to bet Davis Thompson at this event in 2022 and 2023. He has a lot of ties to this area and seems like a great fit for success on this golf course, but the results just haven't been there. He finished a measly T53 last year after missing the cut in the previous three editions of this tournament. It's quite strange to say the least.

I think Thompson is poised to have a breakout year and become a potential budding star on the PGA Tour in 2025. He possesses effortless power and showed a ton of moxy down the stretch in several events, culminating in his runaway win at the John Deere Classic earlier this summer. 2025 is his year, but will it be his week in Sea Island?

No. 2 - Si Woo Kim

One of the stars of this year's President's Cup was undoubtedly Si Woo Kim who looks to be an ideal course fit for the RSM Classic this week as well. He checks a ton of boxes in terms of form. Kim played great Montreal and then backed it up with another solid performance when he finished T6 at the ZOZO Championship.

Here is the thing about Si Woo Kim...you want to consider backing him on short Bermuda grass courses. All four of his PGA Tour wins have come on these setups, and we have another set of courses this week in play that are right up his alley. He's aggressive which I love in the outright market, and I think he brings a ton of value in the 25/1 range this week. I've already seen some big names in the space backing him.

No. 1 - Ludvig Aberg

After nearly two months off due to injury, the defending champion of the RSM Classic is back and ready to defend his title this week in Sea Island. Following the Tour Championship, Ludvig Aberg underwent a relatively minor knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus that had been bothering since the spring, when he injured it just after the Masters.

Am I concerned about rust? Yes, but he's still far and away the most talented golfer in the field. Given his ceiling performance level and his course history from last year, there was no other choice than to put Aberg in the #1 spot in my Power Rankings this week. Smooth swinging Luddy is back baby!

It's been two months since we last saw Ludvig Aberg in competition play but, at the RSM Classic, the Swede is set to return following knee surgeryhttps://t.co/bxPUJdlkqG

— Golf Monthly (@GolfMonthly) November 16, 2024

Enjoy the RSM Classic and thanks for reading! Good luck, RotoBaller family!

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