RSM Classic 2025 Picks, Best Bets and Golf Odds

RSM Classic 2025 Picks, Best Bets and Golf Odds:

In his 243rd start, Adam Schenk broke through for his first PGA TOUR victory, surviving blustery conditions to win the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at 12-under par and win by one stroke over Chandler Phillips. Our nearest pursuer Vince Whaley finished T-3 along with Alex Smalley, Frankie Capan III, and Max McGreevy. 

Schenk, a 100/1 pre-tournament price, came to Bermuda sitting at No. 134 in the FedExCup standings with not even conditional status guaranteed next year for the PGA TOUR. He now sits 67th in the FedExCup and about 57 points outside the bubble for the Aon Next 10 and earns a two-year PGA exemption plus spots in the PGA and PLAYERS Championships. 

This week is the last chance for players to move up and ensure their 2026 PGA TOUR status in the season finale at the RSM Classic in Sea Island, GA. 

Harris English (22/1) is not one of the players fighting for any spots as he is fully exempt into everything next year. However, he is one of the multitude of PGA TOUR players who reside on Sea Island and would love to win a home game this week. 

Some other Sea Island residents in the field this week include Brian Harman (28/1), J.T. Poston (30/1), Davis Thompson (45/1), Matt Kuchar (50/1), and Andrew Novak (66/1), amongst others.

Michael Thoirbjornsen (25/1), Si Woo Kim (25/1), Denny McCarthy (30/1), Rico Hoey (30/1), and Thorbjørn Olesen (35/1), one of the players currently on the right side of the Top 100 bubble at No. 96, are also looking for a victory to end 2025. 

The Event

The RSM Classic debuted in October 2010 as the McGladrey Classic and has been a permanent fixture on the PGA TOUR’s fall event schedule ever since. The tournament is organized by the Davis Love Foundation as DL3 is a resident pro of the Sea Island Golf Club, which hosts the event every year. In 2015, the event began being played on both Sea Island Golf Club courses – Seaside and Plantation. 

Numerous PGA TOUR players call Sea Island their home, including J.T. Poston, Brian Harman, Harris English, Patton Kizzire, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Keith Mitchell, Andrew Novak, Garrick Higgo, Ben Griffin, Greyson Sigg, Davis Thompson, and Michael Thompson.

The Field

The RSM Classic, the final event of the 2025 PGA TOUR season, is the last opportunity for players to secure Top 100 status, which gives players access to all Full-Field Events and THE PLAYERS Championship next season. Players finishing between Nos. 101-150, unless otherwise exempt, will have conditional status and be broken into three different categories on the Priority Ranking: 101-110, 111-125, and 126-150. These three categories will have varying levels of access to Full-Field Events. Additionally, these players will be exempt on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Players between Nos. 95-110 in the FedExCup Fall standings entering the week who are in the field: Ryo Hisatsune (No. 95), Thorbjørn Olesen (No. 96), Danny Walker (No. 97), Michael Brennan (No. 98), Takumi Kanaya (No. 99), Karl Vilips (No. 100), Matt Wallace (No. 102), Beau Hossler (No. 103), Isaiah Salinda (No. 104), David Lipsky (No. 105), Victor Perez (No. 108), Patrick Fishburn (No. 109), Pierceson Coody (No. 110). Brennan and Vilips are exempt as tournament winners.

Three players moved inside the top 100 following the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, including winner Adam Schenk (No. 134 to No. 67), Chandler Phillips (second/No. 139 to No. 92) and Takumi Kanaya (T3/No. 120 to No. 99). Entering the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at No. 100 in the FedExCup Fall standings, Max McGreevy finished T3 to move to No. 89.

The Aon Next 10 is an eligibility pathway to earn access into Signature Events, recognizing the top 10 players, not otherwise exempt, from the FedExCup standings. Nos. 51-60 in the final FedExCup Fall standings at the conclusion of The RSM Classic will serve as the Aon Next 10 for the first two Signature Events in 2026: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational.

Three of the 10 players currently in the Aon Next 10 are in the field: Chris Kirk (No. 54), Rico Hoey (No. 57) and Jake Knapp (No. 59).

Seven of the players between Nos. 61-70 are in the field: Nico Echavarria (No. 62), Patrick Rodgers (No. 63), Joe Highsmith (No. 65), Stephan Jaeger (No. 66), Adam Schenk (No. 67), Mackenzie Hughes (No. 69) and Steven Fisk (No. 70).

The Courses

The RSM Classic is played on two different courses. The Sea Island Plantation Course will be played in either the first or second rounds by all players. It was originally designed in 1928 by Walter Travis and redesigned in 1998 before a group led by Davis Love III and Mark Love restored it in 2019. This course plays as a Par 72 of 7,060 yards and has tight, undulating Bermuda fairways into smallish (6,100 sq ft) and slow (11 ft stimpmeter) Bermuda greens. With Love’s design input, this course does have some similarities to Harbour Town Golf Links (RBC Heritage), where DL 3 won five times in his career. The Plantation Course is a tree-lined parklands and rated as the 6th shortest course on the PGA TOUR last year. The average score was 70.80 last year as it played tougher due to windy conditions last year.

Comparable courses to the Sea Island Plantation Course include Waialae, Torrey Pines North, Detroit GC, Keene Trace, Silverado, Sherwood, and TPC Deere Run. 

The Sea Island Seaside Course will be played in three of the four rounds. The legendary team of Harry Colt and Hugh Alison first designed this track in 1928 before Tom Fazio re-designed it in 1998. The Seaside Course is around the same length at 7,005 yards but only plays as a Par 70. The fairways have an average width of 42.5 yards, which are the 4th widest on TOUR. The greens are larger on this layout though at 7,200 average sq ft (7th largest on TOUR) but will be much faster (13 stimpmeter) than the Plantation Course. Like its counterpart, the tees and fairways are a Bermuda and Paspalum mix, and the greens are TifEagle Bermuda. The Seaside Course is a bit more of a coastal and links style layout where wind can play more of a factor. With it being a coastal design, there is a lot of water here with 13 water danger holes, 3rd most on TOUR. Seaside played to an average score of 70.02 due to windy conditions last year.

Comparable courses include coastal courses like Waialae, Port Royal, El Camaleon, and Monterrey Peninsula. Others based on similar length include PGA National, Innisbrook, TPC River Highlands, Sedgefield, and Silverado.

Weather

The AccuWeather forecast indicates that wind will not be near the factor it was for last year’s event. More than likely, the winning score should be 20-under par or better. 

RSM Classic Recent History
2024: Maverick McNealy (-16/266); 35/1
2023: Ludvig Åberg (-29/253); 12/1
2022: Adam Svensson (-19/263); 150/1
2021: Talor Gooch (-22/260); 40/1
2020: Robert Streb (-19/263); 350/1*
2019: Tyler Duncan (-19/263); 200/1**
2018: Charles Howell III (-19/263); 50/1***
2017: Austin Cook (-21/261); 90/1
2016: Mackenzie Hughes (-17/265); 250/1****
2015: Kevin Kisner (-22/260); 22/1
2014: Robert Streb (-14/266); 75/1*****
2013: Chris Kirk (-14/266); 50/1
2012: Tommy Gainey (-16/264); 200/1
2011: Ben Crane (-15/265); 66/1******
2010: Heath Slocum (-14/266); 50/1

Playoff win over Kevin Kisner – *
Playoff win over Webb Simpson – **
Playoff win over Patrick Rodgers – ***
Playoff win over Blayne Barber, Billy Horschel, Henrik Norlander, and Camilo Villegas – ****
Playoff win over Brendon de Jonge & Will MacKenzie – *****
Playoff win over Webb Simpson – ******

Trends & Angles

• 11 of the last 13 RSM Classic winners were aged 33 or younger. 
• 10 of the last 13 RSM Classic winners were first-time PGA TOUR winners. 
• 5 of the last 5 RSM Classic winners played in at least three fall events before their wins. 

Statistical Analysis

While the greens are massive, particularly on the Seaside Course, the players are exposed to highly windy conditions, so they will have to be sharp with the irons.

Strokes Gained: Approach – Average Per Round (2025 PGA TOUR season)

1. Rico Hoey 0.657
2. Ben Kohles 0.642
3. Henrik Norlander 0.639
4. Daniel Berger 0.524
5. Doug Ghim 0.521
6. Sami Valimaki 0.505
7. Antoine Rozner 0.488
8. Victor Perez 0.479
9. Ryan Gerard 0.467
10. Zac Blair 0.433
11. Greyson Sigg 0.427
12. Lee Hodges 0.425
13. Si Woo Kim 0.423
14. Bud Cauley 0.411
15. Joseph Bramlett 0.370
16. Thomas Rosenmueller 0.366
17. Mac Meissner 0.347
18. Andrew Putnam 0.347
19. Chris Kirk 0.330

The plurality of approaches will be anywhere from 100-175 yards, so we can examine the proximity to the hole buckets here.

Average Proximity Gained to the Hole 100-125 Yards – Feet Gained Per Round (Last 50 Rounds)

1. Bud Cauley 10.52
2. Seamus Power 7.61
3. Greyson Sigg 7.34
4. Patrick Rodgers 5.88
5. Thomas Rosenmueller 5.67 (47 Rounds)
6. Kevin Streelman 5.58
7. Adam Svensson 5.51
8. Jacob Bridgeman 5.34
9. Quade Cummins 5.15
10. Vince Covello 5.03 (39 Rounds)
11. Ben Kohles 4.93
12. Tom Hoge 4.46
13. Paul Peterson 4.37 (49 Rounds)
14. Lee Hodges 4.32
15. Zach Johnson 4.26
16. Adam Hadwin 4.17

Average Proximity Gained to the Hole 125-150 Yards – Feet Gained Per Round (Last 50 Rounds)

1. Michael Brennan 13.44 (8 Rounds)
2. Seamus Power 9.51
3. David Ford 7.66 (31 Rounds)
4. Lee Hodges 6.92
5. Mac Meissner 5.84
6. Camilo Villegas 5.56
7. Greyson Sigg 5.55
8. Kevin Velo 5.49 (42 Rounds)
9. Joel Dahmen 5.39
10. Davis Thompson 4.83
11. Jason Dufner 4.42
12. Chandler Phillips 3.88
13. Austin Eckroat 3.79
14. Stephan Jaeger 3.40
15. Chris Kirk 3.21
16. Tom Hoge 3.19
17. Andrew Putnam 3.16
18. Doug Ghim 3.01

Average Proximity to the Hole Gained – 150 to 175 Yards – Feet Gained Per Round (Last 50 Rounds)

1. Ben Kohles 11.18
2. Davis Thompson 10.70
3. Daniel Berger 7.75
4. Jason Dufner 7.72
5. Sam Ryder 7.49
6. Rico Hoey 7.45
7. Karl Vilips 7.32
8. Tom Hoge 7.22
9. Thomas Rosenmueller 7.11 (47 Rounds)
10. Ben Silverman 6.05
11. Sami Valimaki 5.75
12. Robby Shelton 5.71
13. Harrison Endycott 5.43
14. Ryan Gerard 5.24
15. Brice Garnett 5.04

With two courses barely over 7000 yards, players can “club down” and not use many drivers off the tee.

Strokes Gained: Off-The-Tee – Short Courses – Average Per Round (Last 50 Rounds)

1. Cameron Champ 0.86
2. Keith Mitchell 0.83
3. Rico Hoey 0.64 (41 Rounds)
4. Daniel Berger 0.63
5. Steven Fisk 0.61 (17 Rounds)
6. Austin Eckroat 0.60
7. Si Woo Kim 0.51
8. Trevor Cone 0.50 (37 Rounds)
9. Patrick Fishburn 0.50 (34 Rounds)
10. Tyler Duncan 0.45
11. Doug Ghim 0.44
12. Ricky Castillo 0.44 (14 Rounds)
13. Brian Harman 0.43
14. Taylor Moore 0.43
15. Sam Stevens 0.41
16. Luke Clanton 0.41 (24 Rounds)
17. Hayden Buckley 0.39
18. Carson Young 0.38
19. Chris Kirk 0.37
20. Alex Smalley 0.37

When the wind does not blow much, this event can be a birdie-fest where the winning score is better than 20-under par.

Birdie Or Better Percentage (2025 PGA TOUR season)

1. Pierceson Coody 25.93%
2. Keith Mitchell 25.28
3. Jake Knapp 25.25
4. Michael Thorbjornsen 25.18
5. Jesper Svensson 24.58
6. Taylor Montgomery 24.39
7. Hayden Springer 24.37
8. Rico Hoey 24.25
9. Danny Walker 24.13
10. Alex Smalley 24.12
11. Joseph Bramlett 23.74
12. Isaiah Salinda 23.71
13. Rikuya Hoshino 23.67
14. Davis Thompson 23.51
15. Nico Echavarria 23.40
16. Trey Mullinax 23.40
17. Sami Valimaki 23.32
18. Niklas Norgaard 23.25
19. Karl Vilips 23.08
20. Kris Ventura 23.06
21. Stephan Jaeger 23.05

10 of the 12 Par 4s on the Seaside Course measure between 400-450 yards.

Strokes Gained Par 4s 400-450 Yards (Last 50 Rounds)

1. Patrick Fishburn 26.9
2. Matt Wallace 25.6
3. Victor Perez 25
4. Mark Hubbard 19.2
5. Sam Ryder 18.5
6. Chris Kirk 18.3
7. Keith Mitchell 17.9
8. Quade Cummins 16.1
9. Rico Hoey 16
10. Trey Mullinax 15.3
11. Noah Goodwin 15
12. Taylor Montgomery 14.4
13. Jake Knapp 13.9
14. Mackenzie Hughes 13.3
15. Kevin Roy 12.7
16. Davis Riley 11.8
17. Denny McCarthy 10.9
18. Brian Harman 10.6
19. Andrew Novak 10.3
20. Daniel Berger 10.2
21. Byeong Hun An 10.1

Eventually, this event turns into a putting contest, and we can examine the best putters on Bermuda grass.

Strokes Gained Putting – Average Per Round – Bermuda Greens (Last 50 Rounds)

1. Taylor Montgomery 1.01
2. Nico Echavarria 0.82
3. Frankie Capan III 0.80 (28 Rounds)
4. Denny McCarthy 0.76
5. Braden Thornberry 0.76 (31 Rounds)
6. Beau Hossler 0.65
7. Matt Kuchar 0.56
8. Mackenzie Hughes 0.55
9. Gordon Sargent 0.52 (12 Rounds)
10. Jacob Bridgeman 0.51
11. Davis Riley 0.46
12. Andrew Putnam 0.39
13. Chesson Hadley 0.38
14. Brendon Todd 0.38
15. Vince Whaley 0.38
16. Matthew Riedel 0.36 (18 Rounds)
17. Danny Walker 0.34 (18 Rounds)
18. Patrick Rodgers 0.33
19. Chad Ramey 0.32
20. Matthew NeSmith 0.31

Both courses here at Sea Island are on the shorter side. 

Strokes Gained: Short Courses – < 7200 yards – Average Per Round (Last 50 Rounds)

1. Brian Harman 0.96
2. Austin Eckroat 0.95
3. Patrick Fishburn 0.93 (34 Rounds)
4. J.T. Poston 0.90
5. Mark Hubbard 0.87
6. Denny McCarthy 0.82
7. Ryo Hisatsune 0.82
8. Beau Hossler 0.78
9. Keith Mitchell 0.75
10. Daniel Berger 0.74
11. Ricky Castillo 0.73 (14 Rounds)
12. Chris Kirk 0.66
13. Robby Shelton 0.65
14. Tom Hoge 0.65
15. Mackenzie Hughes 0.62
16. Chandler Phillips 0.59 (44 Rounds)
17. Mac Meissner 0.59 (33 Rounds)
18. Taylor Montgomery 0.58
19. Alex Smalley 0.55

Selections

Vince Whaley 40/1 BetMGM
Whaley extended his made cuts streak to 18 last week with a T-3 finish in Bermuda, which was his second Top 3 in his last five starts. The Atlanta resident has finished 13th (2023) and 8th (2024) here at the RSM Classic over his past 2 outings. 

Pierceson Coody 49/1 Circa Sports
Coody has a PGA TOUR card for next season with seven Top 10 finishes on the Korn Ferry Tour this year. He also has two 3rds on the PGA TOUR (3M Open, Bank of Utah Championship). He currently sits at No. 110 in the FedExCup and getting into the Top 100 would lock up a full card. 

Max McGreevy 50/1 Circa Sports
McGreevy also finished T-3 in Bermuda last week and rose to 89th in the FedExCup which locks in his PGA TOUR card for next year. That takes a large amount of pressure off and allows him to just focus on getting his first PGA TOUR victory. After winning twice on the Korn Ferry Tour last year, McGreevy won his biggest event of his career exactly one year ago in Japan at the Dunlop Phoenix over notables such as Hideki Matsuyama, Akshay Bhatia, and Taylor Pendrith. He has been in the Top 12 in three of his last four events. 

Eric Cole 60/1 Circa Sports

Cole was 3rd here in 2023 and 15th last year. He comes in with two Top 10s in his last four events and is currently 78th in the FedExCup. Waialae (Sony Open) has always been a solid indicator for success at Sea Island and Cole has finished 5th and 13th there the last two years. 

Seamus Power 65/1 DraftKings
Three years ago, Power was finishing his year ranked just inside the Top 30 in the OWGR. Now he is needing a good finale to keep his PGA TOUR card as he is currently No. 129 in the FedExCup. Power has showed good progressive form with a 27th in Mexico and 11th last week in Bermuda. He has two Top 5 finishes here in 2021 and 2022 and has gone well on shorter, coastal courses not only here at Sea Island but also with a victory in Bermuda, 3rds at Waialae and El Camaleon, and a 5th and 7th at the Corales Puntacana.

Mac Meissner 66/1 BetMGM
Courtesy of his runner-up at the Wyndham Championship, Meissner is locked into the Top 100 for next year. He has stayed active enough after that best career finish on the PGA TOUR with four made cuts in the fall. Meissner, in his short professional career, has proven to be better putting on Bermuda greens as well.

Lee Hodges 105/1 Circa Sports
Hodges finished 5th in last year’s RSM Classic. At No. 122 in the FedExCup, Hodges is in line for conditional PGA TOUR status since he is inside the Top 125. He rates high in the field for all the wedge proximity buckets and should have a lot of birdie opportunities.