This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
Golf Twitter has a tendency to go a bit overboard when things get even slightly interesting during a major, which is why when Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy separated themselves from the pack Saturday afternoon, the folks who follow golf were in a tizzy.
The reason for this excitement was quite obvious as Reed and McIlroy were part of the biggest storyline during the 2016 Ryder Cup. While it made sense that golf fans would be excited to see them battle head to head once again, I found myself wanting something more or perhaps something different. I've never found Reed all that interesting and for all the confidence people seem to have in McIlroy, I didn't see him as some force of nature destined to overcome Reed on Sunday. In my mind, Reed was going to spend his entire round hanging onto his lead, while McIlroy did little to make a charge. In other words, Sunday was setting up to be a bit of a snooze. Most of the golfers I was interested in were too far off the lead to be serious threats, which meant this was a two-horse race. And while those can be fun for short periods, I'm not a fan of watching just two guys battle it out for an entire round.
Perhaps it was my lowered expectations then that made Sunday so sweet. Although I hoped Jordan Spieth would make a charge, I certainly never thought he would have a share of the lead. I
Golf Twitter has a tendency to go a bit overboard when things get even slightly interesting during a major, which is why when Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy separated themselves from the pack Saturday afternoon, the folks who follow golf were in a tizzy.
The reason for this excitement was quite obvious as Reed and McIlroy were part of the biggest storyline during the 2016 Ryder Cup. While it made sense that golf fans would be excited to see them battle head to head once again, I found myself wanting something more or perhaps something different. I've never found Reed all that interesting and for all the confidence people seem to have in McIlroy, I didn't see him as some force of nature destined to overcome Reed on Sunday. In my mind, Reed was going to spend his entire round hanging onto his lead, while McIlroy did little to make a charge. In other words, Sunday was setting up to be a bit of a snooze. Most of the golfers I was interested in were too far off the lead to be serious threats, which meant this was a two-horse race. And while those can be fun for short periods, I'm not a fan of watching just two guys battle it out for an entire round.
Perhaps it was my lowered expectations then that made Sunday so sweet. Although I hoped Jordan Spieth would make a charge, I certainly never thought he would have a share of the lead. I was rooting for Fowler to get his first major, but I certainly never thought he'd finish just one stroke out of a playoff with Reed. That's exactly what transpired, though, and to the masses, it was everything they hoped for and more.
I read several tweets Sunday with a similar theme – that the Masters never disappoints. I'd say it rarely disappoints, which in retrospect made me wonder why I doubted that we'd have an entertaining Sunday. Here's the thing, though. Without Spieth's charge, it would have been a terribly boring final round. Fowler provided some drama, but he waited so long to get into the mix, his drama lasted all of 15 minutes.
Perhaps the truth is somewhere in the middle. Yes, the Masters can disappoint, but with so many of the best players in the world grinding so hard to win the Green Jacket, more often than not, somehow, someway, something entertaining will take place on Sunday at the Masters.
This week: RBC Heritage - Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, S.C.
Last Year: Wesley Bryan shot a final-round 67 on his way to a one-stroke victory over Luke Donald.
PLAYERS TO CONSIDER
Matt Kuchar
Kuchar has a pretty good record at Augusta, so it wasn't a surprise to see him play well early last week. While he faded down the stretch, there's reason to believe his game is in good shape. If that's the case, then he should fare well this week as his track record here is solid. Kuchar won here in 2014 and finished no worse than T11 in his last four starts at this event.
Cameron Smith
Smith has played this event only twice and his best finish was a T15 in 2015, which means this pick has little to do with his track record. This pick is based solely on Smith's ability and form. His current form is solid as evidence by his top-10 at Augusta last week. As for his ability, Smith will be the next guy to break into the class of "young guns" that seems to be in the mix nearly every week.
Luke Donald
Donald is playing terribly and is having trouble just making cuts, but his history here is outstanding, to the point that it's impossible to ignore. Donald hasn't played very well for the better part of the last five seasons, yet he somehow manages to play really well at Harbour Town. Donald has finished in the top 3 here in seven of his last nine starts. Let that sink in – seven of nine starts, he's finished in the top 3.
William McGirt
Not a name you'll see too often on this list, but for those looking for a sleeper, McGirt is a nice option. McGirt's current form is neither here nor there, but his track record at this event is solid. McGirt finished T3 last year at this event and finished in the top 10 in three of his last four starts here.
Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau has proven to be a streaky golfer early in his career and while he didn't play his best last week at Augusta, he did manage to make it to the weekend, and not embarrass himself while there. His previous start is why he's on this list though as he played very well at The Arnold Palmer Invitational on his way to a runner-up showing. DeChambeau doesn't have a long track record here, but he does have a top-5 finish in two starts.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Ted Potter Jr.
Potter was an absolute force of nature while cruising to victory a couple months ago at Pebble Beach, but to say it hasn't been easy for him since is an understatement. Potter has yet to make a cut since his win, and while he's made both of his cuts at this event, the odds of a top-10 or top-20 aren't good.
Charl Schwartzel
If Schwartzel were on his game at all, he would have finished well at the Masters last week, but he couldn't even make the cut. Schwartzel had a solid track record at Augusta and his inability to make it to the weekend shows how far off he is at the moment. Schwartzel has missed his last two cuts on the PGA Tour and his track record here is nothing special.
Brandt Snedeker
Snedeker won this event in 2011, but his overall track record at this event isn't great as that win is his only top-10 in 12 starts here. His form isn't great either as he has only one top-20 in eight starts this year.
Harris English
It wasn't that long ago that English was considered one of the up-and-comers on the PGA Tour, but he's failed to take the next step over the last couple seasons and it doesn't look like he'll take that step this season either. English missed his first six cuts this season, and while he's managed to turn his game around a little since then, he still has just one top-5 in 15 starts.
Bill Haas
It should come as no surprise that Haas has struggled this season after what he went through earlier this year, but the fact remains, his golf game is not where it needs to be. Making matters worse this week is his track record at this event. Haas has missed more cuts than he's made here and has never finished in the top 10 in any of his 13 starts.
ONE AND DONE GOLFER
Last week: Jordan Spieth (3) - $748,000; Season - $4,894,282
This week: Matt Kuchar - There are a few ways to go this week and all seem like good options. Kuchar is the best option for those near the top of their league as he's the most reliable, both in form and course history. Donald has by far the best course history here, but his current form makes him a risky pick. Finally, Cameron Smith has the form, but not the history. Smith can make up ground for you this week as he likely won't be a popular pick.
PGATOUR.COM PICKS
This Week:
Starters: Bryson DeChambeau, Luke Donald, Matt Kuchar, Cameron Smith
Bench: Marc Leishman, William McGirt
SURVIVOR PICK
Last week: Justin Rose - (T12); Streak - 3
This week: Matt Kuchar - I generally like to go a bit lower than a second-tier golfer like Kuchar at events like these, but there aren't any reliable options I like. Donald is certainly in play and should make the cut, but I'd be kicking myself if I were eliminated from a survivor pool after taking a guy who has missed five of seven cuts this year. Kuchar is as safe as it gets this week as he's in good form and has made the cut here in 13 of 14 starts.
