The RSM Classic Preview: Champ Hopes to Prove His Name

Six weeks in the books, with one to go, and then a real break. The PGA Tour will take its "not quite to the quarter-pole" break after this week's RSM Classic, and I for one can't wait. It's not that I don't like watching golf, but every sport needs a break, a real break, otherwise, there's no build up, there's just golf, week after week. I'd actually prefer a longer break myself, and that's what we should get between this season and the next. As for this week, there are a couple courses in play, but the Sea Island course has been used for a while, so we have plenty of course history to fall back on.

This week: The RSM Classic - Sea Island Resort, Seaside Course, Sea Island, Ga.

Last Year: Austin Cook shot a final-round 67 on his way to a four-stroke victory over J.J. Spaun.

FAVORTIES

Webb Simpson (9-1)

Simpson is the clear favorite this week and it's not even close. Simpson is not only the only player with single-digit odds this week, he's the only one with odds less than 20-1. His status as heavy favorite is a little strange considering he hasn't played well here since 2014, and his form is just OK, with a T15 in his only start this fall.

Cameron Champ (20-1)

The secret's out of Champ – he's pretty good. Perhaps if you draft in January and your league mates don't pay attention to the fall season, you can get him cheap or late in the draft. That's months from now, though. As for this week, he's playing at a high level and is definitely a contender this week. Champ missed the cut here last year, but that's a good sign as he's at least played the Seaside course, which should help.

J.J. Spaun (20-1)

Spaun is playing well and capitalizing on every opportunity. This week will be Spaun's sixth fall start, and he's posted top-15s in each of his last three. He's also coming off his best start of fall, a top-3 at the Mayakoba Classic. Spaun was runner-up here last year, which means a win is certainly possible this week. There isn't much value at this price, but Spaun should be in contention come Sunday.

MID-TIER PLAYERS

C.T. Pan (22-1)

Pan is off to a pretty good start this season. He started with a T30 at the CIMB Classic and has improved in each of his three starts since. Spaun also has a good track record here with a T13 and T6 in two starts at this event.

Russell Henley (30-1)

Henley got off to a poor start this season, missing his fist two cuts, but he got back on track last time out with a top-30 and has a solid track record at this event, which might bring out his best game. Henley enters on a streak of three consecutive top-10s at this event.

Kevin Kisner (35-1)

Kisner's form is a bit of an unknown entering this week as he's only played once during fall, but what is known is his history at this event, which is great. Kisner won this event in 2015 and backed that up with a T4 last season. Kisner missed the cut in 2016, but he has top-20s in four of his last five starts here.

LONGSHOTS

Jim Furyk (50-1)

Furyk is well past his prime and there aren't many, if any, spots to use him this season, but this is one exception. Furyk finished T6 last week at the Mayakoba Classic and his track record at this event is very impressive. Furyk has finished no worse than T11 in his three starts at this event.

Jason Dufner (100-1)

Dufner is also past his prime, but not as far as Furyk, and yet his odds are considerably longer than Furyk's. Dufner doesn't have the track record here that Furyk has, as he's only started once, but that start resulted in a top-10. Dufner's form is not great, but he finished T21 last week, which means he's close enough that if things go right this week, he could contend.

ONE AND DONE GOLFER

Optimal pick: Cameron Champ - Weighing all factors, Champ is the optimal pick this week. Champ looks like the real deal, but we see a young player break out every season and, more often than not, the results do not meet expectations. With that in mind, there's no telling how Champ responds when the calendar flips to 2019. Might as well take him while he's hot.

Buyer beware: Webb Simpson - As mentioned, Simpson is the clear favorite, but that probably has more to do with the competition than Simpson's game. It's not easy to perform when you are the favorite, and considering Simpson doesn't appear to have his best game now, I don't see a great performance this week.

Last week: Abraham Ancer (T21) - $74,880; Season - $1,328,895

This week: Cameron Champ - Strike while the iron is hot. That's the mantra that carried me to a title last season and there's no reason to change it up this season. Champ has been a revelation this fall and is obviously locked in. Can he close? That's the question, but I wouldn't be upset with another top-10.

FANDUEL PICKS

High/Mid/Low: Cameron Champ ($11,400)/Kevin Kisner ($10,000)/Patton Kizzire ($8,200)

SURVIVOR PICK

Last week: Gary Woodland - (T41); Streak - 3

This week: Russell Henley - It's a little risky taking a guy who has missed two of three cuts this season, but considering the cut he did make was his most recent one, I feel a lot better about his prospects this week. That and he usually plays very well at this event.