Closing Time at Sea Island
The RSM Classic wraps up the 2015 portion of the 2015-16 PGA TOUR season with Sea Island Resort in Saint Simons Island, Georgia as the backdrop. While this is the sixth time in as many calendar years that this event has been contested, there are several key differences that need to be pointed out.
The biggest change is that two courses will be utilized over the first two rounds. Rather than the Seaside Course standing alone, the Plantation Course joins it as a partner course for the first time. The field will alternate between the two during the first two rounds, much like what we are used to seeing at Torrey Pines with the North and South Courses.
A lesser change, but one that requires the aforementioned, is that this is the latest scheduling of this event. Because darkness falls just after 5p.m. ET locally, the only way to pull this event off with a full field is with a two-course rotation.
The familiar Seaside Course is a par-70 layout that stretches out to a mere 7,005, while the Plantation Course plays to a par of 72 at 7,058. It stands to reason that par-5 specialists will feast on the Plantation Course, while par-4 wizards will identify themselves at Seaside.
Be that as it may, here is what we do know. The history of this event has typically seen a player get hot with the flat stick and win. Be that Tommy Gainey with a final-round 60 in 2012, or known smooth putters in Ben Crane and Chris Kirk winning, rolling the rock matters.
Known by some as the Sea Island Mafia, there are no shortages of PGA TOUR stars that claim Sea Island Resort as a home or second home. Davis Love III is the elder statesman, but his following is now too vast to name in this space. Throw in this being the host venue of the SEC Championship, and there are plenty of players who feel at home on the Georgia coast.
With all that out of the way, let’s dive into some of the likely contenders.
Class is Permanent
Bill Haas: The last time he hit a golf ball that mattered, he was sealing a Presidents Cup victory for the United States. In eight rounds on the Seaside Course, he has posted a sub-par score in every one and was runner-up in 2010.
Zach Johnson: A veteran member of the Sea Island Mafia, ZJ is a mere 3-for-5 with two top 20s on his resume. This is a classic case of a player likely having to deal with numerous distractions at a home game. Last stroke play event was the TOUR Championship.
Chris Kirk: Sea Island resident? Check. Past Champion? Check. Top five last season? Check. Current form? Not very good. Next, please.
Matt Kuchar: Cashed in each of his four starts here, with all going for top 25s. He tied for 68th last week in Mexico as a warm up. The Georgia Tech product is now a Sea Island resident.
Graeme McDowell: Big win at Mayakoba on Monday has him riding high into this event. This fits his type of venue. It’s not all that long. Also, he has wins on Pebble Beach, Harbour Town and Mayakoba, which are all located on or just off the water.
Brandt Snedeker: Only trip to Sea Island resulted in a forgettable T32 in 2011, but we all know that he can get the putter working as good or better than anyone.
Some Like it Hot
Scott Brown: He’s fresh off a T5 in Mexico on Monday and has enjoyed a T4 at Sea Island to boot. South Carolina resident isn’t a member of the Mafia, but he isn’t far from home either.
Derek Fathauer: Contended all week at Mayakoba before ultimately finishing alone in fourth place. He’ll try and continue that momentum this week.
Brice Garnett: Scored back-to-back top 10s in the two weeks leading up to this tournament. While his finishes on the Seaside Course haven’t been noteworthy, he has made both cuts.
Charles Howell III: The Augusta, Georgia native could fit into several categories, but this one is as good as any. Enters off back-to-back top 20s and having earned checks in each of his five starts in this event. Two of those five went for top 10s, so a bit of a course horse as well.
Kevin Kisner: Nearly scored his first win in the WGC-HSBC Champions, coming up just short to Russell Knox, and enjoyed a T4 at the Seaside Course last year.
Patton Kizzire: Was on fire before a T58 in Mexico earlier this week. As a product of the SEC (Auburn) and a Sea Island resident, he will be right at home in every way this week.
Peter Malnati: He’s scored two top 10s on the PGA TOUR in his life, and they came in his last two events.
Patrick Rodgers: Could be time to buy, as his last three results went T13-T20-T10.
Justin Thomas: After winning the CIMB Classic, he suffered a mild hangover with a T27 in the WGC-HSBC Champions. It’s entirely possible that he will destroy the par 5s this week.
Harold Varner III: Tied for fifth at Mayakoba earlier this week. This will be his first trip to Sea Island.
Course Horse
Kevin Chappell: Slow out of the gates in 2015-16, but he’s 3-for-3 in this event with a T8 last year.
Ben Crane: Barely noteworthy at this point, but did win in 2011.
Brendon de Jonge: Not only did he almost get the monkey off his back here last year with a playoff loss to Robert Streb, that was de Jonge’s second top five. He’s made each of his five cuts on the Seaside Course.
Russell Henley: Tied for fourth on Sea Island last year. The University of Georgia grad is known for his prowess on par 4s.
Will MacKenzie: He lost in a playoff here last year, but recent form is not impressive.
Robert Streb: He’s played the Seaside Course once and walked away the winner.
Kevin Streelman: Played here just once, but it went for a T6 in 2011.
Michael Thompson: The Alabama Crimson Tide player has trended in the wrong direction. After finishing third in his first venture, he digressed with a T10 and T66 in his subsequent two RSM Classics.
Worthy of Note
Zac Blair: He tied for 32nd here last year, very early in his rookie campaign, and has shown a knack for competing on shorter courses. A T10 in Mayakoba makes him a very intriguing option.
Roberto Castro: He almost checked a couple of boxes, but just missed. He doesn’t have a top 25 in this event, but he hasn’t missed a cut either. He also backed up a T4 in Mississippi with a T25 at Mayakoba.
Harris English: He’s not playing well of late, which is a bit of a red flag given his otherwise good history at Mayakoba. He’s made two of his three cuts including a T15 on Sea Island in 2012.
Lucas Glover: He’s made three of four cuts here on the Seaside Course, including a T15 in 2011, and flirted with some big finishes on TOUR to start the new season. While he isn’t a Sea Island resident any longer, he spent several years as a member of the Mafia.
Brian Harman: Sea Island resident has a T10 on his resume here to go with no missed cuts in three tries. Has a share of seventh on his recent PGA TOUR resume.
Andrew Loupe: He’s a wildcard, in that he can top 10 an event one week and miss the cut before and after. That he can run hot in spurts fits the flavor of this event.
Here’s hoping you have enjoyed some success during the Fall portion of the schedule in whatever games you play. Best of luck to all!
