PGA Tour Picks: RBC Heritage Odds and Expert Betting Predictions
Tiger Woods is someone you either love or hate, and there's really no in between. I'm probably in the latter category simply for how he embarrassed his family and his ex-wife with his serial infidelity. In addition, the guy can be a total pr*ick at times on the course or in interviews. I know, I've met him.
All that said, it was pretty compelling television on Sunday with Tigers winning the Masters, his first major title since the 2008 U.S. Open and first green jacket since 2005. It was his fifth such Masters title overall, now one shy of Jack Nicklaus' record. Tiger's 15 majors are three behind the Golden Bear. Suddenly, those two marks look very breakable. Believe it or not, Woods had never come from behind in the final round to win a major. He trailed by two entering Sunday, but while he played steady all the other contenders faltered.
At the 2017 Masters, Tiger was ranked 780th in the world. Now he's No. 6. It was Tiger's 81st career PGA Tour win, one shy of Sam Snead's record of 82. Woods was the oldest Masters winner since Nicklaus' last in 1986. The 14 years between Masters wins is the longest gap between victories in tournament history.
Let's just stop with this being the greatest comeback in sports history, though. It's not even better than what legendary golfer Ben Hogan did after nearly dying in an accident. Sportsbooks all over the world took a major bath on the Masters because the casual golf fan always bets on Tiger to win. According to Dave Mason at BetOnline, Tiger's win was by far the biggest futures loss (any sport) in the history of that site. Bettors already are all over him to win next month's PGA Championship, in which Woods is the favorite. Just like he already is for the 2020 Masters.
My pick to win the Masters was Rory McIlroy, but he'll have to wait another year to potentially complete the career Grand Slam as he finished T21.
So, we move up the East Coast this week to the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island. In an attempt to lure players after the stressful week at Augusta, organizers treat this very low key and family friendly. Doesn't much matter as most big names won't play the week after a major. Tiger isn't and probably won't until the Wells Fargo Championship on the first weekend of May. No Masters winner has played this tournament - South Carolina's only PGA Tour stop -- since Jordan Spieth in 2015.
Harbour Town is a par 71 measuring 7,099 yards and is a very narrow track. The coastal winds will absolutely be a factor. Each of the past six winners was at least three shots back on the final day. The defending champion is Japan's Satoshi Kodaira. He made a 25-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole to defeat Si Woo Kim after coming from six shots behind of Ian Poulter in the final round. Kim missed a 21-footer after Kodaira made his. It was Kodaira's first time playing the tournament and first time a player from Japan won it. He's back to defend but a +15000 long shot at Bovada .
Golf Odds: RBC Heritage Favorites
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson is playing here for the second year in a row as he's a South Carolina native. DJ finished in a three-way tie for second last week thanks to a final-round 68 that was two shots better than what Tiger shot. Johnson was 16th at this tournament last year.
Francesco Molinari (+1400) looked like he was going to win his first green jacket on Sunday but faded late to a 74 and a fifth-place finish. It's his fourth straight year playing here with a best of 22nd.
Bryson DeChambeau and Xander Schauffele are each +1600, and Spieth and Matt Kuchar both +2000. Schauffele also was second on Sunday with a final-round 68. DeChambeau T29, Spieth T21 and Kuchar T12. He won here in 2014.
Golf Odds: RBC Heritage Picks
Books are a bit slow with the props after the Masters, so no head-to-head props this week. For a Top 10, like two-time champion Jim Furyk, the all-time money leader in this event, and Bryson DeChambeau, who has a third and fourth in three trips here.
Our winner at +2200 is Patrick Cantlay. He had a nice week at Augusta with a T9 and has finished T3 (2017) and T7 (2018) with a scoring average of 68.50 in two trips to Harbour Town.
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