2014 RBC Heritage Betting Preview Tips And Expert Picks

Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, SC,Purse: $5,800,000

Course In A Nutshell


It’s the annual return to Pete Dye’s Harbour Town Links at Hilton Head Island South Carolina.  GMac won on a windy Sunday last year, edging Webb Simpson in a playoff. GMac defends but Simpson does not return.

Hilton Head is one of the rare occasions on the PGA Tour that the shorter hitters and shot makers take centre stage as it ranks traditionally as one of the shortest driving courses on the roster.
The forecast is for possible rain and the odd thunderstorm this week but winds should be light.

Last week
I tipped Bubba Watson in my 2014 US Masters Betting Preview Tips and Predictions.




Doc’s Top Five Players To Watch


Jim Furyk 25/1


Impressive grinding to score a T14 at The Masters to add to a recent T6 in San Antonio.  It’s still nothing like what Furyk is capable of and could go much closer at Hilton Head which is tailor made for his game.  Won here in 2010 after a playoff with Brian Davis, when the Englishman fell on his sword and called a penalty on himself for glancing his club off a reed in a hazard.  Furyk also has two other top 10’s here in the last five stagings (4th 2008, T8 2012).

Will MacKenzie 30/1


The second coming of Willy Mac continues to grow momentum as he gets closer to a third PGA Tour win.  The 39 year old kicked off his recent great form with a T7 at the Farmers, then improved to a T6 at Palm Beach Gardens.  The run continued with a T4 at The Valspar and MacKenzie tied second in Texas.  Fourth in scoring average, 11th in strokes gained putting on Tour.
No recent course form but that's the least thing bothering Will right now; he can contend anywhere.


Matt Every 40/1


Missed the cut at Augusta but Every should be right in the mix this week.  Was playing poorly when this event came round last season but showed in 2012 with a T8 he can contend at Harbour Town when in form.  And that has been good; solid top 10’s at The Honda and Valspar were followed by that emotional win at Bay Hill.  It has been a roller coaster few weeks for Matt and the fun is not over yet.

Luke Donald 25/1



I feel obliged to include Luke Donald in the betting preview even though he’s plainly not producing his best form yet this season.  Having said that, four consecutive top 30’s with a best of T4 at Innisbrook is not to be sniffed at though he did miss the cut agonizingly by a shot at Augusta.  Donald however has gone so close here in the past, he’ll be grinding for a big result this week.  He was tied second when Brian Gay won in 2009, just missed out on the playoff in 2010 (T3), lost a playoff to Sneds in 2011 and again tied third in 2013.  You can’t get much closer to a win than that and Donald will be trying doubly hard to get over the whitewash this week!

Kevin Streelman 50/1


I picked Bubba using stats to win The Masters and so I’m doing the same with Kevin Streelman here.  Came a cropper at the weekend in Augusta but Streelman showed enough form in the opening rounds for me to think he might be a factor this week.  What the former Duke man lacks in his long iron game he more than makes up for in driving accuracy and when it comes to events where his average second shot will be much closer Kevin will be right in the mix.  On approaches from 150 to 200 yards Streelman ranks lower than 130 in every category.  However from 100-125 yards he is the top player on tour with a 90.91% GIR clip.  Tied third last year and well capable of better this time around.

Best Of The Rest

These are the guys that also come up on my radar for the RBC Heritage but just didn’t make the top five.

Charley Hoffman 40/1

The Hoff hasn’t missed a cut since the John Deere in July last year and has gone steadily about his business with four top 15’s already this year.  Always for me one of the best ball strikers on Tour, Charley has profited here recently with a T8 in 2012 and T6 last year.

Kevin Stadler 40/1

The winner in Phoenix had an excellent Masters tying 8th and if he’s up for it the Smallrus can be in the mix here. Tied fourth in 2012.

Kevin Na 40/1

Two top 10’s in the last three years and bringing a decent formline to the event too.  Top fives at Pebble and Innisbrook have been followed by a T14 at Bay Hill and T11 in Texas.  Rested too.

Long Odds Glory

These are the 100/1 or longer guys that the punters love but the bookies have out there for a reason.

Stewart Cink 100/1

Twice a winner at Hilton Head (2000, 2004) and will have taken super confidence from three made cuts in a row and a T14 at The Masters.  Well worth a speculator quid each way.


Brian Davis 100/1

Will always be remembered for his sportsmanship in 2010 but would much rather have a PGA Tour win.


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