There could be no better enhance to the just lately concluded Masters than this week’s RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, which serves as the antithesis to the pressures of hoping to earn a inexperienced jacket, and its laid-back again vibe supplies the best dichotomy for this two-week Southeast swing.
We truly have a sound field, far too, with five of the world’s prime-10 players scheduled to contend and a bevy of Masters competition making the small(ish) drive from Augusta (or even shorter flight).
That leads to the biggest once-a-year concern struggling with us at this a single: Should really we chase the players who are savoring a Harbour Town chaser this 7 days?
Since it was this kind of a slow week — sarcasm font, men — I dug into some investigation to reply that problem. I went back over the past decade (2020 not involved, because these activities weren’t on back again-to-back again months) and examined how lots of of the best 5 on the RBC Heritage leaderboard experienced played the Masters a single week previously and where by they’d concluded.
What I observed is that of the 53 players who have completed in the prime 5 at Harbour Town, 30 experienced competed in the preceding week’s Masters.
Of these 30, the Augusta success were blended. Four experienced finished inside of the top rated 10, 13 were being inside the major 25 and 11 missed the minimize.
All of which implies the reply to irrespective of whether we need to chase all those chasing a Masters start out is inconclusive, even though I’ll proffer that not all inconclusive facts is immaterial. In this case, all of these figures let us a bit of a window into this week’s prognostications.
In essence, we can find those who played in the Masters or all those who did not, with no favor towards both aspect. And if we’re deciding on these who performed, we don’t always have to favor individuals who played perfectly or did not participate in properly.
Outright Winner: Kevin Na (50/1)
Some gamers really do not need to have to build on outcomes. There are men who can miss out on 5-6 cuts in a row, then a thing clicks and they contend for a title. Then there are momentum gamers, those people who are inclined to be streaky. The latter is a strong characterization of Na.
While he didn’t get final year’s Tour Championship, he did tie for the lowest 72-hole rating, a general performance which was preceded by a pair of runner-up finishes and practically nothing exterior the prime 25 in his prior 5 begins.
When he won the Sony Open up, he hadn’t performed a great deal golf prior to that early-January event, but did have top 40s in his former a few dating again to the past 12 months. Na played effectively at final week’s Masters, nevertheless he struggled with the putter at situations. That does not bother me as a lot as the ball-striking entices me.
Just after posting stable figures with the irons, he’ll return to a system in which he owns five best 10s in 15 occupation commences, a single which really should go well with his design and style as a great deal as it at any time has.
Leading-5 Finish: Maverick McNealy (9/1)
You’ve listened to of the proverbial Greatest Player Who Has not Received a Main and even Greatest Participant Who Hasn’t Won a Masters, but how about this one: Ideal Participant Who Didn’t Enjoy the Masters.
Okay, so McNealy was not genuinely that shut to qualifying, ranking 71st in the OWGR very last week, but he just could own that title. He’s manufactured the slice in his past 12 begins and 21 of his past 22.
As I have frequently penned of McNealy, such benefits exhibit he owns an uncommonly substantial floor, however issues continue to be about his ceiling. If he is heading to arrive at it, we’d have to consider that will take place on a shorter training course, the kind where he’s witnessed his most good results to day, with leading fives at Pebble Seaside, Silverado and here at Harbour Town in excess of the past year-and-a-half.
If we’re looking for even much more explanation to be optimistic, last year’s fourth-position finish at this a single was mainly due to his shorter recreation and putting, as he completed appropriate at the subject average with his ball-hanging. Expect a much better general performance with the irons this week, which could support him achieve that inevitable ceiling.
Prime-10 Complete: Corey Conners (+240)
If there are some stretches amongst my alternatives this week, then let me to provide up your secure participate in in the type of Conners, who had yet another incredible Masters outing. Which is now 5 straight outcomes of 35th or greater, and it wouldn’t shock everyone if he parlays his globe-class ball-hanging techniques and (I will have to acknowledge) what appears to be like an enhanced placing stroke into a second career win this week.
I like him for all bets and in all formats this 7 days, but a best-10 participate in is a conservative one particular that cashed in this article very last year with a T4 end.
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