PGA betting, odds: Two players to back in RBC Heritage
The RBC Heritage in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is quite the contrast of the Masters. A par 71, Harbour Town clocks in at 7,191 yards, one of the shorter courses on tour with the second-smallest greens. A less-than-driver course, I’m targeting players who are solid from tee to green. I’m not putting an emphasis on any style, as both solid approach players and short-game players have excelled at this course.
There are two players who caught my attention before even looking at the rest of the field. Lines are courtesy of BetMGM.
Cameron Young
Top 20: +120
Top 10: +250
Top 5: +500
To win: +2200
Young is the fifth-best ball striker on tour and seventh best from tee-to-green this season behind players like Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm. Young is typically a player I target for long-yardage play, as he’s third on tour behind Rory McIlroy. However, Young not only finished T3 here last year but T2 in the Wells Fargo Championship and finished second in the WGC-Match Play, all courses on the shorter end. I would like a player who is more solid around the green, but the ability is there for Young. He’s gained strokes in this category in two of his last four events, including the Arnold Palmer Invitational where he finished T10. Getting plus-money on a Top 20 is great value. However, finishing T7 last week in Masters, grabbing the 22-1 is also worth it.
Patrick Cantlay
Top 20: -175
Top 10: +130
Top 5: +275
To win: +1200
No value for a Top 20. The only option is to back Cantlay for a Top 10 and/or outright. There are a few players I have “winning real soon,” and Cantlay is one of those guys. He’s the second-best ball striker behind only Scheffler, who’s already won twice this year. Statistically, there’s not much that separates these two right now. Where Cantlay is struggling most is putting. Take his last two tournaments, the Masters and the WGC-Match Play. Cantlay gained 11 and 10 strokes tee-to-green, respectively, but lost two and four strokes putting. Putting is the most volatile stat in golf. If he can remain neutral or gain slightly, Cantlay could run away with this one. Not to mention, he has a superb course history. In five RBC Heritage trips, Cantlay has four top-7s, including a solo 2nd last year. Just win, baby!
