Sobel’s RBC Heritage Tournament Matchup Bets: Can Simpson Outlast Fleetwood?

There are fewer tournaments on the PGA Tour schedule that I like betting more than the RBC Heritage.

First, the players who just contended at the Masters Tournament are juiced to numbers that reflect the reactionary public, but don’t reflect the fact that (most of) their tanks will be running on fumes after last week.

Second, it’s one of few events that plays to a special skill set. Distance is neutralized at the tight Harbour Town track, while accurate ball-strikers own a rare advantage.

With these factors in mind, I’ve got a three tournament matchups that I really like this week.

Sungjae Im over Jason Kokrak (-105)

All aboard the Im Train. No player on the PGA Tour is getting more exposure for being the Next Big Thing this year than Im, who owns four finishes of seventh-or-better already this year.

One player told me recently, “Keep betting him until he wins – because he’s going to win soon.” I like him for an outright winner wager this week, so it only makes sense that I love him to beat just one other guy, as the long-hitting Kokrak should have his usual advantage negated on this course.

Bryson DeChambeau over Xander Schauffele (-115)

Look, I love Schauffele’s game and was very impressed with how he hung in there during the stretch at the Masters. But I’d rather go with the guy who should have a little more mental energy left over this week. Throw in the fact that DeChambeau was T-4 here three years ago and T-3 last year and he’s one of my favorite plays on the board.

Webb Simpson over Tommy Fleetwood (-115)

The lone outlier of players who contended last week that I’m still on this week is Simpson, who should be perfectly suited for this event. This looks like a matchup with some advantage, too, considering Fleetwood has never played here and often employs driver to make up strokes off the tee, but might not be able to pound that club around this course.