Spieth opens with wild 64 at Wyndham Championship

Cameron Tringale (+3000) … He’s always had a tough time in the majors, but a T26 at The Open Championship signifies a departure from the norm. It’s his sixth payday in 13 career majors and just his second top 50 (T38, 2015 Masters). He placed T14 in his previous start in Detroit, so the 33-year-old brings momentum to Minnesota, but he doesn’t even need it after finishing T3 at TPC Twin Cities last year. Currently 49th on the PGA TOUR in greens hit, ninth in scrambling and 16th in adjusted scoring. Erik van Rooyen (+8000) … Until he confirms it, we must continue to assume that he’s a first-time father after withdrawing from each of the tournaments between the U.S. Open and The Open Championship this summer. We also should respect that the Nappy Factor will kick in even though he’s 139th in the FedExCup and pressured to perform. Simplifying life outside the ropes matters and at a time when he returns to the familiar area near his collegiate stomping grounds of the University of Minnesota. Brandon Hagy (+10000) … Capitalized on similarly built 156-man fields in Detroit and the Quad Cities this summer with a T6 and a T18, respectively. Few can send it like the 30-year-old does off the tee, but his putting is the difference-maker. Connected four red numbers here last year but he left town with but a share of 46th place. He didn’t qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs but his eligibility was extended another season due to the pandemic and he hasn’t squandered it. Currently 76th in the FedExCup. Roger Sloan (+15000) … The 34-year-old Canadian is familiar with the intensity of the summer stretch, so while he’d prefer not to be as low as 147th in the FedExCup, there is some comfort in having been there and done that on this stage before. He arrives having cashed in six of his last seven starts, too, with a mini-burst-best T21 in Detroit three weeks ago. He’s 30th on TOUR in greens in regulation, but it was a cooperative putter that yielded a T15 in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2019. Wes Roach (+50000) … Motivations vary because goals are different. Variables such as overall talent and attainable objectives are influenced by timing. So, while he’d obviously love to qualify for the Playoffs for the first time in what is his fifth season on TOUR, the target immediately ahead is cracking the top 200 in FedExCup points and riding that wave into the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. The 32-year-old from Tennessee is 201st in the FedExCup, but he’s missed only one cut in 13 individual events on the PGA TOUR and KFT combined in 2021. If he had played enough to qualify for official rankings, he’d slot 53rd in greens hit and T13 in par-5 scoring. He also puts himself in position to pounce regularly. He’d rank fourth in first-round scoring average with 10 consecutive red numbers (after a season-opening round of par at Silverado). The set included the first-round lead (64) at Congaree. Odds were sourced on Tuesday, July 20 at 5 a.m. ET. For live odds visit betmgm. NOTE: Sleeper is a relative term, so Rob uses unofficial criteria to determine who qualifies. Each of the following usually is determined to be ineligible for this weekly staple: Winners of the tournament on the current host course; winners in the same season; recent major champions; top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking; recent participants of team competitions.

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The iconic lighthouse is wrapped in plaid as this week’s RBC Heritage celebrates its 50th year on the PGA TOUR. The field includes 14 of the top 30 in the FedExCup, highlighted by No. 2 Patton Kizzire; No. 7 Dustin Johnson, who returns to Harbour Town for the first time since 2009; and No. 13 Paul Casey. Although the relatively relaxed RBC is a welcome reprieve after the Masters, low stress can turn into high stakes in a hurry. Jim Furyk won at Harbour Town and went on to win the entire FedExCup in 2010. (Furyk also won the RBC in 2015.) Dustin Johnson (T10), Marc Leishman (9) and Cameron Smith (5) are among the hot players in the field after posting top-10s at the Masters. Dru Love is playing on a sponsor’s exemption, while his dad, Davis, is a five-time winner here. Luke Donald, meanwhile, has done just about everything but wear the plaid jacket, with five runner-up finishes, two thirds and a T15 since 2009. John Senden makes his first TOUR start since his son started cancer treatments last year, while Wesley Bryan is the defending champ, having edged Donald by a shot. Patrick Cantlay, Ollie Schniederjans and William McGirt tied for third, two back. Harbour Town Golf Links is a 7,099-yard, par-71 Pete Dye design that rewards pinpoint accuracy. Its relatively modest length, small greens, and low-key vibe give the tournament its identity. The RBC Heritage is also the largest professional sporting event in South Carolina. PGA TOUR LIVE Thursday-Friday broadcasts will begin at 7:30 a.m. and end at 6 p.m., with a Twitter window of 7:30-approximately 8:30 a.m. each day. We will move to featured hole coverage at 3 p.m. Featured holes will consist of the 192-yard, par-3 14th, which plays over water and to a green guarded in part by overhanging trees and a pot bunker; and the 174-yard, par-3 17th, where the wind can blow tee shots into the 90-yard bunker on the left, or into the lagoon left of it. Here are the Featured Groups: (Note: All times Eastern; FedExCup ranking in parentheses.) THURSDAY Kevin Kisner (30), Graeme McDowell (121), Jim Furyk (151) Kisner made his Presidents Cup debut last fall, and in his last two starts he’s been T28 at the Masters and runner-up at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. That makes him the hottest player in the group, especially given that McDowell and Furyk play at Augusta National last week. Be that as it may, they have something he doesn’t; McDowell (2013) and Furyk (2015, 2010) are past champions at Harbour Town. Tee time: 8 a.m. off 10. Dustin Johnson (7), Wesley Bryan (150), Matt Kuchar (60) Bryan is looking to recapture the form that saw him capture his first victory a year ago. Kuchar, meanwhile, has been a model of consistency with 10 made cuts in 10 starts, his best a T5 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and a T8 at the Houston Open two weeks ago. Johnson has yet to distinguish himself at Harbour Town, where he hasn’t played since 2009 (MC), but the world No. 1 seems to be rounding into form after a top-10 finish at the Masters. Tee time: 8:10 a.m. off 10. FRIDAY Ian Poulter (25), Paul Casey (10), Davis Love III (192) Love says he’s “got a lot of new parts� after hip-replacement surgery last year and injuring his neck snowboarding before that. He is 30 years removed from his first victory at the RBC Heritage, but his institutional knowledge is off the charts after four additional victories at Harbour Town, giving him five total. Casey picked up his first TOUR victory since 2009 at the Valspar Championship, and is coming off a T15 at the Masters in which he threatened the course record. Poulter, meanwhile, is also hot after capturing the Houston Open in a playoff two week ago. Tee time: 8 a.m. off 10. Xander Schauffele (46), Cameron Smith (22), Brandt Snedeker (132) Reigning Rookie of the Year Schauffele has had an uneven sophomore season, while Smith seems to be knocking on the door for his first individual TOUR win after T5 finishes at the Masters and WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Both players are just 24 years old. The veteran of the group is Snedeker, 37, who is coming off an injury-plagued season but proved he has what it takes at Harbour Town with a victory in 2011. He’s also a former FedExCup champion (2012). Tee time: 8:10 a.m. off 10.  

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The first of three FedExCup Playoffs events tees off this week at TPC Southwind in the Memphis suburbs. A field of 121 (four players missing through injury, not replaced) will tangle with Ron Prichard’s 1988 design. There only job this week is to be in the top 70 on the FedExCup Points Lists when the final scorecards are signed on Sunday night. Those finishing No. 71 to No. 121 will not join the remaining folks as they head to Wilmington Country Club (South Course) for the BMW Championship. Before dreams of Delaware dance through the heads of the competitors it’s time to tame TPC Southwind. The Par-70 stretches just over 7,200 yards but length isn’t the issue this week. Fairways are tight and heavily protected by water, sand and Bermuda rough. The putting surfaces are no picnic either as they are some of the smallest on TOUR. Let’s take a look at the key stats to dissect this week and who is set to contend accordingly. Key Statistics Only players listed are competing this week; click stat headline for full list Strokes Gained: Tee to Green Before last season seven of the last nine winners here led the field in this category. The 2021 winner, Abraham Ancer (not eligible) was fourth last season. Keeping the ball out of trouble off the tee and on the short grass in regulation is paramount this week. Since 2003 TPC Southwind has ranked in top five for balls in the water. Bogey Avoidance Knowing when to take your medicine will not hurt on a course where balls find the rough and water at an alarming rate. Standing on the gas pedal for 72 holes isn’t the formula here. Avoiding crooked numbers takes the pressure off of racking up birdies. Par is a decent score this week but over par rounds are trouble. The last three winners have made six or less bogeys for the week. Strokes Gained: Approach the Green The only winners in the last six finishing outside the top 10 in this category were 11th and 12th. Finding fairways is fantastic this week but pegging approaches from less-than-ideal conditions is huge. Players who can navigate the golf ball into tiny greens will be rewarded. So will those who take advantage of wedges from the middle of the sprinkler line. Get it closer. Make more putts. Par-4 Scoring It’s not the U.S. Open so scoring still matters. With 10 Par-4 holes on the card the last four winners have slotted T3-T2-1-1 in this category. If you were paying attention above you’ll notice Justin Thomas, Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele feature in all four key stats. Thomas is paying +1800 for a win at BetMGM Sportsbook as is Schauffele with Finau starting at +2200. Odds were sourced on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. For live odds, visit BetMGM.

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