One week after The Masters, the PGA heads to South Carolina for the RBC Heritage at Harbor Town Golf Links.
Last week was about power, this week is about control. You’re faced with small greens, tight fairways and plenty of approach shots from 150 yards out, so it becomes a game of angles.
Different players here have great control of the instrument and think a step ahead; they don’t just blow the pins, they play smart. Historically, you’ll get a random winner but when the field gets strong, it usually comes down to guys with perfect games.
That’s why I’m moving this week, I’m more risk averse than usual. Although I tend to bet on the Top 20, instead of defending the underdogs I lean on the Top 10 and bet on players who can turn good positions into real opportunities.
Placing bets comes down to your risk tolerance. The question you need to ask is how aggressive you want to be with learning the same.
Here are the players to consider this week.
Odds with DraftKings Sportsbook
(with bindings) and can be changed.
A very good bet
Play great golf every day at DraftKings.
Xander Schauffele: Top 5 +265 (tied)
Absolute odds:
-
Top 20 -186
-
Maximum 10 +126
-
To win +1500
Schauffele is back to being a complete player. That’s all the betting is. The biggest change from last year is the putter. What set him back in 2025 was a brief match dispute, which is no longer the case. Pair that with a solid fastball and you become one of the most reliable hitters on the field.
And that ball-striking is on the rise again, with three straight events of five or more strokes, including the players, where he won the other side and hit 14 of 14 fairways in the round. That is a player who is in complete control of his game. That style of precision is evident in tight lessons and tight setups like this one.
He is also consistent with the main ranges this week, from 150-200 yards, where most shots come from. At that level he is one of the best players in the industry. Schauffele basically has no real weaknesses, no weird dependencies, nothing that stings… just likenesses.
That’s why Top 5 +165 makes more sense than Top 10 +125 because Schauffele is a real contender to win. If you want to play it safe, the Top 10 is the way to go but if you agree that this version of Schauffele is the real deal, the Top 5 is the best bet because you will be paid at his true rank if his game comes up again.
Ludvig Åberg: Top 10 +176 (no ties)
Absolute odds:
-
Top 20 -134
-
Top 5 +375
-
To win +2200
Aberg is one of the cleanest hitters on the tour, a top player with that combination of power and accuracy, who keeps getting better with closers in every start. The question is valid. This isn’t a hard course to drive, so his main weapon is slightly silenced but not destroyed. His advantage is changing from distance to control, which is still playing.
A third in the overall close will allow Aberg to continue to create chances. He’s seen his ceiling, hitting 63 at The Players last month is no accident. When Aberg rolls, he can jump the leaderboard.
A maximum of 20 -134 is a safe option but you pay for it. Top 10 +176 is worth the calculated risk because his profile is built for competition.
Cameron Young: Top 10 +152 (tied)
Absolute odds:
-
Top 20 -154
-
Maximum 5 +320
-
To win +1800
A teenager is finally turning the top tools into real results. That’s the shift I’m betting on. He is one of the best drivers on the tour, that even in a less than a driver’s course, I can trust him to be confident. Couple that with straight play, ninth in strokes gained overall, and you get a legitimately high-ranking profile. He won the Players and followed it up with a strong Masters, including a 65 that showed how quickly he can flip the leaderboard.
On paper, the 100-200 yard buckets are not fully supported. They look average or below average at best but that’s where you can’t just stare at the data because his results in hard subjects tell a different story, the gains with his instruments. The real difference now is the putter, which used to hold him back but has improved enough to open his roof. The Top 10 is quite a risk when using full season data sets, but Young has a direct effect with recent events and a strong field where he became one of the best players.
Players to consider in Daily Fantasy
Jacob Bridgeman, $8,200
I wanted to play Bridgeman Top 20 +128, but I couldn’t get enough conviction for such a small profit. He makes more sense to DFS than bet because his profile is so variable, he gets most of his strokes with the putter. That part of the golf game can disappear quickly. In dreams, flexibility helps. If his putter stays hot, Bridgeman can jump the leaderboard and go out and make his unreal price. In betting, I want to bet consistently and his style of play has always been strong to trust. When I’m deciding between fantasy and betting, I think it’s balance versus stability. Bridgeman equates to one, not both.
The DFS player will fade out
Collin Morikawa, $9,300
It’s about risk. He’s the first closer and top 10 in every important metal metric this week. His bluster is not for the faint of heart. Steel game is at a high level but a back injury is not something to ignore. He has withdrawn from many events and even at Augusta, T7 looked stellar but survived beyond control. That’s not the same as being fully prepared for another four-round test. At this price, I would want both stability and upside, but Morikawa’s health is low on both. If he wins, it is because the body rises. It’s not just betting or fantasy picking that I want to do this week.
