#8 PGA/DP World Tour/LIV/PIF 2023

#8 PGA/DP World Tour/LIV/PIF 2023

RMS Classic Preview 

RSM Classic Sea Island GC

St Simons Island GA 

Nov 16-19, 2023 

Plantation Course Par 72

Seaside Course Par 70 

Purse $8.4M + $300

Davis Love III is the host and will play in the tournament.  This is the 7th and last official PGA event for the fall season with a field of 156.  Last years winner Adam Svensson will try to repeat.  The tournament draws about 30,000 fans, not great but pretty good for a Fall event.  This is a weaker field but has huge meaning for the 15 players charted below.  Five of them should finish in the top 125 and be exempt for 2024.  All are playing in this field.  Brian Harmon lives in St. Simon Sea Island so this is like a practice round for him.  Ludvig Aberg is playing for FedX points, now has 558 and can move up from #96. Last weeks winner, Camilo Villegas moved from #147 to #75 with 759 points.  Alex Noran who finished 2nd moved from 86 to 64, and could to move into the top 60.  

Players with best chance of finishing in the top 125 with current ranking and points.

121 Doug Ghim 443	126 Henrick Norlander 431	131 Ryan Palmer 376
122 Nico Echavarria 442	127 Maverick McNealy 414	135 Cameron Champ 353
123 Troy Merritt 441	128 Ryan Moore 385	136 Austin Smotherman 349
124 Andrew Novak 440	129 C.T. Pan 383	145 Harry Higgs 277
125 CarlYuan 437	130 Patton Kizzire 381	150 Charlie Hoffman 255

FAVORITES with odds I think one of the top 3 will win.

1 Ludvig Aberg 12/1 the best player in the field and if he is consistent for 4 RDs he will win.

2 Cameron Young 16/1 has been due to win forever, maybe will this is his time.

3 Brian Harmon 18/1 time to prove that his OPEN win in 2023 was not a fluke.

4 Russel Henley 22/1 currently #14 in FedX points so has little to play for except winning.  

5 Matt Kucher 35/1 #52 in FedX points, finished 2nd in WW Technology and won $730K.

6 Billy Horschel 40/1 #110 with 485 points, a win would get him into the top 60.

LONGSHOTS I doubt if 1 of these 3 will win.

1 Camilo Villegas 60/1 last year he was 400/1 and for the last 2 weeks has played great.

2 Cameron Champ 70/1 not played well for the last 2 years and is fighting for his 2024 card.

3 Carl Yuan 90/1 last week 4th place and had best finish in final RD, 6 birdies on last 12 holes.

#18 November 15, 2023.  Nothing new with the agreement/merger between LIV & PGA.

It appears that they will not meet the December 31 2023 target date.  It is also possible that an agreement will not take place in the near future.  This could lead to more PGA defections as the agreement that LIV would not recruit PGA players is not in effect since there are anti trust issues being considered.