Connect with us

Opinion & Analysis

Using beauty (and social media) to break down sexism in golf

Published

on

“You know what ‘golf’ stands for, right? Gentleman Only, Ladies Forbidden!”

Hang around a golf course long enough, and you’ll undoubtedly hear a male golfer say that. Then you’ll hear an obligatory chuckle from fellow male golfers who pretend they haven’t heard the joke before.

It’s no secret that golf has been an inherently sexist, male-dominated sport since its beginnings. The proof isn’t difficult to find. Augusta National didn’t allow its first female member until 2012 (it was founded in 1932), and private golf clubs scattered across the country and world remain male-exclusive. But while men haven’t always been welcoming toward women golfers, many women haven’t been drawn to the game like men have, either.

“For girls, [golf] isn’t that cool thing to do,” SAID 2015 Miss America Kira Kazantsev.

Kazantsev won the Miss America Beauty pageant in 2015, and she plays golf in celebrity events around the country carrying a 19-handicap. While she says golf hasn’t always been popular for young girls, social media is helping to shift that paradigm. Women such as Paige Spiranac, Elise Lobb and Blair O’Neal frequently post videos and photos of themselves playing golf, becoming popular figures in the game — maybe even role models in the process. It’s not a stretch to say they’re as popular, if not more popular, than the leading money winners on the LPGA Tour.

“This is making [golf] part of everyday culture for girls,” Kazantsev said.

Kazantsev also uses Instagram and Twitter to post photos and videos of herself on the golf course, among her other everyday interests such as fashion. To her, golf helps to build work ethic and discipline, and also opens doors in business. She says she wants to use her position to help encourage young girls to play golf.

“If you’re smart, beautiful and good at golf, You can do anything,” Kazantsev says. “A lot of business deals get closed on the golf course… and for a female to actually be able to play [golf], it’s totally different.”

Kazantsev told a story about a charity golf event she recently attended, which captured the essence of the paradigm shift regarding gender in golf.

“I was on one of the tees for a charity golf event doing a celebrity shot,” Kazantsev said. “One group of guys came up and started making jokes about me, you know, because I’m a woman… they bet me $500 I couldn’t put it in the fairway.”

She did hit the ball in the fairway and collected $500 for the charity.

Maybe those familiar sexist golf jokes will become a thing of the past as more and more young girls take to the course. It’s also possible that women like Kazantsev, by sharing their golf escapades on Instagram, are exactly what golf needs to brighten the future of the game.

If you’re curious about Kazantsev’s latest golfing adventures, here’s a brief gallery as posted on her social media accounts.

Not bad, Maui ???????? #Hawaii #Kapalua #Shwing #TheBay #WellDeservedVacay #Maui @adidas @callawaygolf @golfdigest

A photo posted by Kira Kazantsev (@realkirakazantsev) on

Your Reaction?
  • 48
  • LEGIT10
  • WOW3
  • LOL4
  • IDHT4
  • FLOP8
  • OB8
  • SHANK135

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

26 Comments

26 Comments

  1. Mat

    Mar 29, 2016 at 8:37 pm

    It may add participants, but waiving one’s sexuality around doesn’t end sexism. What would go 1000x further would be more mixed events between the PGA and LPGA. Make a much bigger deal about how women can play in a shorter time. Encourage the +3 pickup for ALL golfers. If you miss your double bogey, you get a triple. Move on, and don’t overly penalise players for pace.

    In fact, if you want to break down sexism, help women get handicaps. In fact, for all new players, they should have a “novice index” which is simply that you get a first handicap of not shooting a triple on 14/18 holes. It’s a yes/no step-through that speeds up the game. Achieve that mark, and you’ve hooked a player!

  2. kevinricci

    Mar 10, 2016 at 6:44 pm

    You people are so screwed up. At my club on Cape Cod, we play in mixed foursomes all the time. Women are humans, not sex toys.

  3. DB

    Mar 2, 2016 at 10:28 pm

    Mr. Tursky, I come here to read about golf, tour news, equipment, etc.

    I’m so sick of hearing about “isms” everywhere. Please don’t bring it here.

  4. Stymie

    Mar 1, 2016 at 10:03 pm

    …All a bit OTT really!

  5. Matthew Bacon

    Mar 1, 2016 at 7:46 pm

    I think the article was to be taken a little less seriously than most are taking it. Golf is unappealing to most young women and any way to get people exposed to the game can’t hurt. Will she change the landscape of golf, I don’t think so, but she may bring a few people in.

  6. Rilley

    Mar 1, 2016 at 7:34 pm

    Very simple win on PGA tour a few times and your marketable, win on LPGA tour and you better be good looking or you are not marketable…When Lexi Thomson wins how much coverage does she get compared to what Inbee Park gets when she wins…..or how about someone on the level of Natalie Gulbis one win in 15 years and her face is seen hundred times for every time we see Inbee’s….and how much media time has been spent on MS WIE the last 10 years….

    • mike

      Mar 9, 2016 at 1:24 pm

      I am going to disagree with you a little bit. Inbee has gotten a ton more publicity than natalie has in recent years. Women’s golf covers 2 types of golfers: those that win and those that are influencing and bringing girls to the game. Michelle and Paula havent won a ton as of late, but they do bring girls to the game. Ko and Brooke Henderson win a lot and also bring alot of younger girls to the game.

      Inbee gets tons of coverage when she wins, probably 2 years ago you couldnt mention women’s golf without Inbee when she was going for the slam. She is also very well know for her putting and when she is playing well, she is always shown on tv and talked about. I would argue they get about the same about of coverage, the only difference is Lexi has been hotter as of late. We all know golf media is pretty much covers people based on a ” what have you done for me lately” scale, and she has played great as of late. She is also a bomber, and everyone knows people love seeing the long ball.

      As far as I am concerned, aside from the Winn grip commercials, I didn’t realize natalie still played golf.

  7. Golfgirlrobin

    Mar 1, 2016 at 5:01 pm

    Holy crap, that was crap. Not just ordinary crap, but grade A crap.

    If you’re smart, beautiful and good at golf you can do anything? Really, did you just say that women need to be pretty to achieve? Cause I’m pretty sure you did. How about using your position, whatever that actually is, to encourage girls and women to succeed based on brains and ambition and not on flashing what you’ve got on Instagram.

    Men who think the golf course is their personal domain aren’t going to be convinced by pretty girls with a 19 handicap. Are they going to enjoy watching you bend over? Yes, but that’s the only reason you’ll be welcome.

    Plenty of great women golfers out there who can be followed on social media for reasons other than the length of their skirt. Actual success on the golf course is what will increase acceptance.

    • RHJazz

      Mar 1, 2016 at 9:20 pm

      Exactly – and well put! Using sex appeal to fight sexism? Seriously?! It’s not hard to see why golf has an image problem and declining numbers. Just look at how a lot of men treat the “cart girl.” More and more people won’t accept the old boy’s club ways any more. A lot of real work on attitudes and behavior might do something to bring women into golf, not this.

      • TMTC

        Mar 4, 2016 at 10:22 am

        To a certain degree, it works the same with men.
        Look at the attention Adam Scott gets, Greg Norman or Fredy Couples.
        We all like to look at attractive things whether it’s architecture, nature, or people.
        For goodness sakes we even give koodo’s for presentation in food.
        Get over it people, it works both ways and always will, until we all look exactly the same.
        TMTC

  8. ooffa

    Mar 1, 2016 at 2:06 pm

    more T and A please

  9. Dev

    Mar 1, 2016 at 1:54 pm

    White Knight Male Feminist Journalist Spotted. WARNING LONG READ

    First your premise that Golf is sexist because its male dominated. Why is it that whenever men want to keep a hobby to themselves its sexist, but whenever women want to keep a hobby female dominated its empowering? Pro-tip, the answer is not “the patriarchy”.

    Next, using beauty, sexy outfits, and your body to promote golf and breakdown sexism is just inherently flawed. In fact you are doing the exact opposite and showing young girls that once again, being good at something isn’t enough, you also have to look good too. So instead we are just promoting sexism in the fact that women can only be looked up to if they are desirable.

    Finally, I looked at Kira Kazantsev’s instagram and had to scroll way down until I hit the first picture of her golfing. The rest is just her in sexy outfits, expensive fashionable outfits, or her meeting famous people. Its all self promotion, just promoting her own brand. She may indeed like golf, but lets not pretend she actually thinks shes a role model to get girls interested in the game.

    Are we really going to pretend people like Paige Spiranac are popular because they are good at golf? No its because she is incredibly sexy and also happens to play golf and seems like the perfect girl next door. I’m sure she is awesome, but again we are just promoting the same old “girls have to be pretty to be recognized”.

    I’m honestly not sure what disappoints me more about this article, the fact you think its sexist that men have a hobby that they would like to keep mostly male dominated, or the fact that in trying to write a serious article that shows how women “are breaking down sexist barriers” you have written one of the more sexist articles I have read.

    I am seriously disappointed this article was allowed to be posted on the front page. But I guess you have to get views somehow, and it got me talking. So Gold star there I suppose.

  10. mlecuni

    Mar 1, 2016 at 1:13 pm

    beauty + social media, isnt’it sexist by nature ?
    Was mrs johnson promoting golf by posing for a magazine ? was mrs thomson fighting sexism by posing in a very sexy way for this same paper ?
    When does a girl playing golf is fighting sexism by posting selfies of herself half naked in bed or in mini short from behind ?
    Does it promote golf in a good way for youngters ? does it promote the hard work of the Lpga and all ladies golf associations from around the world ?
    When mrs rice arrived at augusta, she was fighting sexism not by her beauty nor her social media thing, she was fighting with her name made popular by her hard work for usa.
    Want to fight sexism, ask real women athletes about it, show us their skills not their body.

  11. Billy Jean

    Mar 1, 2016 at 1:07 pm

    it all went downhill when we allowed women to vote

  12. M

    Mar 1, 2016 at 10:26 am

    How could you possibly say that PS or EL are role models for young girls? Wear super tight yoga shorts showing a ton of skin and hit a flop shot or two? If I had a daughter that is the exact opposite thing I would want to be pushing to her.

    At least Blair O’Neal has played tournament golf at a pretty high level and Ms. Kazantsev is wearing normal, respectable golf clothing looking very pretty but still classy in the process. I agree that her pictures definitely make golf look appealing in some awesome locations with beautiful scenery.

    The girls that should be “golf celebrities” are ones like Brooke Henderson who won her first LPGA event as a 17 yr old and plays a 48″ driver on tour or Christina Kim who has battled depression but has been open about it the last few years to help bring awareness to mental illness and help with her recovery.

    • Johnny

      Mar 1, 2016 at 11:55 am

      This post nails it!

      PS and EL are far from being role models for young girls who are interested in golf. And to suggest that they are, is downright laughable. And equally laughable is to suggest that they are more popular than the leading money on the LPGA Tour.

      In fact, I would say that the noted philosopher, John McEnroe summed it up pretty good when he said, “You cannot be serious!” Or something like that.

    • mlecuni

      Mar 1, 2016 at 1:23 pm

      Even a kid like Lucy Li at the us open conference, eating her icecream after her round, was promoting golf in a better way than all the girls from this article: combined.

    • Bogeypro

      Mar 4, 2016 at 10:22 am

      I agree. The examples used are not good. Dressing like a stripper and hitting flop shots to get noticed is not the example young girls need to follow. There are many other better examples for young women to follow.

  13. MarkB A

    Mar 1, 2016 at 10:14 am

    I think young high school aged boys are worse then women. They have all the time in the world.

  14. 4pillars

    Mar 1, 2016 at 10:07 am

    If you want to look for female participator you should look at Germany, Austria and the Netherlands where over a third of participants are women.

    This article will do nothing to increase female participation in the game.

    And Japanese women golfers are far more attractive and better dressed anyway.

  15. cody

    Mar 1, 2016 at 10:06 am

    worst day ever to try and get in a round is ladies day. It will end up taking 8+ hours while you stand in the fairway watching 4 women mill about as each one takes their turn on the green. No rush no consideration. I cringe when i walk up to the first tee and see a group of women ahead of me. Sorry just saying what is true.

    • Jordan

      Mar 1, 2016 at 10:13 am

      Plenty of male groups guilty of the same. I’ve got a lot of respect for the women that play at some of my local courses. And don’t leave putts short around them… they can talk trash with the best of them!

  16. Philip

    Mar 1, 2016 at 10:06 am

    I’m not so sure that using beauty (sex) with social media is going to change attitudes towards women on the course in a positive way? Isn’t it the whole point that women want to be treated as individual as men, regardless of whether they are attractive or not. Attractive men face the same stereotypes as attractive women and I see social media as a vehicle to use that asset. I play golf with whoever is on the tee – men or women, I have some women golfers that I enjoy spending the day with and the same goes for men golfers. I don’t care if someone is a pretend single digit or a 25 handicap, just as long as we try to keep up with the group in front. There are days when I want to golf with the guys, drink beer and get away from women. Then there are other days I look forward to the company of women. But I have never thought someone can do or not do something based on their sex. Of course, I have had rounds with men who roll their eyes when a woman joins the group – I just move up to the forward tees and spend the day with her – their lose.

    • shimmy

      Mar 1, 2016 at 12:08 pm

      Women do wanted to be treated as individuals, and that includes using their sex appeal if they want to.

    • Capn

      Mar 1, 2016 at 1:13 pm

      Well said.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Opinion & Analysis

The Wedge Guy: What really makes a wedge work? Part 1

Published

on

Of all the clubs in our bags, wedges are almost always the simplest in construction and, therefore, the easiest to analyze what might make one work differently from another if you know what to look for.

Wedges are a lot less mysterious than drivers, of course, as the major brands are working with a lot of “pixie dust” inside these modern marvels. That’s carrying over more to irons now, with so many new models featuring internal multi-material technologies, and almost all of them having a “badge” or insert in the back to allow more complex graphics while hiding the actual distribution of mass.

But when it comes to wedges, most on the market today are still single pieces of molded steel, either cast or forged into that shape. So, if you look closely at where the mass is distributed, it’s pretty clear how that wedge is going to perform.

To start, because of their wider soles, the majority of the mass of almost any wedge is along the bottom third of the clubhead. So, the best wedge shots are always those hit between the 2nd and 5th grooves so that more mass is directly behind that impact. Elite tour professionals practice incessantly to learn to do that consistently, wearing out a spot about the size of a penny right there. If impact moves higher than that, the face is dramatically thinner, so smash factor is compromised significantly, which reduces the overall distance the ball will fly.

Every one of us, tour players included, knows that maddening shot that we feel a bit high on the face and it doesn’t go anywhere, it’s not your fault.

If your wedges show a wear pattern the size of a silver dollar, and centered above the 3rd or 4th groove, you are not getting anywhere near the same performance from shot to shot. Robot testing proves impact even two to three grooves higher in the face can cause distance loss of up to 35 to 55 feet with modern ‘tour design’ wedges.

In addition, as impact moves above the center of mass, the golf club principle of gear effect causes the ball to fly higher with less spin. Think of modern drivers for a minute. The “holy grail” of driving is high launch and low spin, and the driver engineers are pulling out all stops to get the mass as low in the clubhead as possible to optimize this combination.

Where is all the mass in your wedges? Low. So, disregarding the higher lofts, wedges “want” to launch the ball high with low spin – exactly the opposite of what good wedge play requires penetrating ball flight with high spin.

While almost all major brand wedges have begun putting a tiny bit more thickness in the top portion of the clubhead, conventional and modern ‘tour design’ wedges perform pretty much like they always have. Elite players learn to hit those crisp, spinny penetrating wedge shots by spending lots of practice time learning to consistently make contact low in the face.

So, what about grooves and face texture?

Grooves on any club can only do so much, and no one has any material advantage here. The USGA tightly defines what we manufacturers can do with grooves and face texture, and modern manufacturing techniques allow all of us to push those limits ever closer. And we all do. End of story.

Then there’s the topic of bounce and grinds, the most complex and confusing part of the wedge formula. Many top brands offer a complex array of sole configurations, all of them admittedly specialized to a particular kind of lie or turf conditions, and/or a particular divot pattern.

But if you don’t play the same turf all the time, and make the same size divot on every swing, how would you ever figure this out?

The only way is to take any wedge you are considering and play it a few rounds, hitting all the shots you face and observing the results. There’s simply no other way.

So, hopefully this will inspire a lively conversation in our comments section, and I’ll chime in to answer any questions you might have.

And next week, I’ll dive into the rest of the wedge formula. Yes, shafts, grips and specifications are essential, too.

Your Reaction?
  • 15
  • LEGIT5
  • WOW1
  • LOL1
  • IDHT2
  • FLOP2
  • OB1
  • SHANK1

Continue Reading

Golf's Perfect Imperfections

Golf’s Perfect Imperfections: Amazing Session with Performance Coach Savannah Meyer-Clement

Published

on

In this week’s episode, we spent some time with performance coach Savannah Meyer-Clement who provides many useful insights that you’ll be able to implement on the golf course.

Your Reaction?
  • 0
  • LEGIT0
  • WOW0
  • LOL0
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK0

Continue Reading

19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 RBC Heritage betting preview: Patrick Cantlay ready to get back inside winner’s circle

Published

on

Just a two-hour drive from Augusta National, the PGA TOUR heads to Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Hilton Head Island is a golfer’s paradise and Harbour Town is one of the most beautiful and scenic courses on the PGA TOUR.

Harbour Town Golf Links is a par-71 that measures 7,121 yards and features Bermuda grass greens. A Pete Dye design, the course is heavily tree lined and features small greens and many dog legs, protecting it from “bomb-and-gauge” type golfers.

The field is loaded this week with 69 golfers with no cut. Last year was quite possibly the best field in RBC Heritage history and the event this week is yet another designated event, meaning there is a $20 million prize pool.

Most of the big names on the PGA Tour will be in attendance this week with the exceptions of Hideki Matsuyama and Viktor Hovland. Additionally, Webb Simpson, Shane Lowry, Gary Woodland and Kevin Kisner have been granted sponsors exemptions. 

Past Winners at Harbour Town

  • 2023: Matt Fitzpatrick (-17)
  • 2022: Jordan Spieth (-13)
  • 2021: Stewart Cink (-19)
  • 2020: Webb Simpson (-22)
  • 2019: CT Pan (-12)
  • 2018: Sotoshi Kodaira (-12)
  • 2017: Wesley Bryan (-13)
  • 2016: Branden Grace (-9)
  • 2015: Jim Furyk (-18)

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value).

Key Stats For Harbour Town

Let’s take a look at key metrics for Harbour Town Golf Links to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their past 24 rounds.

Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes Gained: Approach is exceedingly important this week. The greens at Harbour Town are about half the size of PGA TOUR average and feature the second-smallest greens on the tour. Typical of a Pete Dye design, golfers will pay the price for missed greens.

Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Scottie Scheffler (+1.27)
  2. Tom Hoge (+1.27)
  3. Corey Conners (+1.16)
  4. Austin Eckroat (+0.95)
  5. Cameron Young (+0.93)

Good Drive %

The fairways at Harbour Town are tree lined and feature many dog legs. Bombers tend to struggle at the course because it forces layups and doesn’t allow long drivers to overpower it. Accuracy is far more important than power.

Good Drive % Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Brice Garnett (88.8%)
  2. Shane Lowry (+87.2%)
  3. Akshay Bhatia (+86.0%)
  4. Si Woo Kim (+85.8%)
  5. Sepp Straka (+85.1%)

Strokes Gained: Total at Pete Dye Designs

Pete Dye specialists tend to play very well at Harbour Town. Si Woo Kim, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk and Webb Simpson are all Pete Dye specialists who have had great success here. It is likely we see some more specialists near the top of the leaderboard this week.

SG: TOT Pete Dye per round over past 36 rounds:

  1. Xander Schauffele (+2.27)
  2. Scottie Scheffler (+2.24)
  3. Ludvig Aberg (+2.11)
  4. Brian Harman (+1.89)
  5. Sungjae Im (+1.58)

4. Strokes Gained: Short Game (Bermuda)

Strokes Gained: Short Game factors in both around the green and putting. With many green-side bunkers and tricky green complexes, both statistics will be important. Past winners — such as Jim Furyk, Wes Bryan and Webb Simpson — highlight how crucial the short game skill set is around Harbour Town.

SG: SG Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Jordan Spieth (+1.11)
  2. Taylor Moore (+1.02)
  3. Wyndham Clark (+0.98)
  4. Mackenzie Hughes (+0.86)
  5. Andrew Putnam (+0.83)

5. Greens in Regulation %

The recipe for success at Harbour Town Golf Links is hitting fairways and greens. Missing either will prove to be consequential — golfers must be in total control of the ball to win.

Greens in Regulation % over past 24 rounds:

  1. Brice Garnett (+75.0%)
  2. Scottie Scheffler (+69.9%)
  3. Corey Conners (+69.0%)
  4. Shane Lowry (+68.3%)
  5. Patrick Rodgers (+67.6%)

6. Course History

Harbour Town is a course where players who have strong past results at the course always tend to pop up. 

Course History over past 24 rounds:

  1. Patrick Cantlay (+2.34)
  2. Cam Davis (+2.05)
  3. J.T. Poston (+1.69)
  4. Justin Rose (+1.68)
  5. Tommy Fleetwood (+1.59)

The RBC Heritage Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (24%), Good Drives (20%), SG: SG (14%), SG: Pete Dye (14%), GIR (14%), and Course History (14%)

  1. Shane Lowry
  2. Russell Henley
  3. Scottie Scheffler
  4. Xander Schauffele
  5. Corey Conners 
  6. Wyndham Clark
  7. Christiaan Bezuidenhout
  8. Matt Fitzpatrick
  9. Cameron Young
  10. Ludvig Aberg 

2024 RBC Heritage Picks

Patrick Cantlay +2000 (FanDuel)

With the exception of Scottie Scheffler, the PGA Tour has yet to have any of their star players show peak form during the 2024 season. Last week, Patrick Cantlay, who I believe is a top-5 players on the PGA Tour, took one step closer to regaining the form that’s helped him win eight events on Tour since 2017.

Cantlay limped into the Masters in poor form, but figured it out at Augusta National, finishing in a tie for 20th and ranking 17th for the week in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. The former FedEx Cup champion will now head to one of his favorite golf courses in Harbour Town, where he’s had immaculate results over the years. In his six trips to the course, he’s only finished worse than 7th one time. The other finishes include three third places (2017, 2019, 2023) and one runner-up finish (2022). In his past 36 rounds at Harbour Town, Cantlay ranks 1st in Strokes Gained: Total per round at the course by a wide margin (+2.36).

Cantlay is winless since the 2022 BMW Championship, which is far too long for a player of his caliber. With signs pointing to the 32-year-old returning to form, a “signature event” at Harbour Town is just what he needs to get back on the winning track.

Tommy Fleetwood +3000 (FanDuel)

I truly believe Tommy Fleetwood will figure out a way to win on American soil in 2024. It’s certainly been a bugaboo for him throughout his career, but he is simply too talented to go another season without winning a PGA Tour event.

At last week’s Masters Tournament, Fleetwood made a Sunday charge and ended up finishing T3 in the event, which was his best ever finish at The Masters. For the week, the Englishman ranked 8th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 10th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking and 16th in Strokes Gained: Putting.

Harbour Town is a perfect layout for Fleetwood, and he’s had relative success at this Pete Dye design in the past.  In his four trips to the course, he’s finished inside of the top 25 three times, with his best finish, T10, coming in 2022. The course is pretty short and can’t be overpowered, which gives an advantage to more accurate players such as Fleetwood. Tommy ranks 8th in the field in Good Drive % and should be able to plot his way along this golf course.

The win is coming for Tommy lad. I believe there’s a chance this treasure of a golf course may be the perfect one for him to finally break through on Tour.

Cameron Young +3300 (FanDuel)

Cameron Young had a solid Masters Tournament last week, which is exactly what I’m looking for in players who I anticipate playing well this week at the RBC Heritage. He finished in a tie for 9th, but never felt the pressure of contending in the event. For the week, Young ranked 6th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 6th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.

Despite being one of the longest players off the tee on the PGA Tour, Young has actually played some really good golf on shorter tracks. He finished T3 at Harbour Town in 2023 and ranks 20th in the field in Good Drive% and 16th in Greens in Regulation in his past 24 rounds. He also has strong finishes at other shorter courses that can take driver out of a players hand such as Copperhead and PGA National.

Young is simply one of the best players on the PGA Tour in 2024, and I strongly believe has what it takes to win a PGA Tour event in the very near future.

Corey Conners +5500 (FanDuel)

Corey Conners has had a disappointing year thus far on the PGA Tour, but absolutely loves Harbour Town.

At last week’s Masters Tournament, the Canadian finished T30 but ranked 20th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach. In his past 24 rounds, Conners ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 3rd in Greens in Regulation % and 24th in Good Drive %.

In Conners’ last four trips to Harbour Town, his worst finish was T31, last season. He finished T4 in 2021, T12 in 2022 and ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Total at the course over his past 36 rounds.

Conners hasn’t been contending, but his recent finishes have been encouraging as he has finished in the top-25 in each of his past three starts prior to The Masters, including an impressive T13 at The PLAYERS. His recent improvement in ball striking as well as his suitability for Harbour Town makes Conners a high upside bet this week.

Shane Lowry (+7500) (FanDuel)

When these odds were posted after Lowry was announced in the field, I have to admit I was pretty stunned. Despite not offering much win equity on the PGA Tour over the last handful of years, Shane Lowry is still a top caliber player who has the ability to rise to the top of a signature event.

Lowry struggled to score at The Masters last week, but he actually hit the ball really well. The Irishman ranked 1st for Strokes Gained: Approach on the week and 7th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. As usual, it was the putter that let him down, as he ranked 60th in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting.

Harbour Town is most definitely one of Lowry’s favorite courses on the PGA Tour. In his six starts there, he’s finished in the top 10 three times, including third twice. Lowry is sensational at Pete Dye designs and ranks 7th in Strokes Gained: Total in his past 36 rounds on Dye tracks. 

Lowry is perfect for Harbour Town. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 5th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 2nd in Good Drive% and 5th in Green in Regulation %. If he figures it out on the greens, Shane could have his first win in America since 2015.

Lucas Glover +12000 (FanDuel)

This is one of my weekly “bet the number” plays as I strongly believe the odds are just too long for a player of Glover’s caliber. The odds have been too long on Glover for a few weeks now, but this is the first event that I can get behind the veteran being able to actually contend at. 

Glover is quietly playing good golf and returning to the form he had after the understandable regression after his two massive victories at the end of 2023. He finished T20 at The Masters, which was his best ever finish at Augusta National. For the week, Lucas ranked 18th for Strokes Gained: Approach and 20th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.

Over his past 24 rounds, Glover ranks 9th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 13th in Good Drive %. Harbour Town is a short course that the 44-year-old will be able to keep up with the top players on Tour off the tee. He’s played the course more than 20 times, with mixed results. His best finishes at Harbour Town include a T7 in 2008, but recently has a finish of T21 in 2020.

Glover has proven he can contend with the stars of the Tour on any given week, and this number is flat out disrespectful.

Your Reaction?
  • 30
  • LEGIT5
  • WOW2
  • LOL1
  • IDHT1
  • FLOP2
  • OB0
  • SHANK2

Continue Reading

WITB

Facebook

Trending