Opinion & Analysis

What Your Golf Bag Says About You

Published

7 years ago

Mar 29, 2017

There’s one thing that’s an absolute constant for golfers. While they change outfits, shoes, gloves, hats and golf balls between rounds (and maybe even golf clubs), rarely do you see golfers change their golf bags more than every other season… if that.

As such, the golf bag is possibly the most telling accessory for golfers. Looking at them, you can tell how often that person plays golf, whether they take carts or prefer to walk, and in some rare cases you can even tell their handicap.

If you don’t think you’re giving away information about your game with your golf bag, you’re wrong! See what your golf bag says about you below.

Staff Bag

NikeVRStaff-2

If you’re looking to induce eye rolls and general hatred toward yourself before even teeing it up, then trot out there with a staff bag… preferably with your name on it. In his bag, this guy has 50 pounds of Pro V1s, freshly spit-shined forged blade irons and no regard for caddies or cart boys.

Shoots around: 82, but it would have been lower if the greens were more consistent. Or you shoot 64 and take every dollar from your playing partners. Either/or.

Pull-Cart Bag

clic2

You’re in phenomenal shape after walking and playing 18 holes almost every day for at least the past year (that includes playing through snow storms, hurricanes, heat waves and even Super Bowl Sunday).

You have a passion for the game unlike anyone else, and you aren’t afraid of what people think about your golfing addiction. You take the game very seriously and have contemplated trying to make it to the PGA Tour or Champions Tour (depending on your age).

Before you even finish 18 holes you ask your playing partners, “Anyone else up for another round?”

Shoots around: Par

Cart Bag (All-Black)

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You’re a simple man. You don’t do anything to stand out from the crowd, and you generally play golf every two weeks. Every time you play it’s usually with a business partner, and you’re more focused on making “the big sale” than improving your golf swing.

What people don’t know is that you’re wearing shoes that are more expensive than your playing partners entire set of clubs, and you’ve been playing golf since birth at your father’s country club.

Shoots around: 70… if you were keeping score.

Stand Bag with College Logo

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You’re a Division I stud… or at least you used to be. Walking into the pro shop you look like a normal guy, but on the range everyone is staring at you. They’re fascinated by your ridiculously high swing speed and 300-yard drives.

Shoots around: 75 (from the tips)… but it would have been lower if you didn’t stay out so late last night.

Sunday Bag

81ZRbmGxbEL._SL1500_

You’re probably missing a few irons, but it doesn’t hurt your game because you’re constantly on the practice green working on lag putting. A common line: “Nothing better than a gorgeous day out on the course.”

Shoots around: 78, but with only 25 putts.

Cart Bag (Neon)

sun_mountain_four_5_stand_bag_gunmetal_flash

You’re flashy. A little too flashy. You’re probably wearing shoes like these, and a flat brim hat. For some reason, you’re a huge Rickie Fowler fan, but you just picked up golf a few months ago.

On the first tee you explain that “you’re working on this new move,” and after the first shot you proclaim, “Wow, it usually it doesn’t slice that much.”

Shoots around: 99+, but you throw that scorecard away before anyone else can see it.

“Vintage” 1950s Bag

You haven’t played golf in years. The only reason you’re out on the course is because you found a 7-year-old rain check and wanted to see if it still worked. After your approach shot to the first hole, you can be heard muttering, “Is my shaft supposed to be bent like this?”

Shoots around: 55 for 9 holes, but then you get another rain check. See you in 7 years!

Loudmouth Shagadelic Stand Bag

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You’re a huge John Daly fan who not only dresses like him, but embraces Long John’s lifestyle. Every Saturday you call the pro shop to load your cart up with beer before you get to the course. By the fourth hole, you’re ready to go to Hooters and “keep this party goin!”

Shoots around: 97, but you broke 80 that one time… “remember?”

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Joe Burnett

Joe is studying business at the University of Georgia. He loves golf and occasionally writes for WRX when he's not studying, hanging out in downtown Athens, playing the university course, or leading his start up, LocalComfortsUSA.com. Local Comforts creates clothing for all cities around the US. Find your cities t-shirt today.

42 Comments

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Peter

Apr 15, 2017 at 3:29 am

Interesting differences in culture. Here in Northern Europe I would say 70-80% use a pull cart and thus a typical cart bag. The color (or some of them) might give a hint if the bag belongs to a woman or man, but thats all. Then there is maybe 25% who use a stand bag because they carry. Again, the bag itself doesn’t tell too much. Then there is one or two who still have the ancient and ugly kinbag, which tells they’ve been golfing for tens of years. The only one having a staff bag is the pro, and thats the only thing the bag tells, but everyone knows that already…

I’d say the clubs tells a lot more:
– a half set = beginner
– only latest models = wannabe golfer, knows all the tips but not in practice
– worn forged irons, 1-2 new clubs = skilled active golfer
– worn irons, no new clubs = has been serious golfer, now less active, retired
– new and old clubs mixed = active golfer of any age
– scotty cameron putter = wants to show social status, putting average >2

I could go on with more specifics…

Reply Report comment
Nath

Apr 2, 2017 at 7:30 am

Not bad work there joe

Reply Report comment
BubbaJonesIzzaDick

Apr 1, 2017 at 6:30 pm

+1 Chopper.

Reply Report comment
Tom

Apr 1, 2017 at 5:43 pm

I’m a former D2 player. I have my alma mater garb because I loved my career college day’s. I wear the team jersey, ball cap and have a banner in my front yard I go to sporting events yearly and am a booster. When I die I want my ashes spread over the campus from 5K feet. I don’t drink alcohol and I do enjoy talkin bout the good ol days at reunions. This hasbeen Love his country and served with pride after college. Married and settled in Seattle area. We raised two sons one a Marine and the other a fire fighter. I still have a full head of hair and all my teeth, walk the course(s) with my grandchild and wife of twenty eight years.

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Tom

Apr 1, 2017 at 5:21 pm

LOl over 500 shanks. pegged a lot of wrxer’s with the definitions.

Reply Report comment
Jeffrey Purtell

Apr 1, 2017 at 4:38 am

What about my Callaway Razr staff bag (few years back now) that was priced at $400 reduced to $240. I had $150 in vouchers from winning Club champion and A grade Champion (2 different social clubs) so I only had to shell out $90 of my own money. Cant argue with that.

Reply Report comment
aether

Mar 31, 2017 at 7:49 pm

Judging books by their cover…sad that people get profiled by the type of golf bag they’re carrying, just plain silly.

Reply Report comment
- Tom
  
  Apr 1, 2017 at 5:23 pm
  
  aww yes a predisposition society we are. Same thing with clothes, cars, homes , girlfriends etc…..
  
  Reply Report comment
Dave R

Mar 31, 2017 at 6:01 pm

Good article hit the nail on the head for the loud mouth bag played with a dude that acted exactly the way you put it. Keep it up the college was right on also.

Reply Report comment
golfraven

Mar 31, 2017 at 3:25 pm

Interesting and kind of huts the nerve. I can see me in type 3 before I moved to type 2 (carry bag on cart – although I had a cart bag all in black before).

Reply Report comment
DD 214

Mar 31, 2017 at 10:16 am

….Obviously, you’ve never seen the looks on Caddies faces when knobs with CART BAGS decide to walk occasionally, or show up at a pro-am with one and want to walk with the pro. Own a carry/stand bag as well. If you fly a couple times a year – even a club glove can’t protect your stand bag from a good crunch, and you aren’t walking 95% of resort or ‘winter golf destination’ courses, so after seeing countless standbags and drivers / graphite shafts crushed or broken, take some professional advice and travel with a sturdy bag with an internal cylinder like a cart bag or traditional style ‘staff’ bag – with or without logos

Certainly many survive the flight. You may have survived dozens. You may even get the Airline to cover the damage although most insist on a rigid travel case if they’re gonna pay (nice cases, lotsa luck trying to get one in a mid size rental car….

Just think of the hassle arriving for a well planned 4 day 6 round sortie and your new favorite driver’s broken –

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Tyler

Mar 30, 2017 at 3:27 pm

I’ve been using a Titleist lightweight black stand bag for about 4 or 5 years now. It’s nice and faded , I love it.

My guess it was made by Sun Mountain. I’ve thought about getting a new bag but just can’t bring myself to retire it yet. I can’t find another one anywhere. It’s a two way divider. Woods and putter on the top, irons on the bottom.

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0101010

Mar 30, 2017 at 2:43 pm

that’s not a cart bag image #6… way to go!

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Chopper

Mar 30, 2017 at 2:43 pm

I hope that I am a nicer guy than you when I get to be your age.

Reply Report comment
- Grizz01
  
  Mar 31, 2017 at 9:15 pm
  
  Chopper…. that there was funny!
  
  Reply Report comment
- Tom
  
  Apr 1, 2017 at 5:25 pm
  
  good one chopper
  
  Reply Report comment
Tyson Rochambeau

Mar 30, 2017 at 2:30 pm

Joe Burnett def has a staff bag with his name on it.

Reply Report comment
Joe's Fan Club

Mar 30, 2017 at 1:15 pm

Joe,

Go to class and study hard so you dont have to blog the rest of your life. This doesn’t seem like a good fit.

Your biggest fan,

-Joe’s Fan Club

Reply Report comment
Huh?

Mar 30, 2017 at 9:50 am

I have a question. Why is it currently deemed to be acceptable that the golfing consumer is all but forced to purchase shoes, bags, shirts and pants boldly emblazoned with those unfortunate manufacturer logos all over the place? What became of discretion in labeling? I think bold branding is perfectly fine for the working professional golfer – in fact, I think they would all look so much better out there on the course if their shirts had even bolder, flashier graphics like the ones that professional bowlers wear, but if you are the one actually paying for the stuff, shouldn’t there be an option to be able to opt out of being an unfortunate, willing sign-board carrier for Titleist or TaylorMade or YourFavoriteBrandNameHere? Think about it, when was the last time anyone asked you what “kind of” shoes or shirt or pants you are wearing simply because they liked the looks or style or functionality of them?

Reply Report comment
- justinm
  
  Mar 30, 2017 at 7:05 pm
  
  Not to undermine your very well written and heavily pondered reply….. but there are a number of companies who offer bags with VERY few to no logos at all. Shoes can get wacky with colors but nearly every brand offers dozens of color-ways and options that even you would consider conservative (some even hide their logos on the bottom). Shirts occasionally have a large logo, but every apparel company on earth also offers shirts with single small logos and in plain colors. As far as pants go…… I don’t know any companies other than loudmouth that are hocking pants “boldly emblazoned with those unfortunate manufacturers logos”.. if you are angry with the quarter sized adidas logo on your buddy’s sleeve while he sits next to you in the cart, maybe you should re-sort your priorities.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Huh?
    
    Mar 31, 2017 at 1:13 pm
    
    Justin. My priority is to find the absolute best marketing strategy to get avid golfers to buy even more golf related products. And although I admit to having once pondered the deeply existential branding problem that faces all golfing amateurs when getting dressed to go play around of golf – which is : Do I look more ridiculous if all my logos match? Or do I look more ridiculous if they don’t? – I am wondering if the best answer would be to provide consumers the option of avoiding having to deal with that nagging existential doubt if at all possible. In all truth, it doesn’t bother or “anger” me (to use your words) to see various graphics and logos stuck on to my golfing buddies’ apparel. If they want to identify themselves as being the “branded” property of the Circle T Ranch (can you say : “moooo”) or if they just simply want to let everyone know that they just broke out of jail, I could really care less. But I always have to ask myself – ‘Do they actually want to identify themselves in that way? Or are they identifying themselves in that way simply because they can’t avoid it?’ And I think that was the point I was trying to make – I was just wanting to throw that out there since this article makes what I think is the flawed assumption that everyone who plays golf actually “identifies” with the branding and styling of their golf bag.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Grizz01
    
    Mar 31, 2017 at 9:20 pm
    
    Kinda agree with you. All that flash on a bag (to me) tell others to steal my bag. I never use the head covers that comes with the clubs. It just sreams steal me while he is in the bathroom or clubhouse.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Double Mocha Man
      
      Apr 1, 2017 at 8:05 pm
      
      Take your clubs with you when you have to tinkle. Seriously, I agree with you… I worry a bit when my clubs are out of my sight. And I replace the gaudy headcovers with simple one-size-fits-all headcovers… I do not want to advertise what is under that artificial leather.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Nomad Golfer
        
        Apr 21, 2017 at 11:32 pm
        
        Agree. Plain knitted covers and dull irons in a nondescript bag doesn’t give away any clues to the deadly weapons contained within, and take your bag with you to the toilet – better sure than sorry later.
        
        Reply Report comment
Jack

Mar 30, 2017 at 2:39 am

Those scores are too low lol. Basically if you see any of these bags they are shooting good scores except for the drunk John Daly fan. Time to get that loudmouth bag lol.

Reply Report comment
- Jim
  
  Mar 31, 2017 at 2:50 pm
  
  Gotta tell ya, most of my – call ’em beer cart regulars, not drunks – JD fans are all in the 75-82 range, good gear (not necessarily the MOST current or expensive, but all good quality) and the bags – all over the place…stand, cart, staff….One of the better ‘sticks’ – with a $1200 driver – who does bomb it 8/11 times, has a 39.99 Dick’s house brand bag – because he actually honestly doesn’t give a crap about THAT….
  
  AND, (maybe not surprising) I played in a big-deal pro-am maybe 10yrs ago (?)…the second foursome waiting on our tee had a guy whose bag looked like it was 30 years old, dirty, torn and actually had safety pins on the cargo pocket. Clubs were all Ping – wood woods & Eye irons….
  I won’t write his name, but let’s just say his last gig was being in charge of the entire US monetary system….
  
  peeps are strange….
  
  as I understand it, the proshop at his club finally just gave him a new one….
  
  Reply Report comment
Ian

Mar 30, 2017 at 2:12 am

The BIG RED bag is so wrong, but I can’t stop looking at it.

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Mike Hollingsworth

Mar 29, 2017 at 11:28 pm

Terrible article, and the author’s “start up” on his bio is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard of.

Reply Report comment
Teaj

Mar 29, 2017 at 10:16 pm

I kind of found it fun to read, why is everyone so serious or am I missing a joke.

Reply Report comment
madeinguam81

Mar 29, 2017 at 8:45 pm

#9 Hybrid Stand/Cart Bag

You ride 100% of the time but you also like the idea of walking, even though you NEVER will. No biggie, because remember that one time your old cart bag tipped over in the parking lot? Well, you will forever need a bag with a stand.

Shoots around: Low 80s, but you should be penalized for not shutting up about how your bag is the “best of both worlds.”

Reply Report comment
Sl

Mar 29, 2017 at 5:47 pm

Get back in your cave, Joe. You shouldn’t be writing anything at all.

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Bob Parsons

Mar 29, 2017 at 4:00 pm

You forgot the PXG Bag! The guy with the ugly swing, expensive clubs, and lack of score keeping.

Reply Report comment
- Jim
  
  Mar 31, 2017 at 7:17 pm
  
  Dear Mr P, sorry to tell you the only guy I’ve yet to see with a PXG rig and an ugly swing is you! (we’ve sold about a hundred full sets if your clubs, and maybe 150 drivers – but sadly maybe only two dozen or so staff bags) In fact, several of our 10-18 hcp folks were so encouraged after their fitting/demo sessions and deciding to make the investment in your products, after reviewing their stats AND swings on High Speed video & 3D biometric analysis they agreed there were a couple of swing issues they could indeed improve upon, so they signed up for lesson packages with me as well – Thank You for helping inspire then. The Irons were built immediately – with slight ‘grow into’ shaft specs so we could work with the clubs over the winter…They agreed to wait til spring for a second Trackman & High Speed video fitting to compare the before and after stats as I was certain they’d change after the lessons. I’m happy to say all 8 guys and 1 lady were able to significantly increase both load on the shaft during transition, increase club head speed and all improved their release. All 9 people ended up with much better fitting shafts.
  
  Weather still sucking here, had our PGA Spring Meeting on
  LI this week but they were able to let carts on the course….
  
  SO, with all that monster improvement goin’ on, once they
  start playing and breaking old personal bests, I hope they’ll
  all come in and order customized PXG staff bags from us
  too!
  
  Thanks Mr P for making the best clubs for folks with pretty repetitive swings and a true love for the game, but still need very forging clubs – Hey, you know who we are – your number ONE account in N.East…Come by for a lesson so I can scrape some of the UGLY off your swing too 😉
  
  Regards…
  
  Reply Report comment
James

Mar 29, 2017 at 1:49 pm

#6 says Cart Bag, yet the picture is of a carry bag….

Reply Report comment
Double Mocha Man

Mar 29, 2017 at 1:39 pm

I think you missed a few bags, but that’s okay. I’m the guy with the black (Titleist) bag that shoots in the mid to low 70’s. I like my bag to be neutral. I’d prefer to let my game scream (or not) than have my bag scream stuff.

Reply Report comment
- Chopper
  
  Mar 30, 2017 at 2:47 pm
  
  I’m not always scratch, but when I am, I humble brag about it on golfwrx.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Double Mocha Man
    
    Mar 30, 2017 at 3:27 pm
    
    I wish I was scratch. Not there yet. And as for bragging about things on GolfWRX I do not hit 300 yard drives.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Everyone on golfwrx that reads the comments
      
      Mar 30, 2017 at 4:39 pm
      
      A lot of your posts got a lil brag to em
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Double Mocha Man
        
        Mar 30, 2017 at 6:14 pm
        
        You must be one of those guys who easily drills your drives over 300 yards.
        
        Reply Report comment
        
        The Beau Show
        
        Mar 30, 2017 at 6:59 pm
        
        gotta have the last word, do ya brag boy?
        
        Reply Report comment
  - Mocha man 4 pres
    
    Mar 30, 2017 at 3:37 pm
    
    Always look forward to mocha man’s classic comments.
    
    Reply Report comment

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Opinion & Analysis

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

Published

10 hours ago

Apr 18, 2024

Terry Koehler

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.

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Golf's Perfect Imperfections

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

Published

10 hours ago

Apr 18, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

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.

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19th Hole

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

Published

3 days ago

Apr 15, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

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

Scottie Scheffler (+1.27)
Tom Hoge (+1.27)
Corey Conners (+1.16)
Austin Eckroat (+0.95)
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

Brice Garnett (88.8%)
Shane Lowry (+87.2%)
Akshay Bhatia (+86.0%)
Si Woo Kim (+85.8%)
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:

Xander Schauffele (+2.27)
Scottie Scheffler (+2.24)
Ludvig Aberg (+2.11)
Brian Harman (+1.89)
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

Jordan Spieth (+1.11)
Taylor Moore (+1.02)
Wyndham Clark (+0.98)
Mackenzie Hughes (+0.86)
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:

Brice Garnett (+75.0%)
Scottie Scheffler (+69.9%)
Corey Conners (+69.0%)
Shane Lowry (+68.3%)
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:

Patrick Cantlay (+2.34)
Cam Davis (+2.05)
J.T. Poston (+1.69)
Justin Rose (+1.68)
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%)

Shane Lowry
Russell Henley
Scottie Scheffler
Xander Schauffele
Corey Conners
Wyndham Clark
Christiaan Bezuidenhout
Matt Fitzpatrick
Cameron Young
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.

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