Like we predicted last week, our betting panel stayed hot with our anonymous swing coach, reporting from the grounds of Augusta National, nailing Rory McIlroy (+650) at the Masters! He’s now predicted Rory’s wins at the Players and the Masters. We’ll be paying close attention to the rest of his major picks this year.
There’s no Rory in the field this week, but we do have the rest of the PGA Tour’s elite for the RBC Heritage. Two of our experts are banking on Patrick Cantlay to keep our winning ways going. Remember his slow-play saga at Harbour Town a few years ago? That’s because he’s been in contention here each of the past three years. It’s time to redeem all that negative chatter about his pace of play and find the winner’s circle, which he hasn’t done since 2022.
RELATED: RBC Heritage DFS picks 2025: Buy the dip after this golfer’s Masters missed cut
The Golf Digest betting panel is comprised of a tour coach reporting anonymously from the grounds of Harbour Town, Pat Mayo of Underdog/Mayo Media Network, Brandon Gdula of numberFire/FanDuel, Andy Lack of the Inside Sports Network, your two authors and Keith Stewart, the CEO of Read The Line. Stewart, our newest member of the panel, is our new betting content partner as well.
Scroll down for our complete betting analysis of the 2025 RBC Heritage:
RBC Heritage picks 2025: Our Experts’ Outright Predictions
Anonymous Swing Coach of the week: Ludvig Aberg (12-1, DraftKings) — The young Swede showed his all-around game was clicking last week at Augusta, nearly winning the green jacket. He’s got every shot needed to win Harbour Town, too. It’s a great course for those who can think their way around a course, similar to Augusta.
Pat Mayo, Underdog/Fantasy National, Mayo Media Network analyst: Xander Schauffele (16-1, Bet365) — I wasn’t convinced after he led the Valspar in approach, but after gaining strokes tee to green every round at Augusta, I’m ready for the comeback to be complete. The putter has been the biggest issue since his return from the rib injury, and that’s been progressively been getting better each start. He finally gained strokes vs. the field at The Masters for the first time 2025, albeit just slightly (+0.8).
Brandon Gdula, FanDuel/numberFire managing editor: Justin Thomas (20-1, FanDuel) — The luster has worn off on JT a bit, and the number is now looking good again. Thomas always struggles at Augusta, but let’s not forget he was second at the Valspar in his start prior to the Masters. Thomas has also finished top 12 here in three of six starts while making all six cuts.
Keith Stewart, PGA, Read The Line: Xander Schauffele (16-1, Bet365) — Xander Schauffele never seriously contented at the Masters and finished T-8 for the second year in a row. I mention this because the results were good, but he won’t be nearly as mentally drained as those who were in contention. Schauffele has really started to show signs of being a recent two-time major champion. The approach game is on fire, and he finally has the driver locked in. I foresee another iron week like the Valspar with a little extra rust dusted off from the rib injury. Xander’s getting close to defending at the PGA and will no doubt be pushing hard for a win prior to Quail Hollow.
Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest dep. managing editor: Patrick Cantlay (18-1, DraftKings) — Only TPC Summerlin has been better to Cantlay throughout his career. The ball-striking is firing—and he won’t be in danger of chipping into the water here at Harbour Town. Cantlay excels at Pete Dye designs, and that’ll continue this week.
Christopher Powers, Golf Digest senior writer: Patrick Cantlay (18-1, DraftKings) — Cantlay gained strokes on approach for the sixth straight week at the Masters, but some shoddy short-game play saw him sink outside the top 30. I expect him to keep eating with the irons at Harbour Town, where he’s finished inside the top three THREE straight years without a win. It’s coming this week.
Andy Lack, Inside Sports Network: Collin Morikawa (11-1, DraftKings) — This finally feels like the week where it all comes together for Collin Morikawa, who is coming off another excellent ball-striking performance at the Masters. The two-time major winner gained 2.2 strokes off the tee and 5.4 strokes on approach and now returns to a course where he already has two top-10 finishes, including a ninth last year.
Past results: We have another winner! Our anonymous swing coach nailed Rory McIlroy yet again at the Masters (+650) after picking him at the Players (12-1) as well. That’s our panel’s fifth win of 2025 and seventh as individuals, as Pat Mayo and Steve Hennessey both cashed on Min Woo Lee (35-1) at the Houston Open. Hennessey also picked Ludvig Aberg, along with Keith Stewart at the Genesis. Christopher Powers hit on Russell Henley to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational at 44-1. Let’s stay hot!
Listen to Golf Digest’s weekly betting podcast, “The Loop,” (above) where we interview the industry’s leading experts (and sometimes tour pros) to help you make your bets and pick your fantasy lineups. And be sure to subscribe to “The Loop” wherever you get your podcasts!
RBC Heritage picks 2025: Sleepers/Dark Horses Who Could Win
Tour coach: Bud Cauley (80-1, FanDuel) — Three straight top-10 finishes, plus nearly winning the Players, plus he had last week off to rest? I’m not sure these odds are reflective of how talented Bud Cauley is and how his game is even better right now than it was in his younger days.
Mayo: Lucas Glover (100-1, Bet365) — I’ll go to the grave believing in the Heritage/Wyndham connection. And you know what? My suit pockets will be stuffed with cash for doing so. The Glove had been on a tear (T-8/T-3) before a massive lapse putting in Round 1 at the Masters (-4.0), then it was his chipping in Round 2 (-2.4). I won’t that deter me from the 2023 Wyndham winner who continues to click with his irons.
Gdula: Sepp Straka (45-1, FanDuel) — Straka has posted at least +1.00 SG/approach per round on average in 13 of his past 14 events. Scottie Scheffler has done it in 11 of his last 14, for context. Only Scheffler has better iron numbers over his last 50 rounds than Straka among this field.
Stewart: Wyndham Clark (55-1, DraftKings) — One year ago, Wyndham Clark missed the cut at the Masters and then proceeded to finish third at the RBC Heritage. Presently, Clark is playing better golf around the season’s first major and returns to a golf course that suits his style. Wyndham contends on positional golf courses: Pebble Beach (win), TPC River Highlands (T-9), The Players (T-2). The main reason why is not Clark’s power, but rather his touch. Wyndham is an excellent scoring iron player, short-game scorer and putter. Three traits that will make this longshot live again in the lowcountry.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Daniel Berger (50-1, FanDuel) — Berger has gained strokes tee to green in every event since last fall, and that continued at Augusta. He’s pinpoint accurate off the tee and laser focused with his irons—the key to success at Harbour Town. He was close to a win in the COVID year before winning the next week at Colonial. I think this is the week Berger is officially back.
Powers, Golf Digest: Jordan Spieth (40-1, DraftKings) — Even without his irons looking sharp, he’s posted consecutive top-15 finishes at Valero and Augusta. In other words, still hanging around with his D game. He seems close to putting it all together, and this feels like the perfect get-right spot. Spieth has finished second and first here in two of his past three trips.
Lack: Daniel Berger (50-1, FanDuel) — Daniel Berger continues to play some of the steadiest golf on the PGA Tour this year, and he is coming off another 21st-place finish at the Masters, his eighth top-30 finish in ten starts in 2025. Harbour Town is a much better golf course fit for Berger’s skill-set than Augusta as well, as his accuracy off the tee and short-to-middle iron play will certainly be highlighted at the iconic Pete Dye design.
RELATED: Ludvig Aberg’s disaster on the 72nd hole of the Masters cost him an EYE-POPPING amount of money
RBC Heritage picks 2025: Players We’re Fading
Tour coach: Robert MacIntyre (40-1, DraftKings) — Not the course for him to utilize his power off the tee. It was a surprise MC at the Masters, and this is a much worse course fit.
Mayo: Corey Conners (22-1, FanDuel) — Fresh off a sad Sunday at Augusta, Conners is priced just slightly too high for a tournament that eventually amounts to a putting contest.
Gdula: Corey Conners (22-1, FanDuel) — Conners’ around-the-green play is trending up but not quite on par with the other favorites, and Harbour Town’s tiny greens might put pressure on him.
Stewart: Shane Lowry (24-1, Bet365) — Rory McIlroy’s win at the Masters is a big distraction for Shane Lowry. I believe Lowry will approach RBC week looking to win, but you mean to tell me he didn’t celebrate with his friend achieving a career championship? That his preparation wasn’t delayed by a career grand slam party? Couple that with recent struggles at this venue and the fact he and Rory need to defend next week at the Zurich—that’s why I think this event gets lost in the shuffle.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Scottie Scheffler (+360, Caesars Sportsbook) — The defending champ lost strokes off the tee in three of the four rounds last week at Augusta. He’s been struggling with that left miss off the tee. That’s going to put you behind the eight ball at Harbour Town.
Powers, Golf Digest: Corey Conners (22-1, FanDuel) — I’d have to imagine last week took a lot out of him, not to mention you can get Spieth, a 13-time tour winner who has won here before, at nearly double the price. Much better value down the board.
Lack: Justin Thomas (20-1, DraftKings) — While I am certainly intrigued with Justin Thomas’ course history and fit at Harbour Town, we have little evidence that the two-time major winner can put four rounds together over the past two and a half years and is a good steward of our money at this price.
RELATED: I asked Rory McIlroy to identify the best shot he hit on Sunday of the Masters, and his answer was fascinating
RBC Heritage picks 2025: Matchups
Tour coach: Brian Harman (+100) over Akshay Bhatia (Bet365) — Harbour Town is about precision and placement, and we saw that beat the field in San Antonio even when a superior off-the-tee game was key. That’s how good Harman’s irons were to go along with his accuracy. This is a great setup for the state of Harman’s game right now.
Mayo: Ryo Hisatsune (-105) over Joe Highsmith (Coolbet) — Sure, maybe I’m letting my history of backing long shot Japanese players influence my decision making a tad (shoutout Satoshi Kodaira), but there’s actually quite a bit to like in Hisatsune’s recent form. He’s posted top fives in two of this past three, gained on approach in four straight and is averaging over three strokes per start on the greens over his last three. Can he actually win against this quality of field? Probably not. But if he holds his form he could challenge into Sunday. Harbour Town is one of the few courses that hosts elevated event that gears toward the entire field.
Gdula: Michael Kim (-110) over Maverick McNealy (FanDuel) — These two have nearly identical games recently with one glaring difference: Kim’s around-the-green play is much better. With tiny greens and a historical emphasis on scrambling at Harbour Town, I’m siding with Kim here.
Stewart: Patrick Cantlay (-120) over Justin Thomas (Bet365) — Justin Thomas cannot fix his driver. I thought the massive landing areas at Augusta National would help him off the tee, but JT struggled to find the fairway or even the adjacent rough. In seven RBC Heritage starts, Patrick Cantlay has six top-seven finishes. Cantlay also has been great on approach and putted well at the Masters; no small feat. There’s no cut this week, but by Sunday Patrick from the fairway will beat Thomas from the trees.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Collin Morikawa (+162) over Scottie Scheffler (Bet365) — I’ll go against big bad Scottie for the reasons I illustrated above. I think Morikawa threatens to win and has a top-five showing.
Powers, Golf Digest: Sepp Straka (-110) over Sungjae Im (DraftKings) — Straka burned us all last week with a brutal first round (looking at you too, Russell Henley), but he came back strong in Round 2. It wasn’t enough to make the weekend, which means he’s had some extra rest and time to refocus. He’s gained with his irons in 12 of his last 13, while Sungjae lost with his irons at Augusta, his fourth straight week doing so, and managed to top 5 on the strength of his short game.
Lack: Sepp Straka (-125) over Robert MacIntyre (BetRivers) — Both Sepp Straka and Robert MacIntyre are coming off disappointing missed cuts at the Masters, yet based on his course fit, I am far more intrigued with Straka as a bounce-back candidate. Straka has already recorded two top-five finishes at Harbour Town, and his accuracy off the tee and elite short-to-middle iron play makes the iconic Pete Dye design a perfect venue for the recent American Express winner (another short Pete Dye design, I might add!).
Matchup Results from the Masters: Gdula: 1 for 1 (Schauffele (-115) over Matsuyama); Swing coach: 1 for 1 (Reed (-152) over Theegala); Mayo, Stewart, Hennessey, Powers and Lack: 0 for 1.
Matchup Results from this season (Wins-Losses-Pushes): Powers: 10-5-0 (up 5.12 units); Swing coach: 8-2-2 (up 4.85 units); Hennessey: 9-5-1 (up 3.39 units); Lack: 6-8-1 (down 1.79 units); Gdula: 6-8-1 (down 2.82 units); Stewart: 6-9-0 (down 3.02 units); Mayo: 4-11-0 (down 6.99 units)
RBC Heritage picks 2025: Top 10s
Tour coach: Sungjae Im (+350, FanDuel) — A very quiet top 10 at Augusta might’ve gotten Sungjae back on his game. His ability to control his irons has translated to success at Harbour Town with four straight top-25 finishes.
Mayo: Aaron Rai (+330, FanDuel) — Rai was the first-round leader here and just needs to clean up the bad rounds he’s been posting lately, because the high-end tee-to-green play is certainly in the chamber. Rai led all players at the Masters tee to green in Round, then lost the ability to hit approaches for two days before rebounding with a closing +2.3 Sunday. While he’s been solid at long courses in his career, Harbour Town’s length plays exactly into his strengths. Plus, there’s been immense crossover for Heritage and Wyndham over the years. And if I call correctly, and I think I do because I was on site, Rai won at Sedgefield a year ago.
Gdula: Aaron Rai (+330, FanDuel) — Aaron Rai is a great course fit on paper, and while his lone start here was just OK (T-48), he finished 14th in ball-striking for the week in 2023. He’s the field leader in accuracy over the past 50 rounds, and that’s always welcomed at Harbour Town.
Stewart: Corey Conners (+210, FanDuel) — In his last five starts, Corey Conners has four strong top-10 results. If you look across his strokes gained record, he’s gained positively in ALL four categories in ALL five weeks with one exception, he lost a stroke with his putter at Valero. Conners has been career good and coming to a place that fits his form makes plenty of sense with 10 places.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Lucas Glover (+600, Bet365) — I bet Glover to win as well—I love his T-3 at TPC Sawgrass proving he can still hang with the big boys on a positional, short golf course.
Powers, Golf Digest: Matt Kuchar (+850, DraftKings) — Can this old dog still hunt? Well, he’s coming off a top 20 at Valero where he gained in every area but off the tee. Harbour Town is certainly no picnic off the tee, but the real challenge comes on the second shots. Kuchar has had no problem taming this place over the years, finishing inside the top 20 in each of his last three trips to Hilton Head. He’s also won and had a runner-up here.
Lack: Si Woo Kim (+550, Bet365) — Si Woo Kim is one of my favorite sleepers on the board this week, and he remains an ideal fit at any short, positional, Pete Dye golf course. Kim has already recorded victories at TPC Sawgrass, Sedgefield and Waialae, three of my strongest comparative courses on the week, as well as a runner-up finish at Harbour Town in 2018.
Top-10 results from the Masters: Tour coach, Gdula: 1 for 1 (Corey Conners, +400); Everyone else: 0 for 1.
Top-10 results from this season: Swing coach: 5 for 12 (up 17.8 units); Gdula: 7 for 15 (up 16 units); Mayo: 3 for 15 (up 7.33 units); Lack: 5 for 15 (up 6 units); Stewart: 4 for 15 (down 2.15 units); Hennessey: 1 for 15 (down 10.4 units); Powers: 0 for 15 (down 15 units)
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About our experts
Pat Mayo is an award-winning video host and producer of long and short-form content, and the host of The Pat Mayo Experience daily talk show. Mayo helped create the golf stats and research website Fantasy National along with the Race for the Mayo Cup One and Done contest. Mayo won the 2022 Fantasy Sports Writing Association Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year and is a finalist for three FSWA Awards in 2023 (Best Podcast, Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year, Golf Writer of the Year). His 27 FSWA nominations lead all writers this decade and are second-most all-time. Follow him on Twitter: @ThePME.
Brandon Gdula, managing editor and analyst for numberFire, a FanDuel daily-fantasy analysis company, recently won the 2018 FSWA Golf Writer of the Year. Gdula also co-hosts the DFS Heat Check podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @gdula13.
Keith Stewart is a five-time award-winning PGA professional, a betting contributor for Golf Digest and founder of Read The Line, the premier on-site live golf betting insights service covering the LPGA and PGA TOUR. Subscribe to Read The Line’s weekly newsletter here and raise your golf betting acumen. Keith’s winning content can also be found on Sports Grid, Bleacher Report and The Sporting News. Follow him on Twitter @readtheline_.
Andy Lack is a PGA Tour writer and podcaster from New York City who now resides in Los Angeles. Andy is the founder and CEO of Inside Sports Network, a website devoted to the predictive quality of advanced analytics and golf course architecture. He came to Golf Digest’s betting panel after previously writing for Run Pure Sports, RickRunGood.com, the Score and GolfWRX. In his free time, Andy can likely be found on a golf course. Follow him on Twitter: @adplacksports
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
