We hope you took advantage of Rory McIlroy’s odds drifting up to a glorious 12-1 to cash a Masters outright winner. We had great gambling content all week at Golf Digest, including our Joe Idone from Read the Line touting him, but for us in the experts picks column, we’re back to grinding on our leather you know what, looking for a winner at the RBC Heritage.
The Golf Digest betting panel is comprised of Pat Mayo of Underdog/Mayo Media Network, Andy Lack of the Inside Sports Network, Ryan Noonan of Betsperts, your two authors and Keith Stewart, the CEO of Read The Line.
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Min Woo Lee has turned his weaknesses into strengths in 2026—and Read The Line’s Keith Stewart and Pat Mayo discuss the Aussie’s course fit at Harbour Town:
Watch a full preview of the 2026 RBC Heritage with Stewart’s appearance on the Pat Mayo Experience here.
Scroll down for our complete betting analysis of the 2026 RBC Heritage:
RBC Heritage picks 2026: Our Experts’ Outright Predictions
Pat Mayo, Underdog/Fantasy National, Mayo Media Network analyst: Jordan Spieth (33-1, FanDuel) — It’s been almost four years to the day since his last win, which was here in 2022. But it’s been almost as long since he’s been playing so well for such an extended amount of time. While the results haven’t materialized at the very top end, over the past two months, Spieth’s ball-striking is near the tops on tour while his chipping is crawling back to “magic beans” levels. This sort of tee-to-green run hasn’t been seen from Spieth since 2023 when it culminated with a T-2 at Harbour Town.
Keith Stewart, PGA, Read The Line: Cameron Young (18-1, DraftKings) — In his last three starts, Cameron Young has finished seventh, third, won The Players and third at the Masters. The first time Young saw Harbour Town, Cameron finished third in 2022. Young is top 10 in the field for approach, par-4 scoring, and birdie or better percentage. His driver is an absolute weapon on this golf course. The disappointment from Sunday at the Masters fuels his second win in a month.
Ryan Noonan, Content Manager 4for4/Betsperts: Viktor Hovland (35-1, FanDuel) — Hovland ranks first in this week’s field in SG/approach and overall proximity over the past 50 rounds, and it was on full display at Augusta National. Hovland gained throughout the bag on Sunday on his way to a backdoor T-18, including 3.88 strokes on approach, which led the field. You might be thinking: How can you back Hovland at a place where around-the-green matters? The data shows he much prefers chipping from the short grass versus the rough. Hovland’s driver has been the root cause of a lot of his 2026 struggles, but it’s trending up. It’ll also stay in the bag a lot, with driver usage at Harbour Town coming in around 12-15 percent below a standard PGA Tour event.
Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest managing editor: Patrick Cantlay (25-1, FanDuel) — Cantlay is a Pete Dye merchant, ranking first on Dye courses, which is across more than 100 rounds, per BetSperts’ Rabbit Hole. His history at Harbour Town is impeccable with five top-three finishes, plus the playoff loss to Jordan Spieth. And he’s coming off a Masters where he led all players who made the cut in SG/around the greens and was top 10 in approach play. We saw him excel at a less-than-driver course at the Valspar, finishing T-7. It’s an easy case to make for Cantlay.
Christopher Powers, Golf Digest senior writer: Jordan Spieth (33-1, FanDuel) — The number stinks compared to how it opened by I am unfortunately still a believer in Jordan Spieth this week, and in general. Just listen to his final post-round interview from the Masters. The man who is constantly in his own head feels as confident in his ball-striking as he did at his peak. If he could just have a mediocre putting week, at a place he’s won before (site of his last win in 2022), he’ll be there late on Sunday.
Andy Lack, Inside Sports Network: Xander Schauffele (15-1, DraftKings) — While a ninth-place finish for Xander Schauffele at the Masters might have fallen short of expectations, the two-time major winner produced his best ball-striking week of the season, gaining over four strokes off the tee and over seven strokes around the greens. I expect Schauffele to continue his momentum at Harbour Town.
Past results: We have our SECOND winner of 2026, with Ryan Noonan hitting his first-ever outright as a member of the panel, correctly predicting Nico Echavarria’s win at the Cognizant Classic at 60-1. That makes two 60-1 hits for our panel this year, with Stephen Hennessey nailing Justin Rose’s Farmers win at 60-1, too.
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 2026: Sleepers/Dark Horses Who Could Win
Mayo: Min Woo Lee (60-1, Bet365) — Normally, I’d hate Harbour Town for Min Woo. Simple changes in his game in 2026 now having me thinking otherwise. The addition of his mini driver has afforded him increased accuracy and the ability to shape the shot better off the tee while still using his distance to his advantage. Plus, he’s simply been better with his irons all year. Even after his disaster at Augusta, if he can continue those two things and pair it with his all-world chipping and putting, the RBC Heritage is a perfect place to use his touch or power when he needs them.
Stewart: Sahith Theegala (78-1, DraftKings) — I love Sahith Theegala on Pete Dye designs. The talented Theegala has proven he understands Dye’s tricks. Eighth at The American Express (Dye) in January and 10th in his last start at Houston, Sahith has two top 5s in four starts at Harbour Town. The trending Theegala has a ton of value at nearly 90-1!
Noonan: Daniel Berger (90-1, DraftKings) — After a two-year hiatus due to injury, Berger returned to Harbour Town in 2025 and posted a T-3, his second T-3 in his past four starts at the event. Over the past five years, only Scottie Scheffler (1.48) has gained more strokes per round on approach than Berger’s 1.36 here. His short game at Harbour Town has also outperformed his baseline rates over the past calendar year, and like Hovland, he’s much better on short grass around the green than rough.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Ryo Hisatsune (88-1, DraftKings) — Hisatsune is coming off another top 10 and had the chance to reset last week without a Masters invitation. One of his best assets is his proficiency off the tee, ranking fifth in Good Drives Gained over the past 36 rounds. He’s a great approach player, and he’s proven he’s not scared of going toe to toe with the elites in these signature events.
Powers, Golf Digest: Brian Harman (96-1, DraftKings) — Harman did great work to make the cut at the Masters after a first-round 79, and he wound up gaining strokes in every major area in his T-33 finish. That’s enough for me to take a shot here on the lefty, who won Valero a year ago, tied for third here at Harbour Town and seems to be rounding into form after a quiet start to 2026.
Lack: Keegan Bradley (110-1, BetOnline) — Keegan Bradley showed some serious signs in his Sunday 66 at the Masters, and I’m confident he can carry his momentum into a strong performance at the RBC Heritage. Iron play has been a struggle for the Ryder Cup captain this year, but that appeared to turn in his last round, and Bradley still possesses one of the best short games in the field.
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RBC Heritage picks 2026: Players We’re Fading
Mayo: Ludvig Aberg (20-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — With greens this small, short game is eventually going to play a factor. We saw last week what can happen when Ludvig must rely on his short game.
Stewart: Ludvig Aberg (20-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — I believe Harbour Town takes away Ludvig Aberg’s superpower—the driver—and places more pressure on his short game. Aberg’s ability to crush the competition with his ball-striking for three rounds is also a trend no punter loves. Until Ludvig gets his final round performances consistently under par, the odds will have to be much greater for me to grab him on the outright board.
Noonan: Sam Burns (25-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — Sam Burns played well last week at Augusta National, but Harbour Town is a very different test. At Augusta National, Burns wailed away off the tee, played to the middle of the greens and used his world-class putting chops to stay in the mix. That’s not on the menu this week. Out of 82 golfers in this week’s field, Burns ranks 76th in GIR percentage when it’s difficult to hit greens, and 79th in around-the-green proximity on short grass, which is another key metric this week given the low GIR rate.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Sam Burns (25-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — I’m with Noonan, this isn’t the spot for Burns, especially after the emotions of last week. I’ll look to fade him matchups.
Powers, Golf Digest: Cameron Young (12-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — Expended far too much energy on the weekend. Pass.
Lack: Jake Knapp (30-1, DraftKings) — I know that Jake Knapp has been playing some great golf this year, but Harbour Town might limit two of his greatest strengths, driving distance and putting. Harbour Town is far more of an accuracy off the tee, approach and short-game course, and I’ll gladly fade a poor course fit at an inflated number.
RBC Heritage picks 2026: Matchups
Mayo: Sepp Straka (-110) over Shane Lowry (Coolbet) — I feel for Lowry after another 80 in the final round at the Masters. But we saw that carry over to this event a year ago, while Straka continued going about his business. He’s posted one finish worse than T-13 in three of the past years here.
Stewart: Brian Harman (-125) over JT Poston (FanDuel) — JT Poston has missed three cuts in his past five starts. We know he will play the weekend at the Heritage, but the ball-striking has been spotty this season, and his recent approach history at Harbour Town is not good. Brian Harman fought to make the cut at Augusta National and then shot 67 on Saturday. Harman’s irons and short game have been solid. That’s a perfect complement for contending in the lowcountry.
Noonan: Maverick McNealy (-105) over Robert MacIntyre (BetOnline) — Mav fired a 5-under 67 on Sunday at Augusta National, finishing the week tied for 18th place, making it his first career T-20 finish at a major. Among the cutmakers, McNealy finished fifth in SG/around the greens, and his short game was on full display here last season when he finished T-3, his second T-4 or better finish at Harbour Town in his past four starts. This feels like a tricky setup for Bobby Mac right now, who’s lost an average of 0.64 strokes per round on approach over the past 24 rounds.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Justin Thomas (+100) over Sam Burns (FanDuel) — This is really just a play against Sam Burns, but I’ll gladly do so with a past champion at RBC Heritage, who seems to be putting his game back together.
Powers, Golf Digest: Justin Thomas (+100) over Viktor Hovland (DraftKings) — Harbour Town engages all the best parts of JT’s shot-making brain, hence why he’s fared so well here over the years. Viktor Hovland, meanwhile, sounds more and more like a Trackman golfer every day. That doesn’t bode well at a tricky Pete Dye layout.
Lack: Corey Conners (-120) over Kurt Kitayama (Southpoint) — Corey Conners is a far more traditional fit at an accuracy over distance golf course like Harbour Town than Kurt Kitayama, who will certainly see his distance advantage mitigated. Furthermore, Kitayama lost a whopping 9.5 strokes around the green, and with newer, firmer greens and dry conditions, I have serious concerns about his short game at Harbour Town, too.
Matchup Results from the Masters: Stewart, Hennessey: 1 for 1 (Jake Knapp (+100) over Patrick Cantlay); Noonan: 1 for 1 (Cameron Young (-108) over Hideki Matsuyama); Powers: 1 for 1 (Ryan Gerard (-120) over Nick Taylor); Mayo, Lack: 0 for 1
Matchup Results from the 2026 season (Wins-Losses-Pushes): Powers: 10-3-0 (up 5.91 units); Stewart: 8-2-2 (up 5.17 units); Lack: 7-5-1 (up 0.76 units); Mayo: 6-7-0 (down 0.69 units); Noonan: 7-5-1 (up 0.8 units); Hennessey: 6-7-0 (down 1.6 units)
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RBC Heritage picks 2026: Top 10s
Mayo: Brian Harman (+510, DraftKings) — Harman was 10-over after 22 holes at the Masters. He then reeled off four birdies in a row and snuck himself into the weekend where he ended up finishing even par. He did it with the old Harman formula of irons + chipping + putting. It’s a strategy that will work better at the RBC Heritage since it’s a difficult course for the bombers to overpower.
Stewart: Jake Knapp (+340, Bet365) — Jake Knapp did it again at the Masters. The smooth-swinging Knapp finished 11th at Augusta National. That’s seven top-11 results in eight starts for 2026. Knapp leads the PGA Tour in SG/total and scoring average. With that putter and efficiency off the tee, don’t sleep on this top-10 pick.
Noonan: Jordan Spieth (+240, Bet365) — It’s tough to ignore Jordan Spieth’s recent tee-to-green form after he posted another T-12 finish at last week’s Masters, his fourth T-12 or better finish in his past six starts. Spieth ranks fourth in this week’s field in SG/approach over the past 24 rounds. He’s also gained strokes putting in each of his past three trips to Harbour Town, and the last time he lost strokes on the greens here was in 2022, when he won. His recent putting woes are tough to ignore, but it’s really just a two-week downturn after great putting performances at Pebble, Riviera and Bay Hill earlier this year. I think we should be swayed more by the recent ball-striking trend than by the recent putting struggles.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Matt Fitzpatrick (+165, DraftKings) — The Englishman absolutely loves Harbour Town and is playing the best golf of his life. This seems like a smash spot.
Powers, Golf Digest: Patrick Cantlay (+225, DraftKings) — Taking the “easy” one here (famous last words). Cantlay could top 10 here with his eyes closed—he’s done so three of the last four trips. He had an incredible ball-striking week at Augusta, so he’s primed.
Lack: Matt Fitzpatrick (+165, DraftKings) — Matt Fitzpatrick continues to play excellent golf this year, and he is coming off another solid performance at the Masters, where he gained significantly in both ball-striking categories. Now the former U.S. Open champion returns to a familiar venue that he has won at before in 2023.
Top-10 results from the Masters: Noonan, Lack: 1 for 1 (Xander Schauffele +170), Everyone else: 0 for 1.
Top-10 results from the 2026 season: Mayo: 5 for 13 (up 13.15 units); Stewart: 4 for 13 (up 2.85 units); Noonan: 4 for 13 (up 4.3 units); Powers: 2 for 13 (down 4.5 units); Lack: 2 for 13 (down 3.3 units); Hennessey: 1 for 13 (down 7.3 units)
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.
Keith Stewart is a five-time award-winning PGA professional, a betting contributor and content partner with Golf Digest. Stewart is a co-founder of Read The Line, the premier on-site live golf betting insights service covering the PGA Tour, LPGA and TGL. Subscribe to Read The Line’s weekly newsletter for the industry’s best betting narratives. Follow him on Twitter @readtheline_.
Ryan Noonan is the Betting Content Manager for 4for4 and Betsperts Golf, writing articles and hosting multiple shows under the Betsperts Group umbrella, including Move The Line and our Betsperts Golf Betting Show. Find him on Twitter: @RyNoonan.
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
