With the dust settled on what will be remembered as a classic US Masters, the focus turns to the RBC Heritage, at the iconic Harbour Town Golf Links.
Where the driver is required on at least 13 holes at Augusta, the longer hitters could go a whole round at the Heritage without pulling out the big stick, and straying off the fairways at Harbour Town is far more penal. As a result, proficiency off the tee is a critical skill required for success.
Harbour Town measures 6491 metres, which is significantly shorter than the PGA Tour average, placing less focus on distance off the tee.
The greens at Harbour Town are almost half the size of the tour average, which makes proficiency approaching the green more critical. Players have longer approach shots than usual, most between 175-200 yards.
Even though the greens are small, chipping and putting is far easier here than the tour average, placing an emphasis on short games, as highlighted by higher scrambling and lower putt per green in regulation (GIR) rates.
The course borders the South Carolina coast, and occasionally gale force winds often sweep through.
There is an emphasis on mid-iron approaches to the green and proficiency off the tee. Subsequently, the predictive statistics this week – and the top ten for each – are:
GIR gained
1. Adam Hadwin
2. Charles Howell III
3. Paul Casey
4. Luke List
5. Harold Varner III
6. Patrick Cantlay
7. Corey Connors
8. Michael Thompson
9. Ross Fisher
10. Jason Kokrak
Proximity from 175-200 yards
1. Jim Furyk
2. Robert Garrigus
3. Adam Hadwin
4. Sung Kang
5. Vaughn Taylor
6. Steve Stricker
7. Kevin Na
8. Branden Grace
9. Dustin Johnson
10. Luke List
Strokes gained approach
1. Scott Piercy
2. Chesson Hadley
3. James Hahn
4. Ross Fisher
5. Zach Johnson
6. Luke List
7. Stewart Cink
8. Adam Hadwin
9. Paul Casey
10. Robert Garrigus
Stroke gained off the tee
1. Dustin Johnson
2. Kevin Chappell
3. Bryson DeChambeau
4. Xander Schauffele
5. Francesco Molinari
6. Byeong Hun An
7. Nick Watney
8. Patrick Cantlay
9. Luke List
10. Tyrrell Hatton
Culmination of key statistics
1. Luke List
2. Paul Casey
3. Dustin Johnson
4. Adam Hadwin
5. Scott Piercy
6. Ross Fisher
7. Nick Watney
8. Byeong Hun An
9. Ian Poulter
10. Francesco Molinari
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As the winner of this tournament is automatically invited to next year’s Masters, it acts a fresh incentive for those who didn’t make the field at Augusta.
Top 20
World number 1 Dustin Johnson had an underwhelming week at Augusta, but the South Carolina native is phenomenal off the tee, and there are very few flaws in his game. If anything has held him back, it has been a streaky short-game.
With the increased ease around the greens at Harbour Town, he could be unstoppable.
21-50
Ross Fisher’s game draws similarities to that of Johnson. A world-class ball striker, the Englishman rateswell in all the vital statistics but the weak part of his game is also around and on the greens, which will come under a weaker examination this week.
51-100
Through the course of the year, few have been as good from tee-to-green as Luke List, who was the top name produced by the statistical model.
Not only does Luke rate out for the course, but has good recent form, producing eight top-25 finishes so far this season, including losing in a playoff to Justin Thomas at the Honda Classic.
Again, the holes in his game are similarly on and around the green.
100+
World number 131 Scott Piercy has slowly been recovering his play throughout the year. A terrific ball striker and excellent wind player, his approach game has been improving steadily and seems primed to have a strong showing at Harbour Town.
Player over 50
Steve Stricker has been in scintillating form so far in 2018, bursting out onto the Champions Tour with two wins and a second in his three appearances.
Although the fields and courses are less demanding than those on the PGA Tour, Harbour Town is a precision golf course where Stricker won’t find his lack of distance as massive a hindrance as on other PGA Tour courses.
Who are your picks for the week?
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