Heritage Classic Preview

This weekend, the PGA Tour presents the Heritage Classic at the Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Some of golf’s most in form players are due to battle it out for the 42 year old PGA event and for me; these are the guys to look at.

Challengers

Luke Donald

In the last 18 months, Luke Donald has been arguably the most consistent pro on the tour. He is the leading world-wide money earner in that period. As well as winning the WGC Matchplay last month, he has only missed out on one Top 10 finish in his last nine events. The Englishman was very impressive at the Masters, eventually finishing tied for fourth and has coarse form at Hilton Head, achieving second and third place finishes in the past. He is short odds for the win at 9/1 (Bet 365) but I think he is worth an each way punt. He is also Even Money (Stan James) for a Top 10.

Matt Kucher

If Luke Donald is the most consistent pro on the tour, Matt Kucher is certainly a contender for the second. He was first in the 2010 PGA Money List. Kucher has finished in the Top 10 in six out of his last nine events and has showed decent form on this course with three Top 15 finishes in his last five appearances. He finished seventh here in 2008 and fourteenth last year. I certainly expect him to be in one of the later groups on Sunday evening. Kucher is 16/1 (Boyle Sports) to win this weekend and 15/8 (Stan James) for a Top 10 finish.

Aaron Baddeley

After a few quiet years, Baddeley has begun to produce some top form this season. Along with his win at the Northern Trust Open, he has registered two Top 10 finishes. Baddeley won this event back in 2006 and the Australian has not finished outside the Top 25 on his four appearances since (Averaging 11^th Place). Now, back on form and returning to the scene where he won his first PGA Tour Title, can he achieve his heroics of five years ago? He is best priced at 22/1 (Paddy Power) and I really like him at 9/4 (Stan James) to be Top Australian.

Value

Tommy Gainey

The man they call “Two Gloves” is priced at 150/1 (Paddy Power) and given his recent from I think he is well worth some consideration. So far this year he has registered a fifth place finish at the Honda Classic and an eighth place finish at the Phoenix Open. I particularly like him at 6/1 (Paddy Power) for a Top 20 finish.

Chris Kirk

Kirk attended college in the neighbouring Georgia and has showed great form when playing courses in this area. He finished second in the Shell Houston Open and he had a good showing, finishing fifteenth at Sea Side, a course similar to Hilton Head, earlier in the year. He is 125/1 (Paddy Power) for the win but, similar to Gainey, I like Kirk at 4/1 (Paddy Power) for a Top 20.

My Heritage Tips

1pt EW Luke Donald Win

1pt EW Aaron Baddeley Win

2pts Luke Donald Top 10

1pt Matt Kucher Top 10

2pts Aaron Baddeley Top Australian

0.5pt Tommy Gainey Top 20

0.5pt Chris Kirk Top 20

  

• This article was published on www.fightingtips.co.uk.
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