Wednesday 22 October 2014 12:33, UK
The Seaside Course at Saint Simons Island in Georgia plays host to this week's McGladrey Classic for a fifth straight season.
A quartet of Americans - Heath Slocum (2010), Ben Crane (2011), Tommy Gainey (2012) and Chris Kirk (2013) - have picked up the trophy in those four runnings and home US players fill the top eight slots in Sky Bet's outright tournament betting.
Webb Simpson, who boasts course form of 7-2-12, leads the way at 12/1, with Matt Kuchar, Bill Haas, defending champion Kirk, Zach Johnson, Nick Watney, Harris English and Brendon Todd following him in the betting.
The course
A par 70 on the southern tip of Saint Simons Island, the Seaside Course's first nine was built by Harry Colt and Charles Alison in 1929. Joe Lee added the "Marshside Nine" in 1973 and they were pieced together by Tom Fazio in 1999. The shortish 7,005-yard par 70 requires brain rather than brawn so it's a chance for some of the shorter, steadier places to shine. Winning scores in the four PGA Tour tournaments held there read -14, -16, -15 and -14. Gainey holds the course record, a stunning 10-under 60.
Local residents
This part of the US is a popular place of residence for PGA Tour golfers, a trend started by tournament host Davis Love. Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson are neighbours while Harris English, Brian Harman, Lucas Glover, Jonathan Byrd, Hudson Swafford also live on Saint Simons Island. Last year's winner, Chris Kirk, also made this area his home for six years before returning to Atlanta. He still has a house there, as does Charles Howell.
Conclusion
Certain golf courses on the PGA Tour can be clumped together and Sea Island form often correlates with that from Waialae Country Club (Sony Open), Harbour Town (RBC Heritage), Colonial Country Club (Crowne Plaza Invitational) and El Camaleon (Mayakoba).
Looking at the best stroke averages for this week's venue and the above-mentioned tracks sees the same names pop up time and time again.
Jerry Kelly is a feature on just about every list of best performers at those courses so is worth an each-way punt.
HIs form here doesn't look leap off the page - 20th, 33rd, MC, WD - but there are enough good rounds in there (including a 63) to suggest that one year he'll get right in the mix.
Kelly, who hasn't missed a cut since May, made it through three legs of the play-offs and returned to action with a steady 39th at the Frys.com Open earlier this month.
Given all that, he's a fair shout at 100/1.
Stuart Appleby is rather hit-and-miss these days, as highlighted in Las Vegas last week when he shot 74-64-79!
But he's got some good form at Hilton Head and the Sony Open (former runner-up) and his last win came on another par 70 - The Old White at The Greenbrier when he fired that senstational closing 59.
Just five starts ago he finished second in the opening play-off event at The Barclays and decent efforts of 27th and 36th in two starts on this track suggests the 150s could look very generous.
Of the market leaders, Webb Simpson is the standout given his course form and strong play on similar courses.
It's also pretty much a 'home' game given that he's a resident of neighbouring North Carolina and he once said in a press conference ahead of this tournament: "I love the event, love the golf course, and it's nice I can drive from Charlotte."
Simpson had a bit of a nightmare in the Ryder Cup but back in the comfort zone of the PGA Tour he finished fourth in Las Vegas last week, hitting over 80% of greens in regulation.
He knows how to get his nose in front so back him win only at 12s.
Of the local residents, Brian Harman might be the best at 40s.
The left-hander tends to play very well in and around his native Georgia (10th Wells Fargo 2013, 3rd Wyndham 2013, 7th Hilton Head 2014) and he's finished 27th and 10th in his two starts in this tournament.
He captured the John Deere Classic in July and a quick follow-up win would come as no surprise.
Best bets
4pts win Webb Simpson at 12/1
1pt e.w. Jerry Kelly at 100/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4,5)
1pt e.w. Stuart Appleby at 150/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4,5)
1pt e.w. Brian Harman at 40/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4,5)
