2020 RSM Classic: Top 10 power rankings at Sea Island

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The Masters might be over, but more golf is coming in the Peach State

Based on the Official World Golf Rankings, last week’s Masters field was the weakest in the last two decades. That was partially due to the field locking in March, leaving out some players who played will over the summer and could not qualify. COVID-19 cases from top-50 guys, Joaquin Niemann and Sergio Garcia, didn’t help, either.

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This week’s RSM Classic field, on the other hand, is the strongest since it debuted on the PGA Tour schedule in 2010. A big reason for that is convenience.

Sea Island, Georgia, is about a 200-mile drive southeast from Augusta.

Several players will be staying in the Peach State for a second week.

Not to mention the Race to Dubai Final Series on the European Tour was called off for 2020. That opens up the schedule for international players who normally don’t have time or interest for the PGA Tour’s fall slate.

Finally, Sea Island is a home base for plenty of players. Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Harris English are just a few names that come to mind.

Sea Island Golf Club is the host venue. It features two courses, both of which have been in play for the tournament since 2015. Players will play the Seaside course for one of two opening rounds and for both on the weekend. The Plantation course is the alternate.

The Seaside course is a links style course originally designed by Harry S. Colt in the late 1920s. Tom Fazio redesigned the track that currently measures 7,005 yards for a par 70.

The greens are larger than average and bunkering is light throughout the course. Winning scores are in the teens to low 20s under par. The main defense is wind and rough that is thick in spots. Green speeds tend to be slightly above average. Overseeded Bermuda, common on Southeastern U.S. courses, is prevalent throughout.

The Plantation course measures 7,058 yards for a par 72. Davis Love III and his design team redesigned it before the 2019 RSM Classic. Bunkers were moved to better challenge the pros and green complexes were altered to more classic styles.

Fairways and tees at Plantation switched from bermudagrass to platinum papsalum. Greens are still Bermuda.

The weather forecast is cool with temperatures in the 50s to low 70s with winds gusting up to 20 miles per hour. There are spot chances at rain on a couple days but nothing too ominous.

The stark reality that truly meaningful golf is months away is hitting me, but the beauty of the game is there’s at least something to watch every week.

There are enough big names this week to keep our interest. Here are 10 of those names who I think will contend for the title.

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