RBC Heritage: Masters champion Jordan Spieth favourite
Thursday 16 April 2015 21:08, UK
Ben Coley looks ahead to this week's RBC Heritage and expects Zach Johnson to be Jordan Spieth's biggest challenger.
It’s a mark of the man that Jordan Spieth honours his commitment to the sponsors and takes his place in the field for the RBC Heritage, so soon after that magnificent performance in the Masters.
But it’s the last Masters champ to turn up at Harbour Town who looks the best bet this week, with Zach Johnson primed to go very well indeed.
With 11 PGA Tour wins, Johnson is nothing if not prolific and he threatened to add this title to his collection in 2012, when second only to Sweden's Carl Pettersson.
Having also been sixth back in 2007, one week on from his own Masters triumph, Harbour Town is a course Johnson likes and that’s no surprise at all, given that it favours those who keep the ball in play and scramble well.
Truth be told, Johnson’s putter hasn’t been as hot as he’d like of late but he still managed ninth place at Augusta last week, which rates as an ideal preparation for this altogether more suitable test.
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Having played well in Texas before that, the 39-year-old is back close to his best and rates an excellent alternative to Spieth.
Of course, at 21 years of age, it’s possible that the 13/2 favourite will be able to overcome both physical and mental fatigue and win this title, but on balance he’s there to be opposed and second on my list is Graeme McDowell.
The Northern Irishman won this event in 2013 and played nicely enough in his title defence last year, so quotes of around the 40/1 mark look big especially given that we know he wins tournaments for fun.
A brilliant scrambler who builds his scores with accuracy from the tee, McDowell is the ideal type for the Heritage and it’s encouraging enough that he made the cut in the Masters because Augusta plainly doesn’t suit him.
McDowell beat Webb Simpson to this title two years ago but Simpson could yet gain compensation.
Few players on the PGA Tour are striking the ball better than the 2012 US Open champion and none have a better scoring average, so following his personal-best finish at Augusta the North Carolina native looks primed to go well.
Like Johnson, Simpson’s putter has cost him the chance to add to his haul of PGA Tour titles so far this year but if he can make his share then a strong title challenge awaits. His scrambling remains strong - Simpson is 12th so far this year - and that’s going to serve him well this week.
Finally, spare some lose change for an each-way bet on Ernie Els.
The Big Easy also played nicely at Augusta, shooting par or better in three of his four rounds, and is another who has gone close at Harbour Town before.
Els says that he’s beginning to feel really comfortable with a new driver shaft while there were certainly encouraging signs on the greens last week. I’m not convinced he’s done winning at this level.
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