RBC Heritage: Morikawa the man to beat at Hilton Head but watch for Lowry

Hilton Head and tight and tricky Harbour Town Golf Links is the ideal antidote to the wide-open spaces and high tariff shots that abound in the Masters.

It's the most laid back of weeks and the RBC Heritage has attracted an excellent field, headed by world number two Collin Morikawa, who was fifth behind Scottie Scheffler at the Masters on Sunday.

Morikawa was tied 64th at Harbour Town in 2020 and tied seventh behind Stewart Cink last year and he's our leading pick (16.5) for a tournament that rewards accurate play from tee to green like no other.

Favourite

The betting favourite is Justin Thomas (16), but his putting continues to be a concern, while Cameron Smith (18.5), Matthew Fitzpatrick (23), Patrick Cantlay (24), Dustin Johnson (25) and Shane Lowry (26) will have used up a lot of emotional energy at Augusta National.

Better value is available for a player like Sung-Jae Im (40), who was tied eighth at Augusta, or Canada's Adam Hadwin (55) and Matthew Nesmith (150).

Hadwin arrives at Harbour Town on the back of strong results in the Players (T9), the Valspar Championship (T7) and the Valero Texas Open (T4) and while he's never shone in Hilton Head, his form points to a big week soon.

Due a win

Lowry is clearly a top pick this week, and as a top iron player — third for proximity to the hole and one of the best scramblers on tour — he's due a win.

He was edged out for the Honda Classic on the 72nd hole and has not finished outside the top 24 in eight starts worldwide.

His tie for third in the Masters may have drained his batteries, but given his form, he may be worth sticking with at 26.

Much will depend on how players respond to last week's Masters stresses, but Thomas, Smith, Joaquin Niemann (32), Fitzpatrick, Johnson and Daniel Berger (34) are all compelling bets.

Driving accuracy, greens in regulation, scrambling and strokes gained putting are three elements of the game that are rewarded at Harbour Town.

Morikawa is sixth across those four key categories behind leader Sungjae Im, Hadwin, Lowry, Fitzpatrick and Denny McCarthy.

Suits his game

"It's a course that I think really suits my game," Morikawa said. "A lot of tee to green, a lot of approach shots that are kind of in my wheelhouse."

Lowry hasn't won since the Open in 2019 and after the frustration of Sunday's final round in the Masters, where an early triple bogey shattered his hopes, he's keen to win again.

"I'll sit down with the lads tonight and chat about it, but I'm going to Hilton Head next week to try and win the tournament," Lowry said on Sunday after a closing 69 left him tied third.

"I haven't won for a few years, and I don't enjoy not winning. I just love competing and winning tournaments."

Recommended bets

Collin Morikawa @ 16.5

Shane Lowry @ 25

Adam Hadwin @ 55