RBC Heritage Each-Way Tips: Na can sink rivals at Hilton Head

Dave Tindall
12 April 2022
4:00 min read

Kevin Na is Dave's headline pick

Join

View market

Twitter

Facebook

After the excitement of the US Masters, the PGA Tour returns to action at Hilton Head and Dave Tindall has three each-way tips...

"Na ranked 1st for both Greens In Regulation and Driving Accuracy at Augusta and he ended on a positive note after carding a final-round 69. That was his third sub-par lap of the week."
Back Kevin Na each-way @ 51.050/1

Main Bet: Kevin Na each-way @ 51.050/1

It's going to be difficult to match last year's Stewart Cink coup but perhaps the most likely man to pull it off is Kevin Na.

I picked Kuchar at 125s last year due to his somewhat overchieving performance at Augusta National (tied 12th) and superb record in events played the week after a major.

Na certainly performed well to post tied 14th in the Masters and there were two other things I liked about his performance.

First, he ranked 1st for both Greens In Regulation and Driving Accuracy and, second, Na ended on a positive note after carding a final-round 69. That was his third sub-par lap of the week.

So, next question, can he play well after a major?

His record in this event helps answer that as he has two fourths (2007 and 2016), an eighth (2012), a ninth (2011), a 10th (2019) and an 11th (2004).

Did any of those come after he'd had a good Masters? The evidence is limited but in 2012 he followed tied 12th at Augusta with tied eighth at Hilton Head.

Often he hasn't played both but Na also made the Augusta cut in both 2016 (T55) and 2019 (T46) and went on to finish tied fourth and tied 10th respectively at the Heritage.

It's not exactly Cink-link but Na can thrive after a good/solid Masters and that's all we need to know.

Before his top 15 at Augusta, the five-time PGA Tour winner had won his group (Joaqin Niemann, Russell Henley and Maverick McNealy) in the WGC-Dell Match Play before losing to Will Zalatoris at the 22nd hole in the last 16.

In other words, he's coming into some nice form.

"I really like this golf course. I look forward to coming back to it every year. I think this golf course suits my game," Na once said and it makes total sense that he has positive vibes.

This is a short, twisting, turning track with small greens and requires craft not pure power. Na was 52nd and last for Driving Distance at Augusta but 1st for Driving Accuracy so this Pete Dye track should play far more into his hands.

Next best: Si Woo Kim each-way @ 51.050/1

While I remember last year's RBC Heritage with fond memores, the 2018 edition must be one of my worst beats at a punter.

That was the year when 100/1 Si-Woo Kim had a glorious chance to win but was pipped by Satoshi Kodaira.

Kim missed a string of shortish putts both down the stretch and in the playoff and somehow didn't get over the line.

That second place followed a tied 14th on debut and maybe it wasn't a surprise that the demons returned a little in both 2019 and 2020 when he missed the cut.

But tied 33rd last year got him back on track and the Korean is playing well enough to challenge again this time.

Apart from a WD at Sawgrass he's made every cut in 2022 and those 10 finishes include a pair of tied 11ths, a tied 13th in Texas two starts ago and two tied 26ths.

He was on course to have a top 10 at Augusta after a strong first 63 holes but completely messed up the back nine (played it in 5-over) to drop to tied 39th.

But that shouldn't detract from a fairly impressive week in which his short game looked tidy.

Kim, of course, had his finest hour on a Pete Dye track when winning the 2017 Players Championship.

But the Dye link doesn't stop at Sawgrass. Kim also captured the 2020 American Express when 54 holes out of 72 were played on Dye's Stadium Course.

Kim's other PGA Tour win came in the Wyndham Championship at Sedgfield and, while not a Dye course, it seems to produce winners that also excel at both Sawgrass and here at Hilton Head. So for correlation purposes, it's a good one.

As with Na, the 50/1 looks very playable.

Next best: Sepp Straka each-way @ 101.0100/1

I'm rather glossing over the front end of the market which may or may not prove to be a mistake.

Some, such as 16/1 Dustin Johnson, are fufilling sponsor's commitments while others are coming off disappointing or taxing weeks at Augusta. They include 12/1 Collin Morikawa, 12/1 Justin Thomas, 14/1 Cameron Smith, 20/1 Shane Lowry and 20/1 Sungjae Im.

There's also 16/1 Patrick Cantlay, 20/1 Matt Fitzpatrick and 25/1 Corey Conners to consider.

It's a bit of a sweeping statement to say all the market leaders will suffer from a Masters comedown but there's some truth in that and I also think this course is a leveller and negates some of their strengths.

Perhaps I should go for someone who had Masters week off but I can't help but feel drawn to Sepp Straka at 100/1.

Straka finished tied 30th at Augusta after closing with a 1-under and, to be honest, that was an excellent debut for the Austrian.

Straka went to the University of Georgia (2011 to 2016) which made it extra special and don't forget that we're not too far away from there this week.

"It's amazing, a dream come true," said Straka when interviewed after his closing 71 at the Masters and I'm hoping he'll have an extra spring in his step here.

The 28-year-old has made two previous starts at Hilton Head and he's played nicely: in fact, four of his first six laps were 67s.

But, of course, it's his vastly improved play this year that makes the 100/1 start flashing.

Straka played a fantastic final 54 holes (64-69-66) to win the Honda Classic and just two starts later to prove it was no fluke he finished tied ninth in The Players Championship.

Also tied 10th at River Highlands last year and fourth in the 2020 American Express, he has some notable Dye form and 15th at Sedgefield in 2021 doesn't hurt either.

He's better than the 100/1 suggests to make Straka your final bet.

Each-Way Golf Betting

Not sure about your each-way payout? Take a look at our brand new golf each-way calculator - simply enter your stake, the number of places on offer and the position of your player and it will give you the full lowdown...