RSM Classic 2025: Preview and three betting tips
Thu, 20 Nov 2025
Thu, 20 Nov 2025
Odds Now’s golf tipster Ross Kilvington turns his attention back to the PGA Tour this week, previewing the 2025 RSM Classic and offering up his usual golf betting tips.
The DP World Tour season concluded last week, with Rory McIlroy winning yet another Race to Dubai title (his seventh!) and Matt Fitzpatrick winning the DP World Tour Championship.
Thoughts now turn to the final PGA Tour event of 2025 as the RSM Classic begins on Thursday. This also marks the end of the FedEx Cup Fall Series, with some players battling to secure certain playing privileges next year.
This tournament is one of the PGA Tour’s two-course events, as the Plantation course shares hosting duties over the first two days, while the shorter Seaside course hosts three days of the tournament.
Putting will be the key metric to success this week. Both courses aren’t exactly long by modern standards - 7,060 and 7,005 yards respectively – meaning accuracy off the tee is far more important than hitting it long this week.
There isn’t an obvious favourite this week, which suggests someone from mid to lower down in the betting market can take full advantage of.
Here are our three selections for the RSM Classic at Odds Now. Happy betting!
Somehow, Denny McCarthy is still without a PGA Tour victory in his career. The American has twice lost in playoffs in recent years, while an encouraging T8 finish at the 2025 PGA Championship indicates that a victory might not be far off.
The 32-year-old has registered ten top-20 finishes this season, and he has played well at this tournament in the past. Indeed, McCarthy recorded a T8 in 2020, T10 in 2022 and a tie for fifth two years ago.
Not long off the tee by any stretch of the imagination, McCarthy, however, ranks in the top five on the PGA Tour for SG: Putting (0.656) while also ranking 37th for SG: Total throughout the 2025 season.
These statistics, combined with his knowledge of the courses, could be the biggest indicator yet that McCarthy is set to win a maiden tour title.
MacKenzie Hughes may have recorded just one top-ten finish since May, but his form at this tournament is nothing short of impressive and clearly brings out the best in him.
The Canadian won the RSM Classic way back in 2016, emerging victorious from a five-man playoff in Georgia to seal his first PGA Tour title.
He also recorded runner-up finishes in 2021 and 2023, before sealing a T5 result last year. With arguably the finest course form in the field, plumping for Hughes to do well again here at 45/1 represents some decent value.
Not long or accurate off the tee this season, Hughes does rank 8th for scrambling from the rough, suggesting that when he does get in trouble, it doesn’t tend to cost him often.
Someone who might sneak under the radar this week is Sami Valimaki, especially as he has no course form to speak of.
He has largely played on the PGA Tour over the previous two seasons, recording runner-up finishes at the Mexico Open last year and at the World Wide Technology Championship earlier this month.
Add in a T2 at the European Masters, and it has been a decent few weeks for the Finn.
Valimaki might be making his debut at the RSM Classic, but his putting stats this season demonstrate that he could be a major contender. Indeed, the 27-year-old not only ranks 11th for SG: Putting (0.496), but also 18th for SG: Approach to Green (0.505).
These stats highlight how impressive he has been on and around the putting surface throughout 2025. As such, odds of 60/1 are tempting for sure.
1pt EW - Denny McCarthy - 30/1 (Bet365 - 1/5 odds 8 places)
0.75pt EW - Mackenzie Hughes - 50/1 (Ladbrokes - 1/5 odds 8 places)
0.75pt EW - Sami Valimaki - 50/1 (Ladbrokes - 1/5 odds 8 places)
Total staked - 5pts
Ross Kilvington is Odds Now's chief golf tipster, covering events from the PGA and DP World Tour across the season.
Ahead of every major event, you can check out Ross' betting card and detailed explanations for his three weekly picks, where he has unearthed several winners in 2025 alone.
Based in Scotland, Ross also freelances for a number of other sports publications.
Ross Kilvington is Odds Now's chief golf tipster, covering events from the PGA and DP World Tour across the season.
Ahead of every major event, you can check out Ross' betting card and detailed explanations for his three weekly picks, where he has unearthed several winners in 2025 alone.
Based in Scotland, Ross also freelances for a number of other sports publications.
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Matt Fitzpatrick wins the 2025 DP World Tour Championship for a THIRD time 🏆 He beats Rory in a play-off for his second Rolex Series win. #DPWTC | #RolexSeries
