Golf

RBC Heritage experts' picks
Apr 16, 2014 04:07 PM
By ESPN.com

Each week of the season, our experts share their insights into which players fit the criteria for our four categories: Horse for the Course (a golfer who knows the track inside and out), Birdie Buster (a guy who could take it low this week), Super Sleeper (a player who could unexpectedly contend) and Winner.

This week, we're on Hilton Head Island, SC at Harbour Town Golf Links for the RBC Heritage.

Horse for the Course

Michael Collins, ESPN.com senior golf analyst: Luke Donald

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The past five times Donald has played this event, he's finished outside the top three just once. That's without getting a win. He's a short hitter with phenomenal short game, which around this track is exactly what's needed. If you play fantasy golf, make sure this man is in your starting lineup.

Farrell Evans, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Boo Weekley

Two of Boo Weekley's three career tour wins came at Harbour Town in back-to-back years in 2007 and 2008. Weekley's most recent top 10 came last May when he won at Colonial.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Boo Weekley

He has two of his PGA Tour victories at Harbour Town, three other top 13 finishes and has never missed the cut.

Birdie Buster

Collins: Kevin Na

With slow play issues behind him, Na is a great sleeper this week since he didn't play last year. He's another guy whose game off the tee works well at a place that demands precision with each hole's opening shot.

Evans: Will MacKenzie

Fourteenth in the FedEx Cup standings with five top-10s, the 39-year-old journeyman is the best player on tour this season that was not in the field at Augusta. Look for him to continue his solid play this week at the Harbour Town Golf Links.

Harig: Jordan Spieth

If he has anything left in the tank after a draining week at the Masters, the 20-year-old Spieth ought to love the serenity of Harbour Town.

Super Sleeper

Collins: Tim Wilkinson

Apparently if you don't have at least one Australian in your picks this year, there's a great chance you're going to look dumb. Wilkinson is from New Zealand, so I won't say "same thing" because then both countries will be mad at me, but close enough. But if the only other foreign winners this year on the PGA Tour hang with kola bears, then I think this guy has a good chance this week.

Evans: Shawn Stefani

Needing a good finish to retain his playing privileges on tour after coming into the year on a minor medical exemption, the Houston native made the most out of a sponsor's exemption from his hometown event to finish in a tie for fifth. Now playing in just his third tour event of the year, the 32-year-old former Lamar University star has a chance to continue his good play after a pinched nerve in his neck cut his 2013 season short.

Harig: Tom Watson

The 64-year-old U.S. Ryder Cup team captain is making a rare regular PGA Tour appearance at a place where length is not an issue.

Winner

Collins: Zach Johnson

Coming off the horrific first-round Masters performance which had the former champ leaving early, it's easy to see the grinder who's not far from home wanting to play well as fast as possible. In nine tries, he has had only two top-10 finishes, which is exactly why I expect him to win this week.

Evans: Jordan Spieth

After the emotional toil of coming so close to winning the Masters, the 20-year-old Texan could have withdrawn from the RBC Heritage, but he stuck to his schedule. Last year he came to this event as a special temporary member and finished in a tie for ninth.

Harig: Graeme McDowell

The defending champion is a perfect fit for Harbour Town and he was doing a slow burn after missing the cut at the Masters. He's playing well enough to get another win.

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