The McGladrey Classic Tips: Will Claxton

The Seaside Course at Sea Island ranked the fourth easiest par-70 last year, yet it was the fifth most challenging in putting average of all the courses used on tour.  With birdies relatively difficult to find, dropped shots are going to be even more punishing than usual. That leads me to my first selection – Will Claxton.

The 31-year-old might sit a lowly 113th on the money list, but he ranks 17th for bogey avoidance on tour. Add that to his 10th place in GIRs and 39th for scoring average and you have a player who doesn’t make many mistakes.

Claxton is never going to putt himself to victory but his error count is very low.

2012 Season Finishes

Par 70: T23-MC-MC-T47-T61-T15-T22-T19-T31 = 31
Par 71: T9-T29-T60-T44-MC-MC-T61-55 = 43
Par 72: MC-T20-T51-T63-T52-T26-MC-T5 = 36
(= average finish ignoring MCs)

Throughout the season, Claxton has enjoyed consistently better results on par-70 tracks.  Courses that demand accuracy, like Sea Island, clearly suit his game. At 150/1 (Coral) he looks a lively outsider with ¼ odds for a top-5 finish.