With the first of the four seasonal Majors now archived, there’s no time to catch one’s breath. The PGA Tour resumes its momentum with a tournament offering a similar prize purse, albeit with slightly lesser prestige. Yet, the RBC Heritage holds its own significance as the fifth Signature Event, played on one of the most iconic courses of the entire season: the par 71 Harbour Town Golf Links.
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Transitioning from Georgia to South Carolina, the favorite remains constant. Presently, the player who adorned the second Green Jacket in his fifth attempt at Augusta National is also registered for the tournament. However, the world’s undisputed No. 1 isn’t certain to participate. This uncertainty stems from Scottie Scheffler’s wife nearing the end of her pregnancy. As Scheffler declared last week, the New Jersey native wouldn’t hesitate to abandon everything if the moment to become a father is imminent. This season, Scheffler has claimed three victories and a runner-up spot. Last year, he made his debut at Harbour Town with an 11th place finish, and if he’s present throughout the week, he’ll undoubtedly be the one to beat.
Defending his title from last year is Matt Fitzpatrick, who struggled with his long game but emerged as one of the best putters from Augusta. The Englishman finds a course perfectly suited to his strengths (missing only one cut in six appearances and consistently finishing in the top echelons) and aims to become the first to win consecutively at the RBC Heritage since Boo Weekley in 2007-2008. Another player who thrives in these conditions is Jordan Spieth (5 top-25s in 7 appearances), who exited early at the Masters after a performance below his usual standards. Spieth has always excelled at Harbour Town, and in a tournament where resolutions often occur in playoffs, he lost last year’s playoff to Fitzpatrick but won the one the previous season.
Spieth’s twin, Justin Thomas, will also be in the mix, seeking to forget a missed cut at Augusta and aiming to make a mark in his season that has, so far, seen two top-10 finishes as the best results. Returning to those who displayed stellar golf last week, Ludvig Aberg cannot be overlooked. The Swede will make his debut on this course but is enjoying a marvelous season with four top-10s and two runner-up finishes. For Aberg, victory could be imminent, marking him as a potential future golf dominator. The participant field includes 11 of the top 12 in the FedExCup standings, with familiar names such as Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark, Collin Morikawa, Rory McIlroy, and many others.
As a Signature Event, it will have a restricted field. Hence, the PGA Tour also offers an alternative tournament for those unable to register for the RBC Heritage, who will compete in the Corales Puntacana Championship. In this event, Italy’s Francesco Molinari returns to the field, seeking redemption and a week that could potentially revitalize his season, or more broadly, his career.
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