There’s no rest for the weary on the PGA Tour. A week after the year’s first major, several of the game’s top players are back at it this week, competing at the RBC Heritage, of the tour’s signature events.
That includes the happiest man leaving Augusta, Scottie Scheffler, after winning his second green jacket in three years. Scheffler made a quick stop home to Dallas to celebrate with his wife Meredith, who is expecting their first child before the end of the month, before coming to Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Along with Scheffler, Masters runner-up Ludvig Aberg is making his way to Hilton Head Island, S.C., along with the other top-five finishes at Augusta: Max Homa, Collin Morikawa and Tommy Fleetwood.
Of course, also in the field is Matt Fitzpatrick, the event’s defending champion. Fitzpatrick outlasted Jordan Spieth in a playoff a year ago to claim the title and the tournament’s memorably plaid tartan jacket. Fitzpatrick’s victory came with an extra bit of satisfaction for the Englishman; he and his family vacationed at Hilton Head on several occasions growing up. His mom and dad were in attendance last year for his win.
All told, 27 of the top 30 players in the Official World Golf Ranking are competing this week at Harbour Town Golf Links, one of Pete Dye’s first course designs. The course opened in 1967 and began hosting a tour stop in 1969. The only eligible top 30 player not in the field is Viktor Hovland.
With the RBC Heritage being one the tour’s signature events, the field size is just 69 players deep, with everybody playing all four rounds thanks to the tournament having no 36-hole cut.
The overall purse is $20 million with the first-place prize money payout of $3.6 million. The winner also earns 700 FedEx Cup points for his vict
In the late 1960s, Jack Nicklaus landed the design contract for Harbour Town, then turned it over to his new partner, Pete Dye, who was determined to distinguish his work from that of rival Robert Trent Jones. Soon after Harbour Town opened in late November 1969 (with a victory by Arnold Palmer in the Heritage Classic), the course debuted on America’s 100 Greatest as one of the Top 10. It was a total departure for golf at the time. No mounds, no elevated tees, no elevated greens—just low-profile and abrupt change. Tiny greens hung atop railroad ties directly over water hazards. Trees blocked direct shots. Harbour Town gave Pete Dye national attention and put Jack Nicklaus, who made more than 100 inspection trips in collaborating with Dye, in the design business. Pete’s wife, Alice, also contributed, instructing workers on the size and shape of the unique 13th green, a sinister one edged by cypress planks.
Golf Channel will carry live coverage on Thursday and Friday from 2-6 p.m. EDT. On Saturday and Sunday, Golf Channel will start the coverage from 1-3 p.m. with CBS taking over with late afternoon coverage from 3-6 p.m. Golf Channel broadcasts will be simulcast on Peacock while CBS coverage will also be featured on Paramount+.
PGA Tour Live streaming coverage takes place on ESPN+ from 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and from 7:15 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There will be four live streams that include main feed coverage, featured groups and featured holes.
RBC Heritage odds: The post-Masters bets I’m making
Rory McIlroy squashes LIV Golf rumors: ‘I will play the PGA Tour for the rest of my career’
PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM will broadcast Thursday and Friday from 12 noon-6 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, airtimes are 1-6 p.m.
