The fifth signature event of the 2024 PGA Tour season is headed to the weekend as all 69 players who teed it up Thursday will play the final two days at the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Harbour Town Golf Links has given up some low scores through two days, with four players tied for the lead at 11 under — Collin Morikawa, J.T. Poston, Tom Hoge and Sepp Straka. In all, there are 11 players at or within three shots of the lead.
Moving Day is sure to bring some fireworks.
To no one’s surprise, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is back in the mix — but we’ll dive into his round in just a minute.
Rory McIlroy is at 7 under, four back of the lead, and is starting to find his swing a bit. He kept the bogeys off the card Friday, signing for a 3-under 68. Defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick is 6 under through 36 holes and has a chance to do something special over the weekend to claim another Tartan Jacket.
If you missed any of Friday’s action, no worries, we have you covered. Here’s everything you need to know from the second round of the RBC Heritage.
on the eighth hole during the second round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on April 19, 2024 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Scheffler won the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He won the Players Championship. He missed a five-footer to force a playoff at the Houston Open.
Those are the results of his last four starts. You’d think he’d be outta gas, especially after a mentally and physically taxing week at Augusta National that ended with his second Green Jacket.
Nope. Not even a little. He’s right back in the mix.
After opening with a 2-under 69 on Thursday, Scheffler posted a 6-under 65 on Day 2 and is three shots back of the lead pack heading into the weekend — something that should scare everyone at the top of the leaderboard.
Collin Morikawa plays his shot from the 16th tee during the second round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Since becoming the Champion Golfer of the Year in 2021, Morikawa has just one PGA Tour win (2023 Zozo Championship). His game hasn’t been the same over the last few years, at one point even losing his patented cut shot shape.
But it sure looks like he’s found his game.
After a great week at the Masters where he tied for third alongside Max Homa, Morikawa sits 11 under through two rounds at Harbour Town and tied for the 36-hole lead.
This golf course sets up perfectly for Morikawa’s marksmanship-style game, so it’s easy to see why he’s played himself into contention in South Carolina.
On Friday, Morikawa posted a bogey-free 5-under 66, one shot worse than his 65 on Thursday.
“I’m not really adding any new pieces,” he said of putting his game back together. “I’ve learned a lot over the past year, year and a half of just golf in general. Even if I didn’t go through this, I think just time you learn a lot. But I know the pieces that I have and the whole puzzle let’s call it, I can play really, really great golf.
“Sometimes you don’t need all those pieces, and today I didn’t have it, but that’s kind of old-school golf. I look back when I first turned pro, today was one of those days, didn’t feel great, didn’t hit it great, whatever, still posted a number and move on to the next couple days.”
Ludvig Aberg of Sweden reacts after a putt on the fifth hole during the second round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on April 19, 2024 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
When you hit it straight as an arrow and keep bogeys off the card, you’ll most likely find yourself in contention come the weekend.
And that’s exactly what Aberg has done through two rounds of the RBC Heritage.
The young Swede was paired with Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy for the first two days in South Carolina and beat him by three shots.
In all, Aberg has made an eagle, nine birdies and just one bogey through 36 holes and is one back of the lead at 10 under after a bogey-free 5-under 66 on Friday.
He’s first in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and first in SG: Approach so far this week. Is that any good?
While Aberg has the game to hang with anyone in the world, he’s relying on his looper at golf courses he’s never played as a pro.
“He means a lot. Obviously, he’s been there. He has the experience,” Aberg said of his caddie, Joe Skovron. “He’s seen a lot