Another week on the PGA Tour and another loaded field arrives at a course that usually doesn’t get to test such a strong array of talent.
The RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links is traditionally played in April and its position – one week after The Masters – is when most of the leading stars often decide to take a week off.
However, after this year’s enforced break the event has been pushed back, and due to the dearth in action 18 of the world’s top 25 ranked players are teeing it up.
The course is a short par-71 and was designed by Pete Dye and the tournament has always been held at Harbour Town so there is plenty of course form to read into.
It ranks as a typical Dye course as getting into a good position to attack the green is far more important than outright distance off the tee.
Players are not be able to overpower the layout, so strategy comes more to the fore and this has allowed some of the Tour’s shortest hitters to prevail.
Recent winners of the event include Branden Grace, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk, Graeme McDowell and Brandt Snedeker.
Iconic first winner
Golf’s first superstar Arnold Palmer won the inaugural staging of the RBC Heritage in 1969 and rumours circled that current icon Tiger Woods might be making an appearance after his yacht pulled into town last week.
Despite this, the reigning Masters champion declined to enter, meaning it will likely now be The Memorial Tournament next month when we next see Woods in action.
Keep an eye out for a surprise on Sunday, as since 2012 no winner has come from the final pairing.
The featured groups for the opening rounds are as follows: (all times in USA ET)
Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, Daniel Berger – Thursday – 7:29 am / Friday – 12:54 pm
Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, C.T. Pan – Thursday – 7:40 am / Friday – 1:05 pm
Dustin Johnson, Hideki Matsuyama, Gary Woodland – Thursday – 12:54 pm / Friday – 7:29 am
Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Justin Rose – Thursday – 1:05 pm / Friday – 7:40 am
