The hustle and bustle of Masters week has calmed down, influencers have returned home, and “pimento” hats have gone into the closet, never to be seen again. It’s Heritage week in Hilton Head, and a good one at that. It marks the third year that the RBC Heritage is a signature event on the PGA Tour. With that signature title, comes a strong field and a 20-million dollar purse.
9 of the top 10 players in the FedEx Cup rankings will make the trip down to Hilton Head this week. The one notable missing from the list you may ask, back-to-back Masters Champion Rory McIlroy. It shouldn’t come as a shock, though, as McIlroy has only played the tournament twice, with his best finish coming in 2024, where he finished in a tie for 33rd.
It looks like another beautiful week in terms of golfing weather, with sunny skies and 10-15 mph winds. Those conditions should allow the greens to firm up, placing a premium on ball striking and short game this week.
CC: YourGolfTravel
Last year’s tournament provided all the drama, as Justin Thomas defeated South Carolina native Andrew Novak on the first playoff hole. The win marked Justin Thomas’ first in three years and signaled a long-awaited return to the winner’s circle. As for Novak, his inaugural win would come just one week later at the Zurich Classic.
With that being said, let’s get right into this week’s power rankings.
10. J.T. Poston
I hope everyone can find someone who loves them as much as J.T. Poston loves Harbour Town. While it’s been a slow start to the year, his track record here is undeniable. Outside of missed cuts in 2021 and 2023, he’s recorded four top-10 finishes, along with a T11 in last year’s tournament. After a T21 finish at the Valero Texas Open, he’ll look to build on that momentum this week.
9. Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth’s struggles on the greens to start the year are hard to ignore, but Harbour Town is one of the few places where that can be masked. He proved that in 2022, winning despite losing strokes putting. With his current ball-striking and past success here, he’s firmly in the mix.
We’re heading to a playoff at @RBC_Heritage 👀
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) April 16, 2023
Jordan Spieth vs Matt Fitzpatrick pic.twitter.com/Ub6XQFZTnN
8. Si Woo Kim
Si Woo Kim has been off to a scorching start in 2026, recording four top-10 finishes while making the cut in all 10 of his starts. He was in the final pairing of last year’s tournament, but a final round 74 led to a T8 finish. While his early-season has form owed, Harbour Town still rewards elite ball-striking, and I expect Si Woo to contend this week.
7. Shane Lowry
It was a nightmare finish last Sunday for Shane Lowry, as a final-round 80 ended any hopes of slipping on the green jacket. But, as Shane said after his Cognizant Classic collapse, life goes on, and I’ve got a tee time on Thursday. His form has been a bit lacluster to start the season. The good has been really good(T2, and T8), and the bad has been pretty bad(two missed cuts, 3 rounds over 74). Still, Lowry has found great success at Harbour Town, with 3 top 10’s and a T18 finish last year. I don’t expect him to win, but a top 10 finish could be in the cards for the Irishman.
Hopefully a sign of things to come this weekend @RBC_Heritage ☘️
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) April 14, 2023
pic.twitter.com/itqM9uX9jb
6. Ludvig Aberg
Aberg has been one of the best golfers in the world for the past month. He’s tallied 3 top 5’s in his last four starts, with his worst finish coming last week at The Masters where he finished in a tie for 21st. He’s had success in the Lowcountry in the past, but a T54 finish here last year leaves a bit of a question mark.
5. Russell Henley
The Georgia Bulldog is no stranger to Harbour Town, making his 13th tournament start at the classic this year. In those thirteen starts, he’s reckoned three top 10’s including 2 in the past 5 years. Coming off a T3 at this year’s Masters, it’s no surprise to expect another good week out of him.
4. Xander Schauffele
Schauffele missed the cut in his first start this season, since then, he’s rounded into form. He has 4 top 10’s in his last seven starts, including a solo 4rd at the Players Championship in March. He’s never missed the cut in 8 starts here, but he’s never really excelled either. He’ll look to add his second top 10 to his heritage resume this week, and maybe a plaid jacket if things go well.
Xander Schauffele moves to 9-under and T-2 at @RBC_heritage with a birdie to cap off a round of 66. 👏
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) April 14, 2023
📺: Golf Channel and @peacock pic.twitter.com/vsZ2kubO39
3. Cameron Young
It was a devastating finish for Young as he searched for his first major last week. He did everything right, just wasn’t able to hole the putts necessary to hold off an impressive week from McIlroy. He hasn’t finished inside the top 50 at the heritage since finishing 3rd in 2022, yet I don’t think it matters. He has 3 top 5’s in his last 3 starts, including his breakout win at The Players. While he may have preferred green jacket, I’m sure he’ll be just fine with a plaid one for now.
2. Matthew Fitzpatrick
Matt Fitzpatrick has loved the RBC Heritage since he was a kid. His family made annual trips to Hilton Head, making his 2023 win a full-circle moment. While that year was special, 2026 has been even better. Runner-up at THE PLAYERS. T18 at the Masters. A win at the Valspar. Back on his favorite course, don’t be surprised if he does it again.
Matt Fitzpatrick hoists the @RBC_Heritage trophy in his dapper new plaid jacket. 😎 pic.twitter.com/w54OTtW9Q1
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) April 17, 2023
1. Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler continues to play at an elite level. He’s already added another PGA Tour win this season, and he was one birdie away from a playoff for a Masters last weekend. He is making his 4th start at Harbour Town this week, a place where he’s finished no worse than 11th in 3 starts. He’s inevitable, and if he decides to play the first two rounds this week, the tournament will be over by Friday.
A full renovation of Harbour Town took place last summer by Davis Love’s DL3 design team. Among the biggest transformations are the additions of scottish-style pot bunkers, as well as a complete remodel of the 5th hole. More on that coming soon.
It’ll be another firm and fast test on the PGA Tour this week, and with a signature field, the tournament feels wide open. While favorites have had success here in recent years, Harbour Town has also produced its share of first-time winners. From 2016 to 2019, four straight players broke through for their first PGA Tour win at this event. With rising names like Michael Thorbjornsen, Ryo Hisatsune, and Pierceson Coody in the field this week, another breakthrough could be on the horizon.
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