Scottie Scheffler arrives at Harbour Town Golf Links as the undisputed headliner of the 2026 RBC Heritage, carrying the momentum of a furious final-round charge that fell just short of Rory McIlroy at last week's Masters.
The world number one has been a monster in PGA Tour signature events, winning five of 18 since 2024 and posting a staggering scoring average of 68.30 across that stretch — the best of any player in the elevated-event era. His 2024 victory at Harbour Town proved he can adapt his power game to Pete Dye's tight, strategic layout, and he returns as the clear favourite in a field that includes 41 of the top 50 players in the world and eight of the top ten.
But Scheffler will find a subtly different course this week. From May through November 2025, Harbour Town underwent a significant six-month restoration overseen by five-time RBC Heritage champion Davis Love III, with the goal of preserving Pete Dye's classic shot values while ensuring championship-level conditions for the modern game.
Among the most notable changes is a redesigned bunker complex at the already treacherous par-three 14th hole, where stacked sod now adds a vertical challenge that makes recovery shots far more demanding.
"14 is a brutal, brutal hole," Thomas said during his pre-tournament press conference. "It's a hole that you feel like you just have to step up and hit a good golf shot. You don't really have a bailout. It's not like if you're uncomfortable or don't have the right club, you can just bail out left of the green and feel like you can have an easy up and down."
Thomas pointed to the wind as the ultimate complicating factor at the tree-lined par three. "One of the toughest factors about this place is the wind. With being so tree-lined, the wind just goes everywhere. It kind of will get down in the trees and it just swirls. You're sitting there trying to figure out how far to hit it and what shot to hit when you have to be so precise with your distance and your accuracy. It becomes very, very difficult."
Thomas is attempting to become the first player to successfully defend the RBC Heritage title since Boo Weekley accomplished the feat in 2008. He opened with a sizzling 61 last year before holding off Andrew Novak in a sudden-death playoff, sinking a clutch 15-to-20-foot birdie putt to claim the tartan jacket.
Jordan Spieth, the 2022 champion at Harbour Town, enters the week with growing confidence. Analysts on the PGA Tour's pre-tournament coverage noted that Spieth has said he feels he is "swinging the best he has integrity-wise in the last ten years," pointing to improved sequencing and athleticism in his golf swing after modifications to reduce strain on his surgically repaired left wrist.
Tommy Fleetwood, the reigning FedEx Cup champion, adds further depth to the field. The Englishman's precise ball-striking and strategic approach make him a natural fit for Harbour Town's narrow corridors, where driver is not always the play off the tee.
"He called me back to say, 'Hey, could we put the band back together, so to speak?'" Blackburn said of the reunion. "It was one of those things where he'd given me a lot of credit and it's hard to say no to players. You have a good relationship. I leave every door open so they can always kind of come back."
At 7,100 yards and par 71 with small greens, Harbour Town rewards precision over power. The course's Pete Dye DNA — narrow corridors, hard edges, railroad ties, and minimal bailout areas — means the entire field has a realistic chance of contending, not just the longest hitters.
With 700 FedEx Cup points and $3.6 million from a $20 million purse on the line, the stakes match the star power. This is the fourth signature event of eight on the 2026 schedule, and every top player knows a strong performance here can reshape the season-long race.
First-round coverage begins Thursday from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.