The 52nd edition of the RBC Heritage tees off this week at picturesque Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

The stout field will feature eight of the world’s top-10 ranked golfers, headlined by each of the top-6, including Rory McIlroy (1), Jon Rahm (2), Justin Thomas (3), Brooks Koepka (4), Dustin Johnson (5), and Patrick Reed (6).

In all, 154 golfers will vie for the tournament’s signature plaid jacket, along with a first-place check totaling $1.278 million.

Here’s more on what to expect at this year’s RBC Heritage.

This week’s Primer is powered by Taylormade Golf.

THE SKINNY

Tournament: RBC Heritage
Dates: June 18-21, 2020
Where: Hilton Head Island, SC
Course: Harbour Town Golf Links
Distance: Par 71, 7099 yards
Architect: Pete Dye
Format: 72-holes, stroke play, 36-hole cut
Purse: $7,100,000
Winning Share: $1,278,000
Defending Champion: C.T. Pan
Marquee Players: Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele, Webb Simpson, Colin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Daniel Berger, Gary Woodland, Rickie Fowler, Tony Finau, Jason Day

TV AND ONLINE

Rd 1: Th 3-6:00 pm (GOLF)
Rd 2: Fr 3-6:00 pm (GOLF)
Rd 3: Sa 1-2:45 pm (GOLF)
Rd 3: Sa 3-6:00 pm (CBSN)
Rd 4: Su 1-2:45 pm (GOLF)
Rd 4: Su 3-6:00 pm (CBSN)
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HISTORY

Most years since 1983, the RBC Heritage has been the first event of the post-Masters season. As a result, a number of the higher-ranked players typically pass on this tournament, needing a break from arduous Masters prep, but with the COVID-19 shutdown and compressed schedule, this year’s field will be its strongest (by far) in recent memory.

Harbour Town Golf Links, the iconic Pete Dye design with help from Jack Nicklaus, has hosted the tournament since its inception in 1969.

The inaugural event was somewhat overshadowed by the Vietnam War draft lottery, which took place the day after the tournament ended, but it was thrilling four days, with one of the all-time greats, Arnold Palmer, winning by three strokes.

Other legendary winners of the RBC Heritage include Nicklaus, Hale Irwin, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Payne Stewart, and Greg Norman.

Davis Love III holds the tournament record for most wins with five – most recently in 2003. The only other player with more than two is Irwin, whose three victories include the first (1971) and last (1994) victories of his illustrious Hall-of-Fame career.

HISTORY: NAMES

2012-20: RBC Heritage
2011-11: The Heritage
2006-10: Verizon Heritage
2003-05: MCI Heritage
2001-02: WorldCom Classic
1995-00: MCI Classic
1987-94: MCI Heritage Golf Classic
1980-86: Sea Pines Heritage
1979-79: Sea Pines Heritage Classic
1977-78: Heritage Classic
1971-76: Sea Pines Heritage Classic
1969-70: Heritage Golf Classic

HISTORY: RECENT WINNERS

2019: C.T. Pan (-12)
2018: Satoshi Kodaira (-12)
2017: Wesley Bryan (-13)
2016: Branden Grace (-9)
2015: Jim Furyk (-18)
2014: Matt Kuchar (-11)
2013: Graeme McDowell (-9)
2012: Carl Pettersson (-14)
2011: Brandt Snedeker (-12)

HISTORY: RECORDS

Low Score: 264 – Brian Gay (2009)
To Par: 20-Under – Brian Gay (2009)
Winning Margin: 10 Strokes – Brian Gay (2009)
Highest Winning Score: 283 (-1) – Arnold Palmer (1969)
Wins: 5 – Davis Love III (1987, 1991-92, 1998, 2003)

DEFENDING CHAMPION

C.T. Pan shot a final-round 67 to claim his maiden PGA TOUR title at the 2019 RBC Heritage.

The 27-year old Taiwanese finished his final day at Harbour Town with five birdies against one bogey en route to a 12-under par total, one clear of Matt Kuchar, who also posted a final-day 67.

For the win, the Washington State product earned $1,242,000 and 500 FedExCup points, while also picking up 58 OWGR points to move to a career-best No. 55 in the world rankings.

Pan will defend his title mired in a lengthy slump. The now 28-year old has missed eight cuts in 11 season starts, including four straight and six of his last seven.

FINAL TOP 5

Pos-Player-Score (Final Rd)
1. C.T. Pan -12 (-4)
2. Matt Kuchar -11 (-4)
3. Scott Piercy -10 (-2)
3. Patrick Cantlay -10 (-2)
3. Shane Lowry -10 (-1)

THE FIELD

As was the case last week in Texas, the field at Harbour Town Golf Links is absolutely stacked, featuring eight of the top-10 ranked players in the world, and 15 of the top-20.

Leading the way is world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, who will make just his second appearance at the Heritage – and first since 2009. The 31-year old Northern Ireland native will enter off a disappointing T32 at Colonial, but before that he’d posted seven consecutive top-5 finishes.

Joining McIlroy will be seven more top-10 ranked players which includes Spaniard Jon Rahm (No. 2), alongside a six-pack of American stars in Justin Thomas (3), Brooks Koepka (4), Dustin Johnson (5), Patrick Reed (6), Webb Simpson (9), and Xander Schauffele (10).

If that’s not impressive enough, seven additional top-20 ranked names will also be on hand, including Bryson DeChambeau (12), Justin Rose (14), Tony Finau (16), Gary Woodland (17), Matt Kuchar (18), Louis Oosthuisen (19), and Tyrrell Hatton (20).

Power Rankings: Top 5

Players who are accurate, both off the tee and to the greens, should find success this week in South Carolina.

1. Justin Thomas
Moved up to No. 3 in world after T10 last week. Has shots in bag to navigate this tricky Pete Dye track.
Greens in Regulation: 71.4% (12)
SG: Approach the Green: 1.069 (5)
SG: Off the Tee: .431 (31)

2. Xander Schuffele
Plays his best in stacked-field events. One of the best iron players on Tour.
Greens in Regulation: 73.2% (4)
SG: Approach the Green: .789 (12)
SG: Off the Tee: .694 (7)

3. Bryson DeChambeau
Robotic, methodical game is tailor made for fanless events.
Greens in Regulation: 70.4% (32)
SG: Approach the Green: .397 (41)
SG: Off the Tee: 1.119 (2)

4. Justin Rose
Finally dumped Honma clubs and looks to be back in top form. Ignore his stats.
Greens in Regulation: 61.7% (217)
SG: Approach the Green: .012 (118)
SG: Off the Tee: -.066 (128)

5. Colin Morikawa
Has laser-beam iron game that should fare well at Harbour Town. Hasn’t missed a cut since joining Tour.
Greens in Regulation: 70.6% (27)
SG: Approach the Green: 1.234 (2)
SG: Off the Tee: .409 (33)

Sleeper: Jordan Spieth
Produced top-10 last week. Played well in early rounds here last year.
Greens in Regulation: 61.9% (214)
SG: Approach the Green: -.451 (187)
SG: Off the Tee: -.215 (169)

THE RBC HERITAGE ODDS

Coming off a week at Colonial, players will again be tested by one of the tightest designs on the PGA Tour – the Pete Dye-masterpiece of Harbour Town Golf Links.

Despite last week’s results, and lack of track record at Hilton Head, bookmakers have Rory McIlroy listed as the favorite with odds of 12-1. He is followed at 14-1 by a trio of stars who also teed it up last week at Colonial: Bryson DeChambeau (T3), Jon Rahm (MC), and Justin Thomas (T10).

Rounding out the top-5 betting favorites is American Xander Schauffele who also finished T3 last week. The San Diego native is listed at 22-1.

Top-5 Betting Favorites

Pos-Player(Odds)
1. Rory McIlroy (12-1)
2. Bryson DeChambeau (14-1)
2. Jon Rahm (14-1)
2. Justin Thomas (14-1)
5. Xander Schauffele (22-1)

Bet on the RBC Heritage at Bovada

Tee Times

Thursday Morning

1st Tee
7:10 a.m. – Freddie Jacobson, Chad Collins, Matthew Fitzpatrick (11:50 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
7:20 a.m. – Kyle Reifers, Kelly Kraft, Yuta Ikeda (12 p.m. Friday, 10th tee)
7:30 a.m. – Roberto Castro, Michael Kim, Patrick Cantlay (12:10 p.m. Friday, 10th tee)
7:40 a.m. – Bill Haas, Robert Streb, Charles Howell III (12:20 p.m. Friday, 10th tee)
7:50 a.m. – D.A. Points, Shane Lowry, Kevin Na (12:30 p.m. Friday, 10th tee)
8 a.m. – Troy Merritt, Steven Bowditch, K.J. Choi (12:40 p.m. Friday, 10th tee)
8:10 a.m. – Charley Hoffman, Danny Willett, Jim Herman (12:50 p.m. Friday, 10th tee)
8:20 a.m. – Billy Hurley III, James Hahn, Fabian Gomez (1 p.m. Friday, 10th tee)
8:30 a.m. – Lucas Glover, Chez Reavie, Tyrone Van Aswegen (1:10 p.m. Friday, 10th tee)
8:40 a.m. – Boo Weekley, Jason Kokrak, Brett Stegmaier (1:20 p.m. Friday, 10th tee)
8:50 a.m. – Scott Brown, Ollie Schniederjans, Grayson Murray (1:30 p.m. Friday, 10th tee)

10th Tee

7:10 a.m. – Jason Bohn, Steve Marino, Rafa Cabrera Bellow (11:50 a.m. Friday, 1st tee)
7:20 a.m. – Luke List, Anirban Lahiri, Wesley Bryan (12 p.m. Friday, 1st tee)
7:30 a.m. – John Huh, Andrew Loupe, J.J. Spaun (12:10 p.m. Friday, 1st tee)
7:40 a.m. – Greg Chalmers, J.J. Henry, Stewart Cink (12:20 p.m. Friday, 1st tee)
7:50 a.m. – Rod Pampling, Matt Every, Billy Horschel (12:30 p.m. Friday, 1st tee)
8 a.m. – Russell Henley, Martin Kaymer, Matt Kuchar (12:40 p.m. Friday, 1st tee)
8:10 a.m. – Graeme McDowell, Ernie Els, Luke Donald (12:50 p.m. Friday, 1st tee)
8:20 a.m. – Brian Stuard, Kevin Kisner, Danny Lee (1 p.m. Friday, 1st tee)
8:30 a.m. – Geoff Ogilvy, Chad Campbell, Whee Kim (1:10 p.m. Friday, 1st tee)
8:40 a.m. – Robert Garrigus, Ryo Ishikawa, Sung Kang (1:20 p.m. Friday, 1st tee)
8:50 a.m. – Mark Anderson, Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston, Rafael Campos (1:30 p.m. Friday, 1st tee)

Thursday Afternoon

1st Tee

11:50 a.m. – Brian Harman, Johnson Wagner, Bud Cauley (7:10 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
12 p.m. – Ryan Palmer, Daniel Summerhays, Patton Kizzire (7:20 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
12:10 p.m. – Martin Laird, Ian Poulter, John Peterson (7:30 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
12:20 p.m. – Alex Cejka, Ben Martin, Brian Gay (7:40 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
12:30 p.m. – Vaughn Taylor, Nick Taylor, Hunter Mahan (7:50 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
12:40 p.m. – Brandt Snedeker, Davis Love III, Jim Furyk (8 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
12:50 p.m. – Marc Leishman, Adam Hadwin, Branden Grace (8:10 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
1 p.m. – David Hearn, Cameron Smith, Harold Varner III (8:20 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
1:10 p.m. – Camilo Villegas, John Senden, Jonas Blixt (8:30 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
1:20 p.m. – Harris English, Carl Pettersson, Ryan Blaum (8:40 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
1:30 p.m. – Tommy Gainey, Sam Saunders, Cheng Jin (8:50 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)

10th Tee

11:50 a.m. – Graham DeLaet, Derek Father, Dominic Bozzelli (7:10 a.m. Friday, 1st tee)
12 p.m. – Kyle Stanley, Ricky Barnes, C.T. Pan (7:20 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
12:10 p.m. – Ben Crane, Spencer Levin, Zac Blair (7:30 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
12:20 p.m. – William McGirt, Peter Malnati, Tyrrell Hatton (7:40 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
12:30 p.m. – Pat Perez, Jason Dufner, Webb Simpson (7:50 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
12:40 p.m. – David Lingmerth, Chris Kirk, Keegan Bradley (8 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
12:50 p.m. – Russell Knox, Aaron Baddeley, Vijay Singh (8:10 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
1 p.m. – Francesco Molinari, Blayne Barber, Mark Hubbard (8:20 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
1:10 p.m. – Ken Duke, Michael Thompson, Hideto Tanihara (8:30 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
1:20 p.m. – Bryce Molder, Morgan Hoffmann, Shawn Stefani (8:40 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)
1:30 p.m. – Bryson DeChambeau, Trey Mullinax, Brooks Blackburn (8:50 a.m. Friday, 10th tee)

Joel Cook and Carey Hoffman contributed to this preview.

Credits: PGA Tour Media, OWGR, Bovada, Getty Images