HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Justin Thomas has taken command of the 2025 RBC Heritage, holding a two-shot lead at the tournament’s halfway point after a scintillating performance at Harbour Town Golf Links. The 31-year-old American, seeking his first PGA Tour victory since the 2022 PGA Championship, posted a course-record-tying 10-under-par 61 in Thursday’s opening round, followed by a solid 2-under-par 69 on Friday, bringing his 36-hole total to 12-under-par.
Thomas’ first-round 61, highlighted by 11 birdies, matched the Harbour Town course record and set the tone for his charge. Despite tougher conditions on Friday, with breezy and crusty greens challenging the field, Thomas battled back with late birdies on the back nine to maintain his advantage. His 36-hole lead marks his first in over four years, a significant milestone for the former world No. 1 who has been knocking on the door with runner-up finishes at the Valspar Championship and American Express earlier this year.
“I’m just trying to stay patient and keep doing what I’m doing,” Thomas said after his second round. “This course demands precision, and I’ve been able to execute when it matters most so far.”
South Korea’s Si Woo Kim and Russell Henley sit tied for second at 10-under-par, two shots back, while Tommy Fleetwood holds fourth, alongside Andrew Novak, at 9 under.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion, lurks four shots off the pace at 8-under par, tied for sixth alongside Mackenzie Hughes (66).
The fifth signature event of the 2025 PGA Tour season, the RBC Heritage boasts a $20 million purse, with $3.6 million and 700 FedEx Cup points awaiting the winner. With no cut this week, all 72 players advance to the weekend, but the tightly packed leaderboard — 21 players within six shots of Thomas—promises volatility on “Moving Day.”
Thomas’ resurgence has been a focal point, as he employs a new putter that has propelled him into the top 15 in strokes gained putting. His iron play, however, will need to sharpen to fend off challengers like Scheffler, who remains the favorite in predictive models despite trailing.
As Saturday’s third round tees off Saturday, all eyes will be on Thomas and his final pairing with Kim at 2:00 p.m. ET. Fans can catch the action live on Golf Channel from 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET, with CBS taking over from 3:00-6:00 p.m. ET. Streaming coverage, including featured groups, begins at 7:45 a.m. ET on ESPN+.
RBC Heritage Leaderboard
Round 2: Top-10 Scores
Pos-Name-To Par (Rd 1 Score)
1. Justin Thomas -12 (-2)
2. Si Woo Kim -10 (-7)
2. Russell Henley -10 (-3)
4. Andrew Novak -9 (-6)
4. Tommy Fleetwood -9 (-5)
6. Mackenzie Hughes -8 (-5)
6. Scottie Scheffler -8 (-1)
8. Maverick McNealy -7 (-6)
8. Collin Morikawa -7 (-5)
8. J.T. Poston -7 (-4)
8. Brian Harman -7 (-2)
8. Wyndham Clark -7 (-1)
Full Leaderboard at PGATour.com
