The 58th edition of the RBC Heritage tees off this week at picturesque Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
The PGA Tour’s fourth Signature Event of 2026 follows the Masters with a star-studded field at the iconic Pete Dye design. The field will feature many of the Tour’s top-ranked players, including eight of the top 10 in the Official World Golf Rankings, headlined by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
Known for its tight fairways and small greens, Harbour Town demands precision over power. The iconic 18th hole, with its red-and-white lighthouse backdrop, awaits the crowning of the next tartan jacket winner.
In all, 82 golfers will vie for the tournament’s signature garment, revolutionary trophy, and a first-place check totaling $3.6 million.
Here’s more on what to expect at this year’s RBC Heritage on the coast of South Carolina.
PGA Tour Skinny
Tournament: RBC Heritage
Dates: Apr. 16-19, 2026
Title Sponsor: RBC
Presenting Sponsor: Boeing
Event Week: 14th (of 33)
Course: Harbour Town Golf Links
Where: Hilton Head Island, SC
Architect: Pete Dye
Distance: Par 71, 7213 yards
Field: 82
Cut: 36 holes, Top 60
Format: Stroke, 72 holes
Trophy: “Sir William Innes” Champions Trophy
Purse: $20,000,000
Winning Share: $3,600,000
Winning FEC Pts: 700
Winning OWGR Pts: 70
Defending Champion: Justin Thomas
How to Follow the RBC Heritage
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Key Storylines
- Jordan Spieth’s Long-Awaited Victory Lap: Spieth’s most recent PGA Tour win came right here in 2022 — his 13th career title. He nearly defended in 2023, falling to Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff, and boasts six top-20 finishes in nine starts at Harbour Town. It has now been nearly four years since that last win. Harbour Town could finally end the drought.
- Thomas’ Defense: Two-time major winner aims to become the first repeat winner at Harbour Town since Boo Weekley in 2008. JT arrives off another poor finish at a major (T41) but knows this venue intimately — he ranks among the all-time low stroke-average leaders here.
- Scottie Scheffler’s Pursuit of a Second Harbour Town Crown: World No. 1 Scheffler enters as the clear favorite (+400 odds) after a heroic solo second at the 2026 Masters, where he mounted the only serious weekend charge but fell just short of Rory McIlroy.
- Course Fits Precision Iron Play: Harbour Town rewards ball-strikers. Past champs like Justin Thomas (2025), Scottie Scheffler (2024), Matt Fitzpatrick (2023) and Jordan Spieth (2022) highlight the need for iron play and course management. Some of the tour’s top iron savants, entering in good form, include Russell Henley, Collin Morikawa, and Patrick Cantlay.
- Post-Masters Momentum: Players like Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Russell Henley, Sam Burns, and Max Homa, who shined at Augusta, look to carry form to Hilton Head.
RBC Heritage History
The RBC Heritage, known for much of its time as the Heritage Classic, is a regular PGA Tour event in South Carolina, first played 57 years ago in 1969. It is currently contested in mid-April, usually the week following The Masters Tournament.
Harbour Town Golf Links, the famous Pete Dye design with help from Jack Nicklaus, has hosted the tournament since its inception in 1969.
The inaugural event, contested on Thanksgiving weekend in 1969, was somewhat overshadowed by the Vietnam War draft lottery, which took place the day after the tournament ended, but it was a thrilling four days, with one of the all-time greats, Arnold Palmer, winning by three strokes.
The win was Palmer’s first victory in more than a year, and the media, who covered the golf icon’s every move, cranked out hundreds of glowing stories and photos about the then 40-year old “breaking his winless streak” on “Pete Dye’s stunning new links course.”
Since that Thanksgiving weekend nearly 60 years ago — thanks in large part to the good fortune of Palmer claiming its maiden championship, “the Heritage,” Harbour Town Golf Links, and Hilton Head Island have gone on to become iconic as well, and an important part of golf’s history.
Co-course designer, Nicklaus, won the 1975 edition, which took place two weeks prior to his fifth Masters victory.
Hale Irwin, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Payne Stewart, Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Jim Furyk, Graeme McDowell, Webb Simpson, Stewart Cink, Jordan Spieth, Matt Fitzpatrick, Scottie Scheffler, and Justin Thomas are among other major winners of the Heritage.
Love III holds the tournament record for most wins with five, while Cink and Irwin own three apiece.
Sponsorship has evolved alongside the event. Sea Pines Resort was the founding title sponsor, headlining the event from 1971-76 and again from 1979-86. It became the MCI Heritage Classic from 1987 to 1994, followed by stints as the WorldCom Classic and Verizon Heritage.
Since 2012, the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has been the title sponsor, with Boeing as a key partner, recently taking on the presenting sponsorship role. The Heritage Classic Foundation, the event’s organizer, has raised over $50 million for Lowcountry charities, reinforcing its community impact.
The RBC Heritage’s traditions add to its allure. The winner dons a tartan plaid jacket and hoists the iconic “Sir William Innes” Champions Trophy, a symbol of the event’s heritage. Additionally, each year, the defending champion receives the Captain of Gentlemen Golfers plaque and hits a ceremonial shot into Calibogue Sound using a hickory club, accompanied by a cannon blast — a nod to golf’s Scottish roots.
History: Tournament Names
- RBC Heritage (2012-26)
- The Heritage (2011)
- Verizon Heritage (2006-10)
- MCI Heritage (2003-05)
- WorldCom Classic (2001-02)
- MCI Classic (1995-2000)
- MCI Heritage Golf Classic (1987-1994)
- Sea Pines Heritage (1980-86)
- Sea Pines Heritage Classic (1979)
- Heritage Classic (1977-78)
- Sea Pines Heritage Classic (1971-76)
- Heritage Golf Classic (1969-70)
History: Tournament Months
The tournament has been played in the month of:
• November (1969–72)
• September (1973)
• March (1974–82) Two weeks before Masters
• April (1983–2019, 21–Pres) Week after Masters
• June (2020) COVID-19 reschedule
History: Recent Winners
2025: Justin Thomas (-17)*
2024: Scottie Scheffler (-19)
2023: Matt Fitzpatrick (-17)*
2022: Jordan Spieth (-13)*
2021: Stewart Cink (-19)
2020: Webb Simpson (-22)
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)*
* Playoff
History: RBC Heritage Records
Low Score: 262 – Webb Simpson (2020)
Low Under-Par: -22 – Webb Simpson (2020)
Largest Winning Margin: 10 Strokes – Brian Gay (2009)
Highest Winning Score: 283 – Arnold Palmer (1969)
Highest Winning To-Par: -1 – Arnold Palmer (1969)
Wins: 5 – Davis Love III (1987, 1991-92, 1998, 2003)
2025 Vault: Thomas Wins the RBC Heritage
Justin Thomas returned to the winner’s circle, claiming the 2025 RBC Heritage in a thrilling sudden-death playoff against Andrew Novak on Sunday at Harbour Town Golf Links. The victory — Thomas’ 16th on the PGA Tour and his first since the 2022 PGA Championship — marked the end of a nearly three-year winless streak for the 31-year-old Louisville native.
Thomas, who finished the tournament at 17-under par, carded rounds of 61, 69, 69, and a bogey-free 68 in the final round. His opening-round 61 tied the course record, setting the tone for a week of brilliant play. However, it was his clutch performance in the playoff that sealed the deal. Facing Novak on the par-4 18th hole, Thomas drained a dramatic 21-foot birdie putt — his fifth putt from beyond 20 feet for the week — to secure the title and a $3.6 million share of the $20 million purse.
“I was really proud today of just staying patient and kind of plotting our way along,” Thomas said. “And yeah, I feel like winning on a golf course like this is a pretty cool thing to add to your resume. Not that I wouldn’t have taken one wherever I could get it, and still will, but it’s a great feeling.”
Novak, who matched Thomas’ 17-under with a final-round 68, earned $2.16 million for his runner-up finish. The top of the leaderboard was stacked, with Daniel Berger (65), Mackenzie Hughes (67), Brian Harman (69), and Maverick McNealy (70) tying for third at 14-under, and England’s Tommy Fleetwood (70) finishing seventh at 13-under. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler (70), the world No. 1, tied for eighth.
Top-5 Finishers
Pos-Player-To Par (Final Rd)
1. Justin Thomas -17 (-3)
2. Andrew Novak -17 (-3)
3. Daniel Berger -14 (-6)
3. Mackenzie Hughes -14 (-4)
3. Brian Harman -14 (-2)
3. Maverick McNealy -14 (-1)
The RBC Heritage Field
As a Signature event, the field at Harbour Town Golf Links is stacked, featuring 41 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Rankings, including eight of the top 10.
Leading the way is world No. 1, and 2024 Heritage champion, Scottie Scheffler, who aims for his second victory of 2026 after another strong Masters showing (solo second).
Joining Scheffler will be seven more top-10 ranked players, including Cameron Young (3), Tommy Fleetwood (5), Russell Henley (6), Matt Fitzpatrick (7), Collin Morikawa (8), Xander Schauffele (9), and J.J. Spaun (10).
Ludvig Aberg (5), Russell Henley (7), Justin Thomas (8), Viktor Hovland (9), and Maverick McNealy (10).
Eight of the ten players, ranked from eleven (11) through twenty (20) in the OWGR, will also tee it up this week at Harbour Town, including Chris Gotterup (11), Robert MacIntyre (12), Sepp Straka (13), Justin Thomas (15), Ben Griffin (16), Ludvig Aberg (17), Jacob Bridgeman (18), and Alex Noren (19).
Viktor Hovland (22), Akshay Bhatia (24), Keegan Bradley (26), Min Woo Lee (27), Maverick McNealy (29), Sam Burns (28), Patrick Cantlay (33), and Shane Lowry (34) are some of the familiar names in the top 35.
The four players in the field on a sponsor’s invite include Marco Penge (37), Wyndham Clark (71), Billy Horschel (97), and Tony Finau (110).
Other marquee names teeing it up this week: Jake Knapp (36), Jason Day (39), Daniel Berger (40), Gary Woodland (49), Brian Harman (50),Jordan Spieth (52), Rickie Fowler (63), Sahith Theegala (73), and Max Homa (117) are some of the other marquee names.
Alternates include Brooks Koepka, Haotong Li, and Keith Mitchell.
RBC Heritage Odds
Players will be tested by one of the tightest designs on the PGA Tour — the Pete Dye-masterpiece of Harbour Town Golf Links.
Bookmakers have made Scottie Scheffler the overwhelming favorite with odds of 4-1. The Texas native enters off a runner-up finish at the Masters.
Behind Scheffler, at 14-1, is Xander Schauffele, who enters off three straight top-10 finishes, including two top-5s.
Rounding out the top-3 favorites in Hilton Head is Matt Fitzpatrick, who won here in 2023. The Englishman enters in top form, including a win at the Valspar and a runner-up at the Players.
Cameron Young will tee it up off four straight top 10s including a win at the Players and a pair of T3s at the Masters and the Arnold Palmer. The New York native is listed at 18-1. Russell Henley (20-1), arriving off a T3 at Augusta National, rounds out the top-5 favorites in Hilton Head.
Justin Thomas, who’s defending his 2025 title, is listed at 45-1.
Top-10 Betting Favorites
Pos-Player(Odds)
1. Scottie Scheffler (4-1)
2. Xander Schauffele (14-1)
3. Matt Fitzpatrick (16-1)
4. Cameron Young (18-1)
5. Russell Henley (20-1)
6. Jordan Spieth (22-1)
6. Patrick Cantlay (22-1)
6. Tommy Fleetwood (22-1)
9. Ludvig Aberg (25-1)
10. Collin Morikawa (28-1)
Full Field: Rank & Odds
RBC Heritage . Harbour Town Golf Links . Hilton Head Island, SC . Apr 16-19, 2026
Joel Cook, Paul Daly and Carey Hoffman contributed to this preview.
Credits: PGA Tour Media, OWGR, DraftKings, Getty Images
