Despite a date which follows the Masters, the RBC Heritage has a storied history, and consistently draws a star-filled field.
South Carolina’s only PGA Tour event will once again be played at the iconic Harbour Town Golf Links, set along the picturesque Calibogue Sound on Hilton Head Island. The Pete Dye-designed track measures just 7,099 from the tips, but places a premium on finesse, imagination and shot making.
This year’s edition brings forth one of the strongest fields in its history, highlighted by eight of the top-20 in the Official World Golf Rankings, and 10 of the top-20 in the FedExCup race.
As we do each week, here are the 5 Power Picks for the RBC Heritage.
Dustin Johnson
The 2019 season as been yet another tremendous success for the talented bomber. He won the WGC-Mexico Championship in February, three weeks before prevailing at a European Tour event in Saudi Arabia, and he’s finished in the top 10 in six of his most recent eight PGA Tour starts, including a T2 at the Masters.
DJ missed the cut in his first two appearances (2008, 2009) at Harbour Town as a young gun, and never returned until last season, when he finished a respectable T16.
OWGR: 1 | FedEx Cup: 5 | Odds: 8-1
Matt Kuchar
Matt Kuchar owns two wins on the season, and three additional top-10s. Entering off a T12 at the Masters last week, Kuchar – the 2014 RBC Heritage winner – should be a threat once again at Harbour Town, where, in his last five starts, he owns a win, alongside a top-5, top-10, T11 and T23.
His past success at Hilton Head, combined with recent form makes him one of the top-5 favorites this week.
OWGR: 16 | FedEx Cup: 1 | Odds: 22-1
Francesco Molinari
The 36-year-old Molinari appeared headed for his second major title on Sunday at the Masters, but double bogeyed No. 12 and never recovered.
Despite an ugly finish, Molinari played exceptional for much of his time in Augusta, Georgia (T9), and he’s shown an ability to get hot and stay hot. This will be Molinari’s fifth appearance at Harbour Town, and despite limited success (MC-T45-T22-49), the Pete Dye masterpiece would seem to be tailor made for the elite ball striker from Italy.
OWGR: 7 | FedEx Cup: 12 | Odds: 14-1
Patrick Cantlay
The World No. 18 has not yet added a second career victory during the 2019 season, but he has stayed sharp, posting five top 10s in 10 starts – including a T9 at last week’s Masters, highlighted by weekend rounds of 64-68.
The former all-world amateur appears ready for his second PGA Tour win, so while he missed out a green jacket last week, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him wearing a plaid one come Sunday evening. Cantlay, one of the best ball strikers on Tour, will make his third appearance at Harbour Town, finishing T3 (2017) and T7 (2018) in his two previous starts.
OWGR: 18 | FedEx Cup: 21 | Odds: 20-1
Xander Schauffele
Schauffele has already posted two wins; the first coming at a WGC event and the second coming at the stacked-field Sentry Tournament of Champions.
His unflappable demeanor and phenomenal tee-to-green game make him among the top favorites this week. The 25-year old Californian finished T32 in his debut last year at Harbour Town, and enters off a T2 at the Masters.
OWGR: 9 | FedEx Cup: 2 | Odds: 20-1
