And the Tartan Jacket goes to… Drum Roll Please!
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER
Wins the RBC Heritage Classic
Were you expecting someone else?
Image from Golf Week
By: Bill Sangster
The RBC Heritage is held each April at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island. This year’s Heritage Signature Event hosted 69 of the best players on Tour, offering a not cut format, with a $20 million purse and a $3.6 million winner’s share.
The Heritage Tournament, for its entire existence, has been held at the Harbour Town Golf Links at the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island. The Harbour Town par 71, 7,000 yards course was designed by famed golf course architect Pete Dye, with assistance from Jack Nicklaus.
Round 1
J.T. Poston 8-under had a banner first day on Harbour Town Golf Links with 9 birdies. Both Collin Morikawa 6-under (7 birdies, 1 bogey) and Seamus Power 6 -under (7 birdies, 1 bogey) managed to keep things close.
Scottie Scheffler 2-under was 6 shots back after the first-round.
Round 1: Top 3
Pos-Player-Score (Rd 1)
1. J.T Poston -8 (63)
T2. Collin Morikawa -6 (65)
T2. Seamus Power -6 (65)
Round 2
The Leaderboard was a little top heavy after the 2nd round at RBC Heritage as four golfers were tied for the lead after 36 holes. Collin Morikawa (66), Tom Hoge (64), J.T. Poston (68), and Sepp Straka (65) all finished at -11 under.
Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler (65) was sitting three shots back at 8-under. “I felt I was attacking the golf course pretty well.” Said Scottie, after his bogey free round.
Round 2: Top 3
Pos-Player-Score (Rd 2)
T1. J.T Poston -11 (-3)
T1. Collin Morikawa -11 (-5)
T1. Tom Hoge -11 (-7)
T1. Sepp Straka-11 (-6)
Round 3
It didn’t take long for Scottie Scheffler, 16-under (63), to move himself to the top of the leaderboard. His 5 birdies on the front nine, coupled with 3 on the back, was proof positive that he belonged there. This was also Scheffler’s 4th 54-hole leads/co-leads in his last five starts.
“At the end of the day, we’re out here competing against the best players in the world.” Scheffler said.” I love competing against these guys, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of coming out and competing tomorrow.”
Sepp Straka 15-under (67) and Collin Morikawa 14-under (68) finished right behind him along with 3 players tied for 4th place. The final round was setting up to be another test of “the best against the rest.”
Round 3: Top 3
Pos-Player-Score (Rd 3)
1. Scottie Scheffler -16 (-8)
2. Sepp Straka -15 (-4)
3. Collin Morikawa -14 (-3)
Final Round
The Leaderboard was a busy place during the final round as a number of players took their turn closing in on Scheffler only to find themselves falling quickly back into the pack.
As the last group of Scheffler 19-under and Sepp Straka 14-under made the turn to the home nine, the rain and wind began to intensify, Scheffler held a 4-stroke lead over the rest of the field.
A Weather Delay was called at 4:28 p.m. due to lightning in the area. Play resumed at 7p.m with Scheffler 19-under on the 12th hole at the top of the leaderboard.
Play was suspended due to darkness at 7:45 p.m. with 8 players still on the course. Play will resume at 8 a.m. Monday morning. Scheffler 20-under was still the leader by 5 strokes with 3 holes to play.
Play resumed at 8:00 a.m. Monday.
Even “Mother Nature” couldn’t stop Scottie Scheffler 19-under from wining again this week! He managed to finish his final round on Monday at the top of the leaderboard for his first RBC Heritage win and his 4th Tour win in the last 5 weeks.
Final: Top 3
Pos-Player-Score (Final Round)
1. Scottie Scheffler -19 (-3)
2. Sahith Theegala -16 (-3)
3. Wyndham Clark -15 (-6)
3. Patrick Cantlay -15 (-3)
The Awards
Scottie Scheffler with Sir William Innes Champion Trophy and Tartan Jacket. A-P Photo
Scottie Scheffler 19-under was the winner of the 2024 RBC Heritage.He received the Famous Heritage Plaid Jacket, the “Sir William Innes” Champions Trophy, and a check for $3.6 million along with 750 FedExCup points.
When asked by a reporter after the final round. “Scottie, can you describe your evolution as a player to a champion from week one until now?” He replied. “I’m not really sure. I think I’m just maturing as a person on the course. I think mentally the last month or so has been as good as I’ve been in a long time. I think that’s why I’m seeing some of the results just staying in it doing the best I can. A lot easier said than done, but I’m proud of how I’ve been mentally on the course.”
Sahith Theegala 16-under finished alone in 2nd place for a $2.16 million paycheck.
Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark finished tied for 3rd place at 15-under. Each received a check for $1.16 million.
Bill Sangster, a life-long golf aficionado and former Sergeant in Marines, moved to Cape Cod in 1974 where he raised his family while working as educator with the Sandwich School System for 23 years. With his Falmouth home adjacent to Paul Harney’s Golf Course, Bill spent many days learning and playing the game of golf. He was a member of White Cliffs Country Club and Sandwich Hollows Country on Cape Cod. In 2018 he continued his love for the game of golf by moving to “The Villages” in Florida. He now will admit to anyone who asks that he is addicted to the game of golf! Bill can be reached at sangsterbill33@gmail.com.