After the scenes at last week’s eventful
80th Masters Tournament, the PGA tour calendar for this week moves
onto the RBC Heritage tournament for the 48th time. The long
standing tour event, based on Hilton Head Island, always attracts a strong
field of players and this
year’s tournament is no different.
The Harbour town golf links has a rich history in terms of
both course design and previous winners. The course was designed by Pete Dye in
consultation with one of the golfing greats, Jack Nicklaus. The 18th
hole is iconic for the lighthouse in the backdrop. Past champions include some
esteemed members of the World Golf Hall of Fame, with the likes of Arnold
Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Greg Norman and Tom Watson.
In the past few years winners include Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar and Graham
McDowell.
How the field unfolds during this week’s play will be
interesting to see after last week’s Masters. Jason Day, the current world number
one, will be looking to put another disappointing masters run behind him. Day
was in prime position after the first round of the masters but fell away and
never recovered. However, discounting this blip on his recent golfing results,
Jason Day is in superb form. He’s won 6 of his last 14 events dating back to
last summer which is a brilliant strike rate. With no Jordan Spieth in the
field, after the Master’s meltdown, he could start to pull away in that number
one spot and take a grip on the world rankings in 2016. I think he could well
post a low score and go close in this week’s RBC Heritage in which his ball striking
ability should pose a threat to the field.
Other contenders for this week include two Englishmen Paul
Casey and Luke Donald. Casey will no doubt be looking to continue his current
form and make a move up the leaderboards throughout the four day’s play and
continue his good run on the tour. Donald, on the other hand, will be looking
to make up for that harrowing one shot defeat to Kuchar with a chip in on the
18th back in 2014.
Another big story that will be taking place throughout his first
appearance at the RBC Heritage is Bryson DeChambeau. The lead amateur from the
Masters last week played exceptionally over the first few days at Augusta and
has this week taken the move to turn professional. Having gained sponsorship deals
from Puma, Cobra and Bridgestone the spotlight will be on him to see how he
copes in his first professional outing as a golfer.
With past champions, previous players that have come close,
tricky weather conditions forecast and a panoramic golf course with many tricks
up its sleeve, this week’s play at the RBC Heritage should be entertaining to say
the least!!
The Fairways!
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