The 4th Signature event on Tour, The RBC Heritage

Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, S.C. (7,213 yards, Par 71) will host the 58th playing of the RBC Heritage, the fourth signature event on tour this season which features a $20 million purse, no cut and a $3.5 million first place check to go along with a Wimp Sanderson look-alike jacket. Eighty two players are competing. The tournament is presently underway.

The two big stories in golf heading into this weekend are Rory’s winning a second Green Jacket in a row last Sunday at the 90th Masters, and the possibility of the LIV Tour disbanding. Rory did what he had to do to capture his second Green Jacket, the $4.5 million first place check, and his sixth major championship to catapult him into the discussion of a top 10 elite player in history. He was fortunate on the 18th tee that he only needed a bogey to win because he promptly drove it right-into the woods, but got out and chipped up on the green and two putted for bogey. Scottie Scheffler shot 65 Saturday and 68 on Sunday, but came up a half inch to the left of sinking his 20 foot birdie putt on 17 and really putting some pressure on McIlroy. But he finished at -11, and Rory, who played solid golf on Sunday, took care of business to capture the Green Jacket. Not as dramatic a finish as you’d like, but surely another classic at the hallowed grounds of Augusta National.

Now to the LIV Tour. There are reports that Saudi Arabia, dealing with the bombings from Iran, could stop funding the LIV Tour and call it quits. The Public Investment Fund that has $900+ billion in assets, which seems like it’s unbreakable, is losing interest in the tour as has been reported. Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed defected back to the PGA Tour, and Bryson DeChambeau does not have a new contract with LIV Golf. LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil is disputing the report, saying the Tour plans on continuing operations at full speed ahead, but there’s no word from the Public Investment Fund. It’s worth keeping an eye on. Definitely would be nice to get DeChambeau, Rahm, guys like that, back on the tour, though there should be punitive measures for them to rejoin. Koepka had to forfeit several million dollars in future earnings, but I think maybe these guys need to earn their way back on tour by playing more events than are required. They did turn their backs on the PGA Tour, so there should be consequences for that. This will be an interesting story to follow the next couple of days.

But back to the PGA Tour and the RBC Heritage which features a terrific field of major winners including 4 time winner Scheffler, two Masters, a PGA Championship and an Open Championship, defending champion Justin Thomas, a two time PGA Championship winner and a 16 time tour winner who looks to be regaining his form. Two time major winner in 2024 Xander Schauffele (PGA Championship and Open Championship), 2022 U.S. Open winner and 2023 RBC Heritage champion Matt Fitzpatrick, and this year’s Players Championship champion Cam Young, who looked like he had a serious shot of winning the Masters last Sunday, but fell back due to putting miscues. Rory is not in the field this week, which makes sense. Any player would take a week off after winning the Masters. This is the fourth of eight Signature events this season with the $20 million purses and $3.6 million first place checks and no cuts for five of them, and $4 Million for the player sponsored events with a cut. Jacob Bridgeman won Tiger Woods event, the Genesis Invitational, and Akshay Bhatia won the Arnie. Jack’s event, the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, which will be played at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, will take place June 4th-7th. The other three Signature events are the Cadillac Classic at Trump National Doral in Miami, April 30th-May 3rd; the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, May 7-10; and the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, June 25th-28th.

The rest of the majors this season are, in order: The PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newton Square, PA., 15 miles from downtown Philly, May 14-17. It’ll be the 108th edition of the PGA Championship. The 126th U.S. Open will be played at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, a classic, in Southhampton, New York, June 18th-21st, Father’s Day weekend. And the 154th Open Championship will be played at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport England, July 16-19. So a lot of electricity in golf is forthcoming.

Harbour Town Golf Links’ greens are some of the smallest on tour and will be stimping at 12 1/2. The greens are Bermuda and the rough will be at approximately 1 1/2 inches. No.18 is the classic lighthouse hole with a lighthouse behind the green. Eighteen is a 478 yard, par 4, with a wide landing area for the player’s tee shot, but trouble on the left with marsh and water if the competitor overcooks it. The second shot is tough to a narrow, small green. There have been dramatic moments on the 18th including JT’s 22 foot birdie conversion on the first playoff hole in 2025 to prevail over Andrew Novak. Here are odds for the tournament.

Scheffler, 4/1, Schauffele, 14/1, Fitzpatrick, 16/1, Cam Young, 17/1, Russell Henley, 17/1, Tommy Fleetwood, 18/1, Ludvig Aberg, 20/1, Collin Morikawa, 22/1, Patrick Cantlay, 24/1, Si Woo Kim, 28/1, Jordan Spieth, 29/1, Bob McIntyre (he and Sergio Garcia were sure asking to be suspended for a year from Augusta after their behavior last weekend on the course. They should be suspended from next year’s Masters in my opinion) 29/1, Harris English, 30/1, Vik Hovland, 34/1, Sam Burns (had a shot at the Masters, just couldn’t finish over the weekend), 35/1, Jack Knapp, 37/1.

Weather looks outstanding. Mid 80’s, sunny, though we could use some rain here and a lot of other places in the south sometime soon. But for this weekend, there will be stellar golf conditions. Wind will be a factor at 10-20 MPH each day.

Broadcast Schedule

Today-Friday: 1-5 P.M. CT/2-6 ET Golf Channel.

Saturday-Sunday: 12-2 P.M. CT/1-3 ET, GC; 2-5 P.M. CT/3-6 ET, CBS, Paramount+.

Winner

I liked what I saw from this recently turned 37 year old at the Masters. He went 66, 68 on Saturday and Sunday and finished tied for third at 10 under par. He finished tied 8th at the RBC in 2025. I’ll take the man who turned 37 this past Sunday at Augusta National, April 12th, who is a native of Macon, Georgia, by way of the University of Georgia, to take home the Tartan Jacket and the $3.6 million first place check.

Russell Henley

Darkhorse

I’ll go with the 34 year old eight-time tour winner on tour from Long Beach, Cali, by way of UCLA. The Bruins captured the women’s college basketball national championship, and have the No.1 ranked team in college baseball right now. Cantlay can “augment” (as Bill Gates Bates and I like to say) that success with a Tartan Jacket.

Patrick Cantlay

The Masters

Ninety one players convene at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday for the 90th playing of the Masters with only one guy emerging to put on the coveted Green Jacket on early Sunday evening. It’s as good as it gets in sports with Sunday at the Masters “a tradition unlike any other,” as the prolific Jim Nantz says. That’s one sports phrase that never gets old because it’s a unique and spectacular sporting event. So, who will be that stellar and fortunate player who earns the Green Jacket along with the $4+ million first place check and an exemption for life to the Masters and exemptions into the other three majors through the early 2030’s, and have his name etched in history as the Masters champion? Legacy still matters too. Here’s a look at the players, the details, and who I like to capture this one of a kind major championship; the greatest championship there is in all of sports for all golf fans.

The defending champion is Rory, who made it quite interesting on Sunday in 2025 as he hit several heroic shots and some not too stellar shots also. McIlroy’s shank into the water on 13 with a four shot lead that led to a double bogey was a critical miscue. But he persevered with a beautiful approach to three feet on the first playoff hole, number 18, to prevail over the savvy veteran Justin Rose and capture the 89th edition, completing the career Grand Slam. Rory had not won a major since the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla, and had never won the Masters, falling apart many times while in contention or leading before last year’s breakthrough. So it was both elation and relief for McIlroy when he sank the three foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole. This year Rory is back to defend and squaring off with the 2022 and 2024 champion, the elite Scottie Scheffler, along with 2023 champion Jon Rahm, 2018 winner Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka, a five time major winner, Collin Morikawa, a two time major winner at the Open Championship in 2021 and the PGA Championship in 2020, Cameron Young, on a roll after his Players Championship victory in March, Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 U.S. Open champion, Rose, Xander Schauffele, a two time major winner at the 2024 PGA Championship and the 2024 Open Championship. The always dangerous Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 and 2024 U.S. Open champion, and the young stallion, Ludvig Aberg, among a terrific field of the world’s best. Here are odds for key players in this week’s Masters.

Scottie Scheffler: 4/1; Jon Rahm: 9/1; Rory: 10/1; DeChambeau: 11/1; Aberg: 18/1; Xander Schauffele: 19/1; Cameron Young: 24/1; Tommy Fleetwood: 25/1; Fitzpatrick: 26/1; Morikawa: 31/1; Rose: 36/1; Jordan Spieth: 38/1; Koepka: 38/1; Hideki Matsuyama: 39/1; Robert McIntyre: 40/1; Chris Gotterup: 43/1; Patrick Reed: 45/1; Viktor Hovland: 46/1; Justin Thomas: 55/1; Tyrrell Hatton: 69/1; Russell Henley: 42/1; Si Woo KIm: 47/1; Min Woo Lee: 54/1; Patrick Cantlay: 51/1; Akshay Bhatia: 66/1; Jason Day: 69/1; Corey Conners: 82/1; Ben Griffin; 100/1.

Those are several key contenders, and, typically, one of those guys will win.

Weather

Perfecto all weekend

Thursday: 74, Sunny, Wind NE 9 MPH

Friday: 79, sunny, Wind ENE 5

Saturday: Sunny, 86, Wind WNW 5

Sunday: 86, Sunny, SSE 10.

Wind will be a factor on Thursday and Sunday. The backside will be intense on Sunday with wind playing a big role on certain holes. The 155 yard, Par 3, 12th will be pressure packed, as will the par 5’s,13 and 15. No.18, a 465 yard par 4 with a chute like drive that on Sunday looks like you’re trying to throw a football through a tire from 20 feet away, always tests the contenders. And No.11 is the hardest hole on the course, a 520 yard, par 4. It’s the start of Amen Corner. Numbers 11, 12 and 13 has oftentimes sealed the fate of guys who didn’t win. Augusta National is a 7,565 yard, Par 72. The greens will be stimping at 13-15, lightning quick, and with the slopes and undulation on the Bentgrass surfaces, the players will be stressed out to the max several times this weekend.

Broadcast Coverage

Thursday/Friday, Rounds 1&2: 12-6:30 P.M CT/1-7:30 ET, Masters.com, Masters App. 12-2 P.M. CT/1-3 ET, Amazon Prime Video. 2-6:30 P.M. CT/3-7:30 ET, ESPN.

Saturday: Moving Day: 11 A.M.- 6 P.M. CT/12-7 ET, Masters.com, Masters app, Paramount+. 1-6 P.M. CT/2-7 ET, CBS.

Sunday, A lot of coverage from 9:15 A.M. CT/10:15 ET on the Masters app, the ESPN app, Paramount+ and Prime Video. 11 A.M.-1 P.M. CT/12-2 ET, Paramount+. 1-6 P.M. CT/2-7 ET, CBS.

Winner

Sometimes you out-think yourself trying to predict sports as I did Monday Night by picking UConn over Michigan. My final record in the college basketball postseason from the SEC Tournament on was SU: 11-15; ATS: 11-15; O/U: 15-11. As Coach Lombardi used to say: “We didn’t lose, we just ran out of time.” I’ll take the Great One’s advice on that.

I’ve been through a lot of possibilities with the talent off the charts at Augusta National. No Tiger Woods. He wouldn’t be a factor anyway, and he’s got a long way to go to get his life in order. But all the real contenders are at Augusta National this week. I was leaning towards going out on a limb and picking J.J. Spaun at the beginning of this week. The 2025 U.S. Open Champion at Oakmont is mentally built for any major track. Then I started getting more bullish on Cam Young. The last two Players Championship winners have gone on to win the Masters; Scheffler in 2024, and Rory in 2025. Ludvig Aberg is a popular choice, as is Matt Fitzpatrick. Don’t sleep on Justin Rose, either. A lot of people like Rahm, DeChambeau, and, of course, the defending champion, Rory. But I’m going to take the old reliable. Give me the 29 year old from Ridgewood, New Jersey by way of the University of Texas and now living in Dallas. He just had his second son over the weekend, Remy, to join his nearly two year old son, Bennett. The guy’s just so solid and stable on and off the course. He’s also extremely cool under pressure. I’ll take the two time champion at Augusta National and four time major winner, which also includes the 2025 PGA Championship played at Quail Hollow, and the 2025 Open Championship played at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. Give me:

Scottie Scheffler

Sleeper

Justin Rose

I like the 45 year old to have a shot at, as Excedrin Bates and I like to say, “circumventing” the field and capturing the Green Jacket after near misses in 2017 and 2025.

The 52nd Players Championship

The classic “Fifth Major” kicks off Thursday at TPC Sawgrass as the 52nd Players Championship, a tournament every player wants to win with first place prize money of $4.5 million, a $25 million purse, the largest in golf, and the status of being a champion of a tournament that is the closest to a major in golf. It’s the fifth most important tournament on tour every year (except for when the Ryder Cup is played, then it’s the sixth), and there is “major” prestige that comes with winning this historic tournament on this iconic course in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. where the PGA Tour is headquartered.

The field consists of 123 players as the PGA is shooting for smaller fields to speed up play. The field is usually 144 players. The cut after the second round Friday will consist of the top 65 players and ties. The rough will be at 3 1/2 inches. The greens will be overseeded Poa trivialis over Bermuda, which grows better in cooler months. They’ll top out at 13 on the stimpmeter. Poa trivialis is different from Poa Annua, which is found on the California courses. The Poa trivialis gives a lot smoother roll than the Poa Annua. TPC Sawgrass is a stock par 72 and tips out at 7,352 yards. The winner of this classic also qualifies for the next five editions of the Players and all four majors this season. So, a lot to play for. Pete Dye was the architect. Dye worked on TPC Sawgrass from 1978-80 and it was opened in 1980. Dye passed away in 2020 at the age of 94.

Key holes include the 137 yard iconic, and, many times, treacherous 17th, with the island green leaving no margin for error. The green is 26 yards wide, and if you miss it, you are in the water and looking at bogey or worse. Classic, intense pressure on Sunday with the tournament on the line. To me, and I’ve said this before, No.18 is the most underrated and challenging hole on the tour. It’s a par 4, 468 yards and is a dogleg right to left. Water runs down the entire left side, and if you miss right you’re behind the trees. Tiger Woods made his “stinger” shot famous on this hole in winning in 2013. It’s the hardest hole on the course with the players getting zero relief after 17.

Tiger also won in 2001, with his “better than most” 40 foot birdie putt on 17 on Sunday, the highlight of that tournament and historically great in golf lore.

No. 12 is a high risk/high reward 369 yard par 4, with water running down the left side and pot bunkers on the right side. No. 16 is the famous 523 yard, par 5 that always has fireworks on Sunday as the leaders aim to enhance their chances of winning. A lot of players bail out to the left on their second shots to try and get up and down for birdie. It takes a lot of bravery to go for the green in two on 16 with water guarding the right side. All in all, this course is just a tremendous test of golf.

Rory is the defending champion. He won last year and then went on to complete the career Grand Slam at the 89th Masters in 2025, with high tension in both. He defeated J.J. Spaun in a Monday finish at the Players in a three hole aggregate playoff on 16, 17 and 18. He also defeated Justin Rose in a playoff at Augusta National to win his first Green Jacket and complete the career Grand Salome. Spaun went on to win the 125th U.S. Open with a 64 foot birdie putt of his own on Oakmont’s 18th hole. I’ve talked about how clutch that was.I was superbly clutch. Justin Rose is still playing at a high level at 45 years old, winning the Farmers in late January, early February.

A lot of drama will ensue this week/weekend at the Players. Here is the weather forecast, the TV times, some key tee times along with those players’ odds of winning..

Weather

Thursday, Scattered t-storms developing in the afternoon. 59% chance. Wind WSW 10-20.

Friday, 76, Partly cloudy/sunny, 14% chance. Wind ENE 11.

Saturday, 79, Partly cloudy/sunny, 12% chance. Wind ENE 12.

Sunday, 80, rain showers in the morning with t storms in the afternoon, 67%. Wind SE 11.

So weather will be a major factor Thursday and Sunday if the forecast holds up, and the wind will make 17 a bear all four days, especially Sunday for somebody trying to win the fifth major.

TV

Thursday-Friday, 12-6 P.M. CT/1-7 ET. Golf Channel.

Saturday, 1-6 P.M. CT/2-7 ET. NBC.

Sunday, 12-5 P.M. CT/ 1-6 ET. NBC.

ESPN+ will carry early round coverage.

Key tee times Thursday/odds

7:28 A.M. CT/8:28 ET. No.1 -Akshay Bhatta, 40/1, was iron at the Arnie in winning; Brooks Koepka, 65/1; Tony Finau, 100/1.

7:40 A.M. CT/8:40 ET. No.10, Collin Morikawa, 16/1. AT&T Pebble Beach winner, and certainly one of the favorites at TPC Sawgrass; Ludvig Aberg, 22/1. Another threat; Si Woo Kim, 20/1. Same for him. 2017 champion

7:52 A.M. CT/8;52 ET. No.10 Scottie Scheffler, 4/1. The favorite and back to back winner in 2023 and 2024. Tries to join Jack Nicklaus as the only three time winner ever at the Players; Tommy Fleetwood, 25/1. 2025 Fed Ex Cup champion. Has a shot; Justin Thomas, 33/1. 2021 winner at TPC Sawgrass, and starting to figure it out. Had back surgery in November, 2025.

8:04 A.M. CT/9:04 ET. No 10. Vik Hovland, 35/1. Possible; Russell Henley, 25/1. Very accurate off the tee and an excellent putter when the flat stick is clickin’; Bob McIntyre, 50/1. He hasn’t done much lately.

12:18 P.M. CT/ 1:18 ET. No.10 Keegan Bradley, 125/1. Don’t see it. Failed captaincy at the Ryder Cup still looms large; Ryan Fox, 150/1; Chris Kirk 300/1.

12:18 P.M. CT/1:18 ET. No.1. J.J. Spaun, 80/1. Good value from the U.S. Open champion and second place finisher in last year’s Players in a playoff; Sepp Straka, 40/1. Good player with a shot; Shane Lowry, 55/1. Not buying him after his implosion at West Palm Beach in the Cognizant Classic two weeks ago where he had a three shot lead with three to play and went double, double on 16 and 17 to lose to Nico Echavarria?

12:30 P.M. CT/1:30 ET. No.1,. Sahith Theegala, 70/1. He’s getting closer and closer to winning a big tournament, Signature or major; Rickie Fowler, 55/1. Possible, but not really seeing it even though he’s playing a lot better; Jordan Spieth, 70/1. Do NOT see this happening.

12:42 P.M. CT/1:42 ET. No.1. Xander Schauffele, 27/1. Possible ;Rory, 16/1. Sore back. Not seeing it this week, though possible; Hideki Matsuyama, 33/1. Has to putt A LOT better to win.

12:54 P.M. CT/1:54 ET. No.1 Chris Gotterup, 45/1. This guy has won the Sony Open and the Waste Management already this year. He’s a factor; Justin Rose, 80/1. Still a prolific player. Not out of the question, and he Can win going forward and not out of the major conversation this season by any means; Min Woo Lee, 35/1. Definite shot.

12:54 P.M. CT/ 1:54 ET. No.10. Cam Young, 33/1. Certainly has a shot; Davis Thompson, 115/1. Fifth on the tour in Strokes Gained: Putting. Always helps your chances; Sam Burns, 80/1. Not seeing it. Can’t seem to close very well.

Winner

My choices were between Min Woo Lee, Chris Gotterup and this now veteran. Lee has great stats off the tee leading the tour in total driving, which measures distance and accuracy, which is critical at TPC Sawgrass with all the water. He’s also seventh in strokes gained total. Gotterup is a total winner. Bigger fella.

But this 30 year old from Seoul, South Korea has some seriously strong stats on tour this year. He’s tied for fourth in driving accuracy percentage. He’s second in strokes gained: approach to the green. He leads the tour in proximity to the hole, a huge stat on any course. And he also leads the tour in strokes gained: approaches from 100 yards or more. Some people, who I don’t trust, say statistics are for losers. I like what two time Super Bowl winning coach Bill Parcells (1986, 1990, Super Bowls 21 and 25, respectively) said about stats: “The numbers don’t lie.”

So, I’ll take these stats of a four time winner on tour. He won the 2016 Wyndham Championship, the 2021 American Express, the 2023 Sony Open, AND, is the 2017 winner at the Players.

This season he’s finished T-11 at the Sony, T-6 at the AMEX, T-2 at the Farmers, T-3 at the WM Phoenix, T-45 at Pebble, T-34 at the Genesis, and finished in a tie for 13th at the Arnie last week. He has 7 top 15’s in his last nine starts. He’s 151st in Strokes Gained: Putting, but he putts well on these Poa trivialis greens. Besides his 2017 victory at the Players, he has two top 10’s at Sawgrass. Give me:

Si Woo Kim

Winner at the 61st Arnold Palmer Invitational

I’ll take the 26 year old from Inman, South Carolina by way of Clemson University. He won the Genesis and has finished well in other tournaments this year.

Jacob Bridgeman