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Power Rankings: RBC Heritage
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April 11, 2016
By Rob Bolton , PGATOUR.COM
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Brandt Snedeker won the RBC Heritage in 2011. He's finished inside the top 10 in his last two PGA TOUR starts. (Harry How/Getty Images)
The RBC Heritage is often considered as the breath of fresh air following the torment and grind of the season’s first major. In this year’s case, it’s the calm after the windstorm. However, there’s more at stake this week than what meets the eye of fans still fixated on history.
Many in the field of 132 at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, are seeking to become the latest first-time winner on the PGA TOUR – the last three weeks have featured breakthroughs in Puerto Rico (Tony Finau), Houston (Jim Herman) and Augusta, Georgia (Danny Willett) – while others are on various paths to exemptions into THE PLAYERS and the remaining three majors. There’s also the matter of automatically qualifying for the Olympics and Ryder Cup that continues. And, of course, this week’s champion becomes the first winner of a non-major to gain entry into the 2017 Masters.
No, it’s not so much the competition that relaxes the shoulders, it’s the serenity along the Calibogue Sound, and it will appear a little different to the keenest of eyes this week. Since last year’s edition of the RBC Heritage, Harbour Town has undergone a renovation. It’s been the recent buzzphrase since the Valspar Championship. In fact, Harbour Town joins Copperhead, Bay Hill and Austin Country Club as having been fitted with new TifEagle Bermudagrass on its greens. You’ll note that the last two stops included in the update are Pete Dye designs. Harbour Town has also been equipped with freshly laid Celebration Bermuda on the tee boxes, fairways and rough. New irrigation was also installed to increase sustainability.
In terms of its design, the most notable changes occurred at holes 2, 5, 16 and 17. The par-5 fifth has an elevated fairway that has been shifted left about 15 yards. The hole can now play up to 549 yards, nine longer than its previous maximum. The par-4 16th remains 434 yards, but the bunker on the left of the target off the tee now has areas of grass in it to increase the premium of finding the fairway. And for the record, the par-3 17th is down 11 yards to its current measurement of 174 yards. Overall, at 7,099 yards, Harbour Town is two yards shorter than it played in the last four years. It’s still a par 36-35=71.
It’s also still a shot-maker’s track, although it was a scorer’s racetrack last year. Its scoring average of 70.490 in 2015 is a tournament low since data was first maintained in earnest in 1983. Part and parcel with that is the fact that the field hit 61.21 percent of the greens in regulation. That’s a tournament high since that stat was first recorded in 1992 and just the third time that it’s eclipsed 60 percent.
Harbour Town’s distance of all drives averaged just 264.3 yards, shortest on TOUR for the second consecutive season and in line with its history. Because the greens average just 3,700 square feet, it’s not surprising that it was the easiest track to one-putt. Last year’s clip was 44.97 percent. Jim Furyk ranked fourth in the all-around and led the field in scrambling en route to his playoff victory over Kevin Kisner last year after the duo completed regulation in 18-under 266. The defending champ will not be competing this week, however, as he continues to recover from having surgery on his left wrist.
Remnants of a weather system can’t be ruled out early on Thursday, but the remainder of the forecast is favorable. Increasing sunshine will yield gradually higher temperatures from the upper 60s to low 70s. This will leave typically moderate breezes to help defend Harbour Town.
POWER RANKINGS: RBC HERITAGE
RANK PLAYER COMMENT 1 Paul Casey Rebounded from a stomach illness in style for a T4 at Augusta National; closed with 67. Three top 10s in his last four starts. Top 25s in all three tries at Harbour Town.
2 Jason Day First trip since 2013; personal-best T9 in 2011. Tied for 10th at the Masters with a steady performance. Won previous two starts. Ranks fourth in strokes gained: putting.
First trip since 2013; personal-best T9 in 2011. Tied for 10th at the Masters with a steady performance. Won previous two starts. Ranks fourth in strokes gained: putting.
3 Brandt Snedeker Answered a T9 at the Match Play with a T10 at the Masters. Only top 15 in 10 appearances in the RBC is the best kind – a win in 2011. Perfect in four trips since, too.
Answered a T9 at the Match Play with a T10 at the Masters. Only top 15 in 10 appearances in the RBC is the best kind – a win in 2011. Perfect in four trips since, too.
4 Kevin Kisner Site of the first of three playoff losses in 2015 and it’s a perfect fit for his vastly improved tee-to-green game and forever confident putting. Currently third in the all-around.
Site of the first of three playoff losses in 2015 and it’s a perfect fit for his vastly improved tee-to-green game and forever confident putting. Currently third in the all-around.
5 Graeme McDowell The drought continues since a solo fifth at PGA National, but Harbour Town has been kind. Winner here in 2013; T23 and T26 since, respectively. Finds fairways.
The drought continues since a solo fifth at PGA National, but Harbour Town has been kind. Winner here in 2013; T23 and T26 since, respectively. Finds fairways.
6 Matt Kuchar Harbour Town is where he collected the most recent of seven PGA TOUR trophies. That was two years ago. Placed fifth in title defense. Five top 25s in 2016; T24 at Masters.
Harbour Town is where he collected the most recent of seven PGA TOUR trophies. That was two years ago. Placed fifth in title defense. Five top 25s in 2016; T24 at Masters.
7 Luke Donald Arguably the most stable stop for the 38-year-old. Thrice a runner-up and two T3s since 2009. T15 last year. Currently 10th in scrambling and T21 in par-4 scoring.
Arguably the most stable stop for the 38-year-old. Thrice a runner-up and two T3s since 2009. T15 last year. Currently 10th in scrambling and T21 in par-4 scoring.
8 Kevin Na Second appearance in last four years partly due to injury, but has five top 20s, including top 10s in 2011 and 2012. Sits 15th in strokes gained: tee-to-green; T5 in par-4 scoring.
Second appearance in last four years partly due to injury, but has five top 20s, including top 10s in 2011 and 2012. Sits 15th in strokes gained: tee-to-green; T5 in par-4 scoring.
9 Charley Hoffman Strong starts in Houston (18- and 36-hole leader) and at the Masters trailed top 20s in Florida. Top 10s at Harbour Town in 2012 and 2013 are evidence of comfort factor.
Strong starts in Houston (18- and 36-hole leader) and at the Masters trailed top 20s in Florida. Top 10s at Harbour Town in 2012 and 2013 are evidence of comfort factor.
10 Scott Brown The Palmetto State resident is 3-for-3 in Hilton Head with a T5 in 2014. Current streak of six consecutive paydays includes a trio of top 10s. Strength is in his balance.
The Palmetto State resident is 3-for-3 in Hilton Head with a T5 in 2014. Current streak of six consecutive paydays includes a trio of top 10s. Strength is in his balance.
11 Matt Fitzpatrick Birdied four of last five holes and carded a field-low-tying 67 on Sunday for a T7 at the Masters. Led field in GIR. T23 here as reigning U.S. Amateur champ in 2014.
Birdied four of last five holes and carded a field-low-tying 67 on Sunday for a T7 at the Masters. Led field in GIR. T23 here as reigning U.S. Amateur champ in 2014.
12 Bill Haas Competed here in every edition since before earning TOUR card in 2006 but has just one top 25 (T24, 2013). Struts in with P2-T9-T24 since his dad, Jay, was at Copperhead.
Competed here in every edition since before earning TOUR card in 2006 but has just one top 25 (T24, 2013). Struts in with P2-T9-T24 since his dad, Jay, was at Copperhead.
13 Chez Reavie Poised to turn the tables on a horrible record here. Pair of seventh-place finishes during 5-for-5 run coming in. Ranks 22nd in strokes gained: tee-to-green; third in scrambling.
Poised to turn the tables on a horrible record here. Pair of seventh-place finishes during 5-for-5 run coming in. Ranks 22nd in strokes gained: tee-to-green; third in scrambling.
14 Branden Grace Needs the same spark that a T7 in his debut here last year provided. He ranked eighth in strokes gained: putting and third in scrambling en route to four red numbers.
Needs the same spark that a T7 in his debut here last year provided. He ranked eighth in strokes gained: putting and third in scrambling en route to four red numbers.
15 Ian Poulter As he seeks to refine his focus inside the ropes, it could work at sleepy Harbour Town where he’s 5-for-5 with a personal-best T18 last year. T3 three weeks ago in Puerto Rico.
As he seeks to refine his focus inside the ropes, it could work at sleepy Harbour Town where he’s 5-for-5 with a personal-best T18 last year. T3 three weeks ago in Puerto Rico.
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Rebounded from a stomach illness in style for a T4 at Augusta National; closed with 67. Three top 10s in his last four starts. Top 25s in all three tries at Harbour Town.