RBC Heritage preview

After last week's thrilling Masters Tournament, the PGA Tour heads to the South Carolina coast for the RBC Heritage. Brandt Snedeker defends the title and a strong field has assembled.

Snedeker RBC Heritage
Brandt Snedeker defends Heritage (Getty Images)
Fergus Bisset
By
published

Lowdown: After last week's thrilling Masters Tournament, the PGA Tour heads to the South Carolina coast for the RBC Heritage. Brandt Snedeker defends the title and a strong field has assembled. Designed by Pete Dye with the assistance of Jack Nicklaus, the course at Harbour Town is one of the professional's favourite tracks. With its iconic lighthouse and Scottish feel, it's also one of the most attractive on the circuit. First contested in 1969, Arnold Palmer was the inaugural winner of this event and there have been some notable champions, including Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson and Greg Norman. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Davis Love III earned a reputation as a Harbour Town specialist. He won five times between 1991 and 2003. Last season Brandt Snedeker produced an excellent closing round of 64 to catch Luke Donald at the top of the leaderboard. The American went on to take the title on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff. This event looked to be in trouble last year with no sponsor and a shift from its usual week after the Masters. But the tournament is back on the right track - moved back in the schedule and with sponsorship by RBC secured through 2016.

Venue: Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, South Carolina Date: Apr 12-15 Course stats: par 71, 6,973 yards Purse: $5,700,000 Winner: $1,026,000 Defending Champion: Brandt Snedeker (-12)

TV Coverage: Thursday 12 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm Friday 13 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm Saturday 14 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm Sunday 15 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm

Player Watch: Matt Kuchar - The ever consistent American finished tied for third at Augusta and could have threatened for the title. He's a top-10 machine with four straight on the PGA Tour after last week. He also has a good record at Harbour Town - no missed cuts in seven starts.

Luke Donald - Last year's runner-up, the Englishman will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing Masters. Apart from losing a playoff here in 2011, he was tied third in 2010 and tied second in 2009. He's clearly a horse suited to this course.

Jim Furyk - The 2010 champion is on a solid run of form stretching back to his playoff defeat in the Transitions Championship mid March. His game is perfect for this layout and his skills in scrambling will come to the fore.

Key hole: 14th. A par-3 of 192 yards with water all along the right side. Overhanging trees and a treacherous pot-bunker make this a very small target. It ranked as the toughest hole on the course in 2011.

Skills required: Course management. This isn't a long course but careful placement from the tee and on approaches is crucial if players are to successfully negotiate Harbour Town's numerous hazards.

Where next? European Tour - Maybank Malaysian Open preview

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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