RBC Heritage Preview 2019

RBC Heritage Preview 2019
RBC Heritage Preview 2019

Dates: April 15-21, 2019
Where: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Course: Harbour Town Golf Links (36-35—71/7,099)
Defending champion: Satoshi Kodaira
Purse: $6,900,000 ($1,242,000/winner);
FedExCup: 500 points to the winner
Field size: 132
Format: 72-hole stroke play
Twitter: @RBC_Heritage;
Facebook: RBC Heritage;
Instagram: RBCHeritage

Notes on the Field

  • 15 of the top 30 in the current FedExCup standings, led by Matt Kuchar (1), Xander Schauffele (2), Dustin Johnson (5), Charles Howell III (9)
  • Five FedExCup champions: Jim Furyk (2010), Bill Haas (2011), Brandt Snedeker (2012), Billy Horschel (2013-14), Jordan Spieth (2014-15)
  • 10 of the top 25 in the Official World Golf Ranking, led by Dustin Johnson (1), Francesco Molinari (7), Bryson DeChambeau (8), Xander Schauffele (9)
  • 11 past RBC Heritage champions: Satoshi Kodaira (2018), Branden Grace (2016), Jim Furyk (2015, 2010), Matt Kuchar (2014), Graeme McDowell (2013), Brandt Snedeker (2011), Brian Gay (2009), Boo Weekley (2008, 2007), Aaron Baddeley (2006), Stewart Cink (2004, 2000), Davis Love III (2003, 1998, 1992, 1991, 1987)
  • Team RBC Ambassadors expected to tee it up: Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell, Ryan Palmer, Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, Adam Hadwin, Corey Conners, Ben Silverman, Roger Sloan, Nick Taylor

A look back at Satoshi Kodaira’s victory at the 2018 RBC Heritage

Pos. Player R1 R2 R3 R4 Total
1 Satoshi Kodaira 73 63 70 66 272/-12*
2 Si Woo Kim 68 65 68 71 272/-12
T3 Bryson DeChambeau 68 64 75 66 273/-11
T3 Luke List 70 64 67 72 273/-11

(*won with a birdie-2 on the third hole of sudden death)

  • Japan’s Satoshi Kodaira overcame a 2-over 73 in round one with an 8-under 63 in round two, the low-round of the
  • tournament, en route to a playoff victory over South Korea’s Si Woo Kim; was the 14th playoff at the RBC Heritage
  • After pars from both players on the first two extra holes (18-18), Kodaira sank a 24’ 6” putt for a birdie-2 at No. 17 to claim the victory, winning in his 15th PGA TOUR start at the age of 28 years, 7 months, 4 days
  • First player from Japan to win on TOUR since Hideki Matsuyama at the 2017 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational
  • Was the sixth straight winner who had trailed the lead after 54 holes; Satoshi Kodaira (2018), Wesley Bryan (2017), Branden Grace (2016), Jim Furyk (2015), Matt Kuchar (2014) and Graeme McDowell (2013)
  • Payne Stewart (1989-90), Davis Love III (1991-92) & Boo Weekley (2007-08) are back-to-back winners at the RBC Heritage

The RBC Heritage and the FedExCup

  • The RBC Heritage is the 26th event in the 2018-19 FedExCup season
  • Seven of the 12 winners of the RBC Heritage have advanced to the season-ending TOUR Championship in the FedExCup era, most recently 2015 champion Jim Furyk (who did not start at East Lake due to a wrist injury)
  • Jim Furyk (2010) went on to win the FedExCup the same year he won the RBC Heritage for the first time

Wyndham Rewards Top 10 – Current top 10 in the FedExCup standings

Pos. Player Points Wins
1 Matt Kuchar 1,730 2
2 Xander Schauffele 1,558 2
3 Rory McIlroy 1,457 1
4 Paul Casey 1,261 1
5 Dustin Johnson 1,214 1
6 Brooks Koepka 1,112 1
7 Gary Woodland 1,102 0
8 Rickie Fowler 1,088 1
9 Charles Howell III 1,086 1
10 Justin Thomas 1,064 0

Tournament notes

  • This is the 51st RBC Heritage, regarded as one of the TOUR’s most popular stops. One of Pete Dye’s signature designs is annually ranked among the country’s top courses and has produced a winner’s roster including inaugural winner Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Hale Irwin, Fuzzy Zoeller, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Davis Love III, Greg Norman and Nick Price.
  • No defending champion who has teed it up the year following his win has missed the cut at the RBC Heritage since Davis Love III in 1993 (most recently, Wesley Bryan finished T42 in 2018).
  • There have been 12 international winners of the RBC Heritage: Satoshi Kodaira (2018), Branden Grace (2016), Graeme McDowell (2013), Carl Pettersson (2012), Aaron Baddeley (2006), Peter Lonard (2005), Jose Coceres (2001), Nick Price (1997), Greg Norman (1988), Bernhard Langer (1985), Nick Faldo (1984) and Graham Marsh (1977).
  • The RBC Heritage has had 14 playoffs, including both of Jim Furyk’s wins (2010, 2015).
  • The RBC Heritage has had 13 first-time winners: Hale Irwin (1971), Graham Marsh (1977), Doug Tewell (1980), Nick Faldo (1984), Davis Love III (1987), Glen Day (1999), Jose Coceres (2001), Peter Lonard (2005), Aaron Baddeley (2006), Boo Weekley (2007), Branden Grace (2016), Wesley Bryan (2017), Satoshi Kodaira (2018).
  • Just seven players have won the RBC Heritage in their first appearance: Arnold Palmer (1969), Bob Goalby (1970), Stewart Cink (2000), Jose Coceres (2001), Boo Weekley (2007), Wesley Bryan (2017), Satoshi Kodaira (2018).
  • Oldest winner of the RBC Heritage: Hale Irwin (1994; 48 years, 10 months, 14 days).
  • Youngest RBC Heritage winner: Davis Love III (23 years, 6 days) when he won the first of five titles in 1987.
  • Brian Gay owns the low winning score (264; 2009) and largest winning margin (10; 2009) at the RBC Heritage.
  • The largest final-round comeback at the RBC Heritage is nine strokes (Stewart Cink, 2004).

RBC Heritage and the Masters Tournament

  • Former Masters champions in the field: Zach Johnson (2007), Charl Schwartzel (2011), Jordan Spieth (2015), Danny Willett (2016)
  • Best finishers in the 2019 Masters: Xander Schauffele (T2), Dustin Johnson (T2), Webb Simpson (T5), Francesco Molinari (T5), Patrick Cantlay (T9)
  • Since the RBC Heritage moved into its slot after the Masters in 1983, Seven players have won the event without having competed in the Masters the week before: Wesley Bryan (2017), Carl Pettersson (2012), Brian Gay (2009), Boo Weekley (2007), Aaron Baddeley (2006), Bob Tway (1995) and Davis Love III (1987).

Aon Risk Reward Challenge

The season-long Aon Risk Reward Challenge will highlight the world’s best professional golfers as they tackle the most strategically challenging holes across both the PGA TOUR and LPGA. The PGA TOUR and LPGA player on top of the Aon leaderboard at the end of the regular season will each receive a $1 million prize. The scoring system, identical on both the PGA TOUR and LPGA, is intuitive and produces a compelling risk/reward narrative throughout the season. Players will take their best two scores from each Aon Risk Reward Challenge hole, with the winners having the best average score to par at the end of the regular season. Players must play a minimum of 40 rounds throughout the season. The Challenge runs across regular season tournaments (36 PGA TOUR; 29 LPGA). To view the leaderboard and for more information about the Aon Risk Reward Challenge visit: https://www.pgatour.com/aon-risk-reward-challenge.html. This week’s Aon Risk Reward Challenge hole at the RBC Heritage is the 588-yard par-5 15th hole at Harbour Town Golf Links.

OPPORTUNITY

The 588-yard 15th hole is a “thinking challenge” and demands deliberation for each shot on the hole. Risk zones on the par-5 is the water hazard that guards the layup area and left of the green along with bunkers that guard the front of the green.

INSIGHT

Last season, 24% of the field went for the green in two on the 15th hole, marking the highest going for the green percentage on this hole since 2003. Last season, two of the four eagles made on this hole were from players hitting the green in two shots (Grillo, Rd 2 & Glover, Final Rd). Since 2003, only six players have gone for the green in all four rounds. Byeong Hun An played the hole in four-under last season marking the best going for green score to par in a single year on the 15th hole at Harbour Town GL.

ADVANTAGE

The strategic insight is clear, players who have the opportunity to go for the green from inside 255 yards are a combined 146-under par compared to players who have a second shot over 255 yards are five-over par, since 2003. Last year’s

winner Satoshi Kodaira played the 15th hole even par through the first three rounds, however made birdie in the final round in the only round he went for the green in two.


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