PGA Tour Brunch Coverage of the RBC Heritage
With a career-low and bogey-free 9-under (62), Cameron Smith tied lowest opening-round score in tournament history. Smith’s round included a holed bunker shot at the par-3 17th among birdies on final two holes.
Through 27 stroke-play events this season, only five first-round leaders/co-leaders have gone on to win, the most recent was Matt Jones (The Honda Classic).
Since 2010, the 18-hole leader/co-leader of the RBC Heritage has won only twice; Matt Kuchar/2014, Branden Grace/2016.
At 47 years old, 2000 and 2004 champion Stewart Cink opened his 22nd consecutive RBC Heritage with his lowest score in 75 rounds at Harbour Town Golf Links, shooting an eight-under, (63).
World No. 4 Collin Morikawa sinks a 20’ 11” putt for birdie at his last hole to cap off 111’ 0” of made putts
Two weeks after a solo-third at the Valero Texas Open, England’s Matt Wallace opened with a bogey-free (65) and is only three strokes off the lead.
World No. 1 and South Carolina native Dustin Johnson opened with 1-under (70) in his sixth RBC Heritage.
Leaderboard After Opening Round
1. Cameron Smith 62 (-9)
2. Stewart Cink 63 (-8)
T3. Matt Wallace 65 (-6)
T3. Collin Morikawa 65 (-6)
Full Leaderboard (link)
Tournament Tee Times begin today at 7:00am (EDT) through 1:40pm (EDT).
Weather: Forecast calls for drier and cooler conditions return with highs around 70 degrees. Unsettled weather may return this weekend as a weak low-pressure system may develop along the stalled front pushing showers northward into region.
PGATourBrunch will be posting before 7am (EDT) on Saturday and Sunday. Then, at Noon on Monday with a tournament wrap-up.
Next Week: The Zurich Classic at New Orleans
THIS WEEK on the PGA TOUR: RBC Heritage
COURSE: Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, SC
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @RBC_Heritage
OFFICIAL SITE: (RBC Heritage)
TV COVERAGE: Today, April 16: 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Golf channel. Free Twitter Live coverage (and Golf Channel) on Thursday from 11:00am to 3:00pm (EDT). Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18- Golf Channel’s TV coverage 1:00pm to 3:00pm (EDT), then CBS takes over coverage from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).
STREAMING: PGA Tour Live will offer streaming coverage of Featured Groups today from 7:00am to 6:00pm (EDT). On Saturday and Sunday, PGA Tour Live offers Featured Groups streaming from 8:00am to 3:00pm (EDT) and Featured Holes from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).
PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Streaming Radio coverage today 12:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT); Saturday and Sunday, 1:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com.
How to Watch: (PGATourCom)
Sign Up for PGA Tour Brunch with Special “Tax Man” Discount:
What They’re Saying:
Cameron Smith Cards Career-Low, 62 (PGA Tour Com)
Smith Leads RBC Heritage (ESPN/Associated Press)
Cink Cherishes Vibe at Harbour Town (Golf Week/USA Today)
DJ Playing Well, Scoring Poorly (Golf Week/USA Today)
Cut Prediction (PGA Tour Com)
#SportsBiz and Golf Industry News
Matsuyama Looks Ahead After Major Breakthrough (PGA Tour Com)
Masters TV Ratings a Mixed Bag (Yahoo Sports)
On This Day in Golf History:
April 16, 1978 - A week after winning his ninth major title at the Masters with a final round (64), Gary Player won in come-from-behind fashion firing a final round (67) to come from seven strokes behind to win the Tournament of Champions at LaCosta Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California. (Courtesy of Randy Walker), Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE