Post-Masters Blues: Stars Tee It Up at the 2025 RBC Heritage

The PGA Tour rolls into Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, for the 2025 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links, one of the most beloved stops on the schedule. Fresh off an emotional and competitive Masters week at Augusta National, some of the world’s best are making the short trip to compete at a course that challenges players in completely different ways. Known for its tight fairways, overhanging oaks, and tiny greens, Harbour Town rewards precision over power and strategy over aggression. While some players are riding high from a solid week at Augusta, others are eager to rebound and reset. As one of the PGA Tour’s Signature Events, the RBC Heritage has drawn an elite field, and with good reason. Players love the unique challenge of Harbour Town, and the week following the Masters always offers a fascinating mix of storylines. With no cut for the week and big money and points at stake, every round matters, and fans can expect top-tier golf from Thursday through Sunday. Twenty million dollars will be on the line in this designated event, and with the FedEx Cup race heating up, the RBC Heritage can be the perfect cure for your post-Masters Blues.

Tournament Details

Location: Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, SC

Dates: April 17th - 20th, 2025

Defending Champion: Scottie Scheffler

Purse: $20 million

FedEx Cup Points: 700

Event Type: Signature Event - No Cut

Course Week Breakdown

Harbour Town Golf Links is a 7,213-yard, par-71 layout designed by Pete Dye with assistance from Jack Nicklaus. Unlike many modern tour venues, Harbour Town isn’t about raw power, it’s a shotmaker’s course through and through. Narrow fairways, overhanging trees, small greens, and deep pot bunkers make it one of the most demanding layouts on the PGA Tour when it comes to strategy and execution. Players must shape shots both ways, position themselves perfectly off the tee, and rely heavily on a deft short game to survive. Distance is not a huge advantage here, but accuracy, creativity, and mental sharpness are vital. The iconic par-4 18th, stretching along the Calibogue Sound, is one of the most scenic and challenging finishing golf holes, especially when the coastal winds kick up. Greens average just 3,700 square feet, making them some of the smallest on Tour, and missing in the wrong spot often leads to bogey or worse. This is not a course where players can overpower their way to victory, it rewards those with control, patience, and course management. Harbour Town has long been known for favoring veterans and cerebral players, but recent years have shown that younger talent who can play smart can thrive here, too. Expect a tight leaderboard, low winning scores, and plenty of movement throughout the weekend.

The weather for tournament week looks mild and breezy, with classic spring conditions on the South Carolina coast. Thursday and Friday are expected to see highs in the mid-70s with light morning winds building through the afternoon. Saturday brings a slight chance of scattered showers and winds gusting over 15 mph, which could shake up the leaderboard. Sunday’s final round should bring clearer skies and calm conditions, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. Players who can adjust quickly to shifting conditions, especially when the wind picks up, will have a major advantage on this already demanding track.

Featured Players to Watch

Defending Champion: Scottie Scheffler – World Number One

Scottie Scheffler returns to Harbour Town not just as the world’s top-ranked player, but as the reigning RBC Heritage champion. Despite his stellar performances across the board this season, including several top-10 finishes, Scheffler is still searching for his first official win of 2025. A victory here would not only mark back-to-back titles at Harbour Town, but it would also reaffirm his dominance in this new generation of elite players. His ball-striking remains unmatched, and if he can find a groove with the putter, he’ll be nearly impossible to beat. With the pressure of defending and the hunger to get back in the winner’s circle, expect Scheffler to be right in the mix come Sunday.

Powerhouse: Collin Morikawa – World Number Four

Collin Morikawa has quietly had a strong 2025 season, notching a few top-10 finishes and contending at the biggest events, including a decent showing at Augusta. The two-time major winner has been trending upward, and Harbour Town presents the perfect venue for his precise, iron-heavy game to shine. Morikawa’s ability to hit fairways and dial in his short irons makes him an ideal fit for Harbour Town’s tight and tactical layout. A win here would snap his lengthy victory drought. He hasn’t won since the 2023 Zozo Championship, and he has hopes to reestablish himself as one of the game’s elite closers. With his confidence building and his game looking sharp, Morikawa is a serious contender to watch this week.

Looking to Bounce Back: Max Homa – World Number 67

Max Homa showed flashes of his best form during the Masters, where he finished inside the top 25 and finally looked more like the player who’s contended regularly the past several years. While he hasn’t won since early 2023, Harbour Town gives Homa a chance to carry momentum from Augusta into a course that rewards smart play and touch around the greens, two aspects he excels at when he’s in rhythm. His recent struggles with consistency off the tee may not hurt him as much here, given the emphasis on placement over power. A strong showing this week would do wonders for Homa’s confidence as he aims to rediscover the level of play that made him a staple near the top of the leaderboards. Keep an eye on him because he could quietly surge up the board.

Wild Card Winner: JJ Spaun – World Number 29

J.J. Spaun is flying a little under the radar this week, but don’t be surprised if he makes a serious run at Harbour Town. The California native has posted several solid finishes this season, including going into a playoff at the Players Championship, and thrives on courses that demand precision over power. His short game has been sharp, and his putting stats have quietly improved, making him a dangerous sleeper pick in a stacked field. If Spaun can stay steady off the tee and capitalize on birdie opportunities, he could make a splash on Sunday. In a tournament that often produces surprise contenders, Spaun has the game to be the next underdog to shine.

Final Thoughts

The RBC Heritage always delivers compelling golf, and with the top players in the world returning from Augusta, the momentum and fatigue can shift the outlook of the tournament. For Scottie Scheffler, it's another chance to stamp his dominance. For players like Morikawa and Homa, it's a proving ground to build toward something bigger. And for a dark horse like J.J. Spaun, this week could be the reward for his much-improved form this year. Harbour Town is not about power or length, it’s about control, patience, and executing under pressure. With perfect spring conditions, a demanding course, and a loaded field, the 2025 RBC Heritage is set to be another unforgettable chapter in what’s already been a dramatic PGA Tour season.