RBC Heritage

"MCI Classic" redirects here. For the bus model of the same name, see Classic (transit bus).

RBC Heritage
Tournament information
LocationHilton Head Island,
South Carolina
Established1969
Course(s)Harbour Town Golf Links
Par71
Length7,191 yards (6,575 m)[1]
Organized byThe Heritage Classic Foundation
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$20,000,000
Month playedApril
Tournament record score
Aggregate262 Webb Simpson (2020)
To par−22 as above
Current champion
Justin Thomas
Location map
Harbour Town Golf Links
Location in the United States
Harbour Town Golf Links
Location in South Carolina

The RBC Heritage, known for much of its history as the Heritage Classic or simply The Heritage, is a PGA Tour event in South Carolina, first played 56 years ago in 1969.[2] It is currently played in mid-April, the week after The Masters in Augusta, Georgia.

The venue for its entire existence has been the Harbour Town Golf Links at the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island. The Harbour Town course, which frequently appears on several "Best Courses" lists, was designed by famed golf course architect Pete Dye, with assistance from Jack Nicklaus. In 1972, the first two rounds were played on both the Harbour Town Golf Links and the Ocean course at Sea Pines, with the final two rounds at Harbour Town.

Originally played in late November,[3] it moved to mid-September in 1973, March in 1974, and April in 1983. The inaugural champion in 1969 was forty-year-old Arnold Palmer, his first win in over a year.[2][3] Course co-designer Nicklaus won in 1975,[4] two weeks before his fifth Masters win. Davis Love III leads with five victories in the event, Hale Irwin and Stewart Cink have three, while seven others have won twice.

From 1987 through 2010, it was sponsored either by MCI (under both the "MCI" and "WorldCom" names) or its eventual purchaser, Verizon. The tournament operated without a title sponsor in 2011,[5] and the Royal Bank of Canada has been the title sponsor of The Heritage since 2012.[6] It is currently organized by The Heritage Classic Foundation.[7]

Course

Main article: Harbour Town Golf Links
Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Yards 410 502 469 200 549 419 195 473 332 3,549 451 436 430 373 192 588 434 174 472 3,550 7,099
Par 4 5 4 3 5 4 3 4 4 36 4 4 4 4 3 5 4 3 4 35 71

Source:[1]

  • The course length at the inaugural event in 1969 was 6,655 yards (6,085 m).[3]

Invitational status

The Heritage is one of only five tournaments given "invitational" status by the PGA Tour,[8] and consequently it has a reduced field of only 69 players in 2024 (as opposed to most full-field open tournaments with a field of 156 players). The other four tournaments with invitational status are the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Charles Schwab Challenge, the Memorial Tournament, and the Genesis Invitational. Invitational tournaments have smaller fields, and have more freedom than full-field open tournaments in determining which players are eligible to participate in their event, as invitational tournaments are not required to fill their fields using the PGA Tour Priority Ranking System. Furthermore, unlike full-field open tournaments, invitational tournaments do not offer open qualifying (aka Monday qualifying).

Field

The field consists of 69 players invited using the following criteria:[9]

  1. RBC Heritage winners prior to 2000 and in the last five years
  2. U.S. Open or PGA Championship winners prior to 2005 playing 15 events in prior year
  3. The Players Championship and major championship winners in the last five years
  4. The Tour Championship and World Golf Championships winners in the past three years
  5. Winners of the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Memorial Tournament in the past three years
  6. Prior year U.S. Amateur winner (if still amateur)
  7. Winner FedEx Cup in the last five years
  8. Playing member of last named U.S. Ryder Cup team; current PGA Tour members who were playing members on last named European Ryder Cup team, U.S. Presidents Cup team, and International Presidents Cup team
  9. Top 50 Official World Golf Ranking through two weeks prior to the commitment deadline
  10. 8 sponsors exemptions – 2 from Korn Ferry Tour finals, 2 members not otherwise exempt, and 4 unrestricted
  11. Commissioner exemption - 2 foreign players
  12. PGA Section (Carolinas) champion/player of the year
  13. Career Money Exemption
  14. Life members
  15. Top 125 from prior year's FedEx Cup points list, including top 125 (medical)
  16. Members in the top 125 non-member category whose non-WGC points equal or exceed the points by the player finishing in 125th on the prior year FedEx Cup points list
  17. Tournament winners (PGA Tour eligibility category 10)[10]
  18. Top 20 on current FedEx Cup points list through Friday prior to the tournament
  19. Next five available players not otherwise eligible from current year's FedEx Cup points list
  20. Remaining positions filled using standard PGA Tour eligibility ranking after top 125 non-member category

Playing history

The tournament has been played in the month of

  • November (1969–72)
  • September (1973)
  • March (1974–82) - usually two weeks before the Masters Tournament
  • April (1983– ) - usually the week after the Masters Tournament

Winners

Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up Purse
($)		 Winner's
share ($)
RBC Heritage
2025 Justin Thomas 267 −17 Playoff Andrew Novak 20,000,000 3,600,000
2024 Scottie Scheffler 265 −19 3 strokes Sahith Theegala 20,000,000 3,600,000
2023 Matt Fitzpatrick 267 −17 Playoff Jordan Spieth 20,000,000 3,600,000
2022 Jordan Spieth 271 −13 Playoff Patrick Cantlay 8,000,000 1,440,000
2021 Stewart Cink (3) 265 −19 4 strokes Emiliano Grillo
Harold Varner III		 7,100,000 1,278,000
2020 Webb Simpson 262 −22 1 stroke Abraham Ancer 7,100,000 1,278,000
2019 Pan Cheng-tsung 272 −12 1 stroke Matt Kuchar 6,900,000 1,242,000
2018 Satoshi Kodaira 272 −12 Playoff Kim Si-woo 6,700,000 1,206,000
2017 Wesley Bryan 271 −13 1 stroke Luke Donald 6,500,000 1,170,000
2016 Branden Grace 275 −9 2 strokes Luke Donald
Russell Knox		 5,900,000 1,062,000
2015 Jim Furyk (2) 266 −18 Playoff Kevin Kisner 5,900,000 1,062,000
2014 Matt Kuchar 273 −11 1 stroke Luke Donald 5,800,000 1,044,000
2013 Graeme McDowell 275 −9 Playoff Webb Simpson 5,800,000 1,044,000
2012 Carl Pettersson 270 −14 5 strokes Zach Johnson 5,700,000 1,026,000
The Heritage
2011 Brandt Snedeker 272 −12 Playoff Luke Donald 5,700,000 1,026,000
Verizon Heritage
2010 Jim Furyk 271 −13 Playoff Brian Davis 5,700,000 1,026,000
2009 Brian Gay 264 −20 10 strokes Briny Baird
Luke Donald		 5,700,000 1,026,000
2008 Boo Weekley (2) 269 −15 3 strokes Aaron Baddeley
Anthony Kim		 5,500,000 990,000
2007 Boo Weekley 270 −14 1 stroke Ernie Els 5,400,000 972,000
2006 Aaron Baddeley 269 −15 1 stroke Jim Furyk 5,300,000 954,000
MCI Heritage
2005 Peter Lonard 277 −7 2 strokes Billy Andrade
Darren Clarke
Jim Furyk
Davis Love III		 5,200,000 936,000
2004 Stewart Cink (2) 274 −10 Playoff Ted Purdy 4,800,000 864,000
2003 Davis Love III (5) 271 −13 Playoff Woody Austin 4,500,000 810,000
WorldCom Classic - The Heritage of Golf
2002 Justin Leonard 270 −14 1 stroke Heath Slocum 4,000,000 720,000
2001 José Cóceres 273 −11 Playoff Billy Mayfair 3,500,000 630,000
MCI Classic
2000 Stewart Cink 270 −14 2 strokes Tom Lehman 3,000,000 540,000
1999 Glen Day 274 −10 Playoff Jeff Sluman
Payne Stewart		 2,500,000 450,000
1998 Davis Love III (4) 266 −18 7 strokes Glen Day 1,900,000 342,000
1997 Nick Price 269 −15 6 strokes Brad Faxon
Jesper Parnevik		 1,500,000 270,000
1996 Loren Roberts 265 −19 3 strokes Mark O'Meara 1,400,000 252,000
1995 Bob Tway 275 −9 Playoff David Frost
Nolan Henke		 1,300,000 234,000
MCI Heritage Golf Classic
1994 Hale Irwin (3) 266 −18 2 strokes Greg Norman 1,250,000 225,000
1993 David Edwards 273 −11 2 strokes David Frost 1,125,000 202,500
1992 Davis Love III (3) 269 −15 4 strokes Chip Beck 1,000,000 180,000
1991 Davis Love III (2) 271 −13 2 strokes Ian Baker-Finch 1,000,000 180,000
1990 Payne Stewart (2) 276 −8 Playoff Steve Jones
Larry Mize		 1,000,000 180,000
1989 Payne Stewart 268 −16 5 strokes Kenny Perry 800,000 144,000
1988 Greg Norman 271 −13 1 stroke David Frost
Gil Morgan		 700,000 126,000
1987 Davis Love III 271 −13 1 stroke Steve Jones 650,000 117,000
Sea Pines Heritage
1986 Fuzzy Zoeller (2) 276 −8 1 stroke Chip Beck
Roger Maltbie
Greg Norman		 450,000 81,000
1985 Bernhard Langer 273 −11 Playoff Bobby Wadkins 400,000 72,000
1984 Nick Faldo 270 −14 1 stroke Tom Kite 400,000 72,000
1983 Fuzzy Zoeller 275 −9 2 strokes Jim Nelford 350,000 63,000
1982 Tom Watson (2) 280 −4 Playoff Frank Conner 300,000 54,000
1981 Bill Rogers 278 −6 1 stroke Bruce Devlin
Hale Irwin
Gil Morgan
Craig Stadler		 300,000 54,000
1980 Doug Tewell 280 −4 Playoff Jerry Pate 300,000 54,000
Sea Pines Heritage Classic
1979 Tom Watson 270 −14 5 strokes Ed Sneed 300,000 54,000
Heritage Classic
1978 Hubert Green (2) 277 −7 3 strokes Hale Irwin 225,000 45,000
1977 Graham Marsh 273 −11 1 stroke Tom Watson 225,000 45,000
Sea Pines Heritage Classic
1976 Hubert Green 274 −10 5 strokes Jerry McGee 215,000 43,000
1975 Jack Nicklaus 271 −13 3 strokes Tom Weiskopf 200,000 40,000
1974 Johnny Miller (2) 276 −8 3 strokes Gibby Gilbert 200,000 40,000
1973 Hale Irwin (2) 272 −12 5 strokes Jerry Heard
Grier Jones		 150,000 30,000
1972 Johnny Miller 281 −3 1 stroke Tom Weiskopf 125,000 25,000
1971 Hale Irwin 279 −5 1 stroke Bob Lunn 110,000 22,000
Heritage Golf Classic
1970 Bob Goalby 280 −4 4 strokes Lanny Wadkins 100,000 20,000
1969 Arnold Palmer 283 −1 3 strokes Richard Crawford
Bert Yancey		 100,000 20,000

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources:[12][13]

Multiple winners

Ten men have won this tournament more than once through 2024.

Highlights

  • 1969: Arnold Palmer wins the inaugural edition of the tournament. He finishes three shots ahead of Richard Crawford and Bert Yancey.[14]
  • 1971: Future three-time U.S. Open Champion, Hale Irwin, makes Heritage his first ever PGA Tour victory. He beats Bob Lunn by one shot.[15]
  • 1976: Hubert Green wins by five shots over Jerry McGee. It was Green's third consecutive win in as many weeks.[16]
  • 1980: George Archer sets a PGA Tour record for fewest putts in a 72-hole tournament, 94. The previous mark was 99 set by Bob Menne.[17] Kenny Knox would subsequently break Archer's record at the 1989 MCI Heritage Golf Classic.[18]
  • 1984: Nick Faldo wins his first PGA Tour event by one shot over Tom Kite. He is the first Englishman to win on United States soil since Tony Jacklin at the 1972 Greater Jacksonville Open.[19]
  • 1987: Davis Love III wins by one shot over Steve Jones. Jones had come to the 72nd hole leading by one but made a double bogey after his tee shot went out of bounds.[20]
  • 1990: Payne Stewart becomes the first Heritage champion to successfully defend his title. He beats Larry Mize and Steve Jones in a sudden death playoff.[21]
  • 1994: Hale Irwin collects his 20th overall and last PGA Tour win at Harbour Town. He wins by two shots over Greg Norman.[22]
  • 1998: Davis Love III becomes the first four-time Heritage winner. He wins by seven shots over Glen Day. Day would avenge his loss the next season for his only PGA Tour win.[23]
  • 2003: Davis Love III wins his fifth Heritage by defeating Woody Austin in a sudden death playoff. To get in the playoff, Love chipped in from off the green at the 72nd hole.[24]
  • 2005: Peter Lonard wins by two shots over Darren Clarke, Jim Furyk, Billy Andrade, and Davis Love III. Clarke was tied for the lead when teeing off on the 72nd hole, but like Steve Jones did in 1987, he hit his tee shot out of bounds and made double bogey.[25] David Frost breaks Mark Calcavecchia's record of 93 putts in a 72-hole tournament by hitting only 92 putts.[26]
  • 2007 Boo Weekley chips in on the last two holes for his first ever PGA Tour victory. He wins by one shot over Ernie Els.[27]
  • 2010: Jim Furyk defeats Brian Davis in a sudden death playoff. On the first playoff hole, Davis calls a two-shot penalty on himself after he touched a loose impediment in a hazard with his golf club.[28]
  • 2013: A PGA Tour record-tying 91 players make the 36-hole cut, (a record set at the 1981 Greater Hartford Open). Jesper Parnevik bogeyed the 18th hole, giving Parnevik and 21 additional golfers entry into the third round.[29]
  • 2017: Wesley Bryan earns his first PGA Tour win by one stroke.
  • 2024: Scottie Scheffler becomes the first golfer in 39 years to win the RBC Heritage after winning the Masters.[30]

References

  1. ^ a b "Course: RBC Heritage". PGA Tour. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Arnie wins 1st tourney in 15 months". Chicago Tribune. UPI. December 1, 1969. p. 4, sec. 3.
  3. ^ a b c "Comeback of the year: Palmer ends long slump". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. December 1, 1969. p. 1C.
  4. ^ "Nicklaus gets into swing; wins Heritage by three". Chicago Tribune. wire services. March 31, 1975. p. 1, sec. 4.
  5. ^ "2011 PGA Tour schedule" (Press release). PGA Tour. December 2, 2010. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  6. ^ "RBC named as new title sponsor of Heritage". PGA Tour. June 16, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  7. ^ The Heritage Classic Foundation - Overview Archived 2013-10-10 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Did you know?: True tales from the RBC Heritage". March 27, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  9. ^ "2015–16 PGA Tour Player Handbook & Tournament Regulations" (PDF). October 5, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 12, 2016.
  10. ^ "2015-2016 PGA Tour Eligibility Ranking". Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  11. ^ "PGA Tour announces schedule adjustments for remainder of 2019-20 FedExCup season, releases fall portion of 2020-21 PGA Tour Regular Season schedule". PGA Tour. April 16, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  12. ^ RBC Heritage – Winners – at pgatour.com
  13. ^ RBC Heritage – Winners – at golfobserver.com
  14. ^ Arnold Palmer wins Heritage Golf Classic
  15. ^ Hale Irwin Takes Heritage With Record Five Under Par
  16. ^ Green Makes Heritage Third Straight
  17. ^ Tewell, Pate, meet again
  18. ^ There's lots of gain for Payne as he wins Heritage Classic
  19. ^ Faldo rises to Kite's challenge to win
  20. ^ Jones out of bounds-Love steps in
  21. ^ 30-foot putt lifts Stewart in Heritage
  22. ^ Late charge gives Irwin Heritage win
  23. ^ Heritage winner surprises everyone
  24. ^ Love affair: Davis wins 5th Heritage
  25. ^ "Bloomberg Politics - Bloomberg". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on September 16, 2015.
  26. ^ Kelley, Brent. "Fewest Putts in a PGA Tour Tournament". About.com. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  27. ^ Weekley Wins the Heritage
  28. ^ Jim Furyk hails Brian Davis' sportsmanship at Verizon Heritage
  29. ^ Gray, Will (April 20, 2013). "Record number of players make 36-hole Heritage cut". Golf Channel. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  30. ^ Hodowanic, Paul (April 22, 2024). "Scottie Scheffler makes remarkable look routine, wins RBC Heritage comfortably". PGA Tour. Retrieved February 15, 2025.

32°08′10″N 80°48′36″W / 32.136°N 80.810°W / 32.136; -80.810

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