The Masters came and went, ushering in yet another new major championship winner in the form of Patrick Reed.
Golf rages on with the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head, continuing its role as the tournament that follows the excitement of Augusta National.
While some fans may turn their attention away from golf this week after four straight days glued to their TV sets, the RBC Heritage boasts a rich field on a beautiful golf course. Just can't get enough golf? We don't blame you.
The Course
Harbour Town Golf Links, a 7,099-yard par 71, serves as one of the shortest courses on the PGA Tour slate. Known as a shot-maker's course, Harbour Town can play under 7,000 yards and still yield high scores. Small greens and tight fairways help this course defend itself against the world's best golfers. The iconic lighthouse near the 18th green will have a new look this year — with a tartan wrapping marking the 50th edition.
Here we go. #RBCHeritage pic.twitter.com/1z0tPjf4p8
— 50th RBC Heritage (@RBC_Heritage) April 9, 2018
Defending Champion
Wesley Bryan earned his first PGA Tour win here last year, bolstered by four straight birdies on his front nine to erase a three-shot deficit. Bryan also became the first South Carolina native to win the event. The win stamped an all-around breakout season for Bryan, but he has since struggled to contend on Tour.
Favorites
Dustin Johnson — Fresh off a top-10 finish at the Masters, the world's top-ranked golfer will change it up and play at Hilton Head, where his power will be nearly obsolete. Also a good wedge and iron player, Johnson will be able to show off all his skills on this tight track.
Matt Kuchar — Kuchar hasn't finished outside the top 11 here since 2013, and he won in 2014. The 39-year-old has two top 10s in his last three starts overall, and this is the time of year he usually shines.
Kevin Kisner — The South Carolina native finished runner-up here in 2015, and he just finished runner-up at the Dell Match Play last month. Consistent from tee to green, Kisner is a threat this week if he putts confidently.
Marc Leishman -— Likely the most underrated player on the PGA Tour, Leishman, ranked 17th in the world, finished ninth last week at Augusta National. He has two wins since the beginning of last season, and it wouldn't be surprising if he soon picked up his third.
Brian Harman — Easily one of the hottest players in the fall, and then again in Hawaii, when he racked up five straight top-eight finishes. Another top-five in Mexico last month proved Harman was here to stay. His accuracy makes him a threat this week.
Sleepers
Charley Hoffman, Franceso Molinari and Cameron Smith all finished inside the top 20 at Augusta, and all three are great ball-strikers. Smith rallied to finish t-5 at the Masters, good for his second top-5 finish at a major. The 24-year-old Australian looks poised for a breakout season.
Molinari and Hoffman have both been quiet this year, but big 2017s point to them turning things around sooner than later.
Horse for the Course
It wouldn't be surprising if this course was one day renamed after Luke Donald. The sweet-swinging Englishman, a former world No. 1, has seven top-3 finishes here since 2009, but never a win. Five times a runner-up and twice a third-place finisher here since 2009, Donald almost single-handedly keeps his card thanks to this event.
Now ranked 196th in the world, two of Donald's last top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour came at Hilton Head.
RBC Heritage TV, streaming info
Dates: April 12-15
Location: Hilton Head, S.C.
TV:
Thursday: 3-6 p.m., Golf Channel
Friday: 3-6 p.m., Golf Channel
Saturday: 1-2:45 p.m., Golf Channel; 3-6 p.m., CBS
Sunday: 1-2:45 p.m., Golf Channel; 3-6 p.m., CBS
Streaming: fuboTV (sign up for 7-day free trial)