RBC Heritage 2024 leaderboard, scores: JT Poston leads with Masters star Ludvig Åberg in the hunt after Round 1
In one of the strange transitions this PGA Tour season, the RBC Heritage began Thursday just four days after the final round of the Masters. It’s a great field in a no-cuts, big-money, fun-for-the-fans event. Still, it’s strange to see regular PGA Tour golfers stop so quickly after the first major championship of the year.
So it’s no surprise to see some of the bigger stars struggle a bit and some of the smaller names rise to the top of the charts. One of those names is JT Poston, who shot an 8-under 63 on the day. He was trailed by everyone else in the field at the $20 million event in Hilton Head.
We take a look back at his round as well as those in the chase heading into Round 2 on Friday.
Leader
1. JT Poston (-8)
Poston was second in the pitching field on Thursday, which is why he led. But he also hit well, that didn’t happen. After mustering five top 20s in six West Coast starts, Poston has no top 20s in four starts since heading east.
He praised his better shooting ability (he finished in the top 15 in that category on Thursday), but also scolded his wife for allowing him to get some sleep with their newborn on the road .
“We have a two-bedroom apartment,” Poston explains. “My mom is staying with us. We have her in her little barn. My wife was great last night; she woke up in the middle of the night a few times when she was getting ready to eat or fussed and let me sleep, so maybe We’ll continue to do that.”
Other candidates
T2. Collin Morikawa, Seamus Power (-6)
T4. Austin Eckroat, Mackenzie Hughes, Sahith Theegala, Patrick Rodgers, Ludvig Aberg, Sepp Straka (-5)
Åberg has the look you’d expect to see from a potential young star entering this event after a solo second at the Masters. He’s a flusher, hitting 13 of 14 fairways on Thursday with his perfect swing and reaching a 66 with absolutely nothing on or around the green.
Scary stuff.
“My focus shifted as soon as I got here,” Åberg said. “We tried to make sure that last week was last week and this week is this week. But, yeah, obviously last week is still something that I look back on with a smile. But, yeah, my focus is here this week, and hopefully we’ll be able to continue playing good golf.
“I’d like to think I’m young and I’ll be able to handle it,” he added about playing three weeks in a row. “But, yeah, I think next week I’ll be down for a few days without playing. But I’m looking forward to the rest of the week.”
Scottie…again?
Scottie Scheffler has lost to one golfer since March 1 – Stephan Jager at the Houston Open a few weeks ago. He beat… everyone else he played against, including wins at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Players Championship and of course the Masters last week. Could that continue this week? He got off to a pretty good start at 2 under, including a double.
This is his 36th straight round at par or lower since 2024.
“It would have felt better if I had gotten off to a better start,” said Scheffler, who made a double bogey on the third hole after hitting a bunker shot and being unable to get up and down the hole. “I tried to give myself a little bit of grace there, but I was pretty disappointed in the middle of the round because I was playing well, felt like I was hitting good putts and my speed was probably a little off.
“I hit the bunker shot on hole 3. I hit that shot a lot, but never in competition… I tried to give myself a little grace there. Obviously it was just a mentally flawed and I’m not exactly like that either.” I tried to give myself some time. I’ve also been getting better shots. Looking forward to the rest of the week.
Scheffler looked like anyone after winning the Masters: physically and mentally exhausted.
“I think maybe I was too settled to start the day. I wasn’t really into the competition. I think maybe a little tired, whatever it was. But I feel like I’m still getting used to it.” with the environment.” golf course.”
Scheffler is not in a position to win a fourth in five matches because of when this tournament is scheduled. Beating the best players in the world in any given week is difficult enough. To do that after the emotional loss of winning the Masters was huge. If anyone can do it, it’s him. But there were certainly some early flaws with Scheffler that we’re not used to seeing.
Those mistakes will eventually be ironed out and Scheffler will do his best going into the tournament. The question for him after Round 1 was whether falling outside the top 20 after day one would prevent him from getting another win.
RBC Heritage 2024 updated odds and picks
Odds via Sportsline consensus
- Collin Morikawa: 6-1
- JT Poston: 7-1
- Ludvig Aberg: 7-1
- Scottie Scheffler: 10-1
- Rory McIlroy: 11-1
- Patrick Cantlay: 12-1
I believe Åberg will win this week and I like those 7-1 odds. That means Scheffler is certain to shoot 64 on Friday and take the lead. Great hitters you should keep an eye on include Cameron Young (20-1) and Russell Henley (28-1).
