RBC Legacy Leaderboard 2023, scores: Jimmy Walker tops while Scottie Scheffler leads big-name stars in chase
A former elite member of the game will top the leaderboards heading into the weekend at 2023 RBC Heritage. 2016 PGA Championship winner Jimmy Walker signed on to play 65 rounds at Harbor Town Golf Links to take a 3-36-hole lead with a 12-under. Competing in the top 50 career exemptions in 2023, Walker will aim to add to his bankroll and win big sums.
To do so, Walker will need to successfully fend off some of the biggest names in the sport. Scottie Scheffler continued his strong play on his league debut and was one of Walker’s closest chasers with nine points below. In search of his third win of the season, the Texan continued to look more and more relaxed as the match progressed.
Scheffler stars Xander Schauffele and Justin Rose and is one stick away from Viktor Hovland, Tommy Fleetwood and Patrick Cantlay. Having experienced little or no major hangover after the Masters, this trio of stars aim to break into the winners’ circle for the first time this year.
Last year’s champion, Jordan Spieth, is putting on an admirable defensive effort through 36 holes and is five points off the bottom seven alongside Rickie Fowler, while world No. 1 Jon Rahm only lurks half a dozen behind Walker.
Leader
1. Jimmy Walker (-12)
On the brink of retirement, the 44-year-old received a big break in early 2023. Ending last year at 59th in career earnings, Walker has moved down to 50th at nine players are removed from the list when they move to LIV Golf Course. Taking advantage of his one-time top 50 earnings waiver to play on the PGA Tour this season, the PGA Championship winner is making the most of his opportunity with 65 consecutive years at Hilton Head.
“I was 50 [in career earnings], and if I don’t play, I’ll never play again,” Walker said. “I won’t play. So when it happened, it was like, oh, this is unbelievable. I immediately changed gears and spoke to my family and said, this is it. Here is what we will do. They are absolutely all about it. All my friends talk about it.
“I remember when I went to the first tournament, should I practice? Should I go out and start netting it? We had the wings and I played pretty well in the first week. I think I was at the top of the field in birdie points. It was like, where has this been? Then I got my form back. Yeah, it’s great to be back. Maybe I can. chance to really do something special.”
other candidates
T2. Scottie Scheffler, Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele (-9)
T5. Mark Hubbard, Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Cantlay, Aaron Rai, Viktor Hovland (-8)
T10. Taylor Moore, Jordan Spieth, Emiliano Grillo, Patton Kizzire, Ben Griffin, Matt Kuchar, Brian Harman, Rickie Fowler (-7)
Another problem with PGA Tour designated events is that players visit golf courses they wouldn’t normally participate in. Scheffler is making his tournament debut this week in Harbor Town, and has done a great job in front of Pete Dye’s intricate design. The winner of another Pete Dye design – TPC Sawgrass – last month, Scheffler is continuing his dominant tee-to-green exhibit and has paired it with a top putting putting performance. 10 so far.
“This golf course has a lot of nuance and I am still learning quickly as it is my first time here,” says Scheffler. “If you hit really well, you can score anywhere, and you can make shots. Those are just nuances that help when you’re not really playing at your best. put myself on a couple of points in this that wasn’t great that week. But other than that, I played really good golf.”
Rahm rolling on the weekend
After playing cards 1 to 72 on Thursday, Rahm may have been sleepwalking for a brief week. After the historic victory at the Masters, no one can blame the world No. Just don’t tell the Spaniard that when he assisted a poor opening goal 7 under 64 – career best of 8-shots improving between rounds – on Friday to put his name in controversy. With one win, Rahm will have five wins before the fifth month of the year.
“That’s my job, isn’t it? I mean, people — as I said in the press conference,” Rahm said. “People pay their hard earned money to see me perform. My job is to perform. They don’t care if I sleep well or not, I feel good or bad. It doesn’t matter. Is a competitor, I’m not dodging anything in that sense. I’ll go out and try to shoot down.”
Cantlay an ace card; queue of slow-playing jokes
Cantlay hit the second half as his tee shot on the par-3 7th hole hit the bottom of the cup. The Californian has been at the center of some talk about slow play lately after he played in the penultimate pair of the Masters finals. The world No 4 has largely dodged criticism and claimed the whole field was slow on Sunday. However, the internet will make its jokes no matter how unoriginal they may be.
“It’s just a perfect six irons, a little wind, 190 to the hole,” Cantlay said. “A 1-meter cut turned out to be perfect.”
2023 RBC Heritage updated odds, picks
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
- Scottie Scheffler: 16/5
- Xander Schauffele: 2/13
- Patrick Cantlay: 7-1
- Jimmy Walker: 9-1
- Viktor Hovland: 19/2
- Justin Rose: 12-1
- Jordan Spieth: 12-1
- John Rahm: 16-1
- Tommy Fleetwood: 20-1
- Justin Thomas: 30-1
- Rickie Fowler: 30-1
Let’s assume for a minute that the real lead is in the hands of people under 9 years old. While Walker makes for a great story, his staying power at the top of the leaderboard could be limited as the pressure mounts. With this in mind, Rahm at 16-1, almost double his pre-tournament price, is compelling. He is just three strokes behind Scheffler, Rose and Schauffele, and is third in strokes over two innings. Justin Thomas at 5 under and 55-1 might also be worth a look if you need a little extra juice.
Rick Gehman with Sia Nejad recap the second round of RBC Heritage in Harbor Town. Follow and listen to The First Cut on Apple Podcasts And Spotify.
