Advertisement

Scottie. Scheffler. Oh, and much more from Saturday at the RBC Heritage 2024

Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Scottie Scheffler is atop the leaderboard after 54 holes.This time, it’s at the 2024 RBC Heritage, a PGA Tour signature event, at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, South Carolina, where Scheffler posted masterful 8-under 63.

The world No. 1 gained over three shots on the field with his approach play Saturday, and poured in a few lengthy birdie attempts, including a near 40-footer at the short par-4 ninth.

Sepp Straka is Scheffler’s closest competitor, sitting just one shot back at 15 under thanks to a beautiful birdie on the iconic par-4 18th. The Austrian’s last win came at the John Deere Classic – the “fifth major” – in 2023.

Big names are scattered all over the leaderboard: Collin Morikawa (14 under, two back), Ludvig Aberg (13 under, three back), Sahith Theegala (13 under, three back), Patrick Cantlay (12 under, four back), Rory McIlroy (10 under, six back) and Xander Schauffele (10 under, six back).

Scheffler will have his hands full holding off that charging pack.

If you missed any of Saturday’s action, no worries, we have you covered. Here’s everything you need to know from the third round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links.

Scottie Scheffler — that's all we gotta say

Scottie Scheffler looks on while playing the 10th hole during the third round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on April 20, 2024 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

So we’re really doing this again, huh?

Scheffler has won three of his last four starts, including last week’s Masters where he slipped on the Green Jacket for the second time in three years.

What may be most impressive about his performance in South Carolina is how much different Augusta National and Harbour Town are. Augusta is a big ballpark that requires patience. Harbour Town prioritizes accuracy over everything and chasing birdies on almost every hole is a necessity. No matter what the course calls for, Scheffler can deliver the goods.

On Saturday, the world No.1 made eight birdies and no bogeys for a stellar 63. It’s his 39th consecutive round under par, second-most since 1983 and second only to Tiger Woods, who had 52 from in 2000-2001.

“Going into tomorrow, I should be close to the lead if not in the lead. We’ll see where everything shakes out. The guys behind me still have some holes to play, but we’ll see, either way I’ll be in a decent position going into tomorrow,” Scheffler said after his round.

“Just looking to go out and get off to a good start. This golf course, you can shoot some low scores if you’re hitting it well and placing the ball in the right air with a, so that’s what I’m going to try and do tomorrow.”

With a win, Scheffler would become the second player to ever win the Masters and RBC Heritage in back-to-back weeks (Bernhard Langer, 1985).

He leads by one shot with 18 holes to play.

Collin Morikawa is back. Officially

Collin Morikawa walks to the first tee during the third round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

On Friday, I wrote that Collin Morikawa might be back after a few tough years on the golf course. Well, it sure looks like he’s returned.

After a 65 and 66 to open his week, Morikawa posted a 3-under 68 on Moving Day and is two shots back of Scheffler heading into the final round.

The Cal product played consistent golf all day long, pouring in birdies on Nos. 5, 9 and 12 before trading a birdie for a bogey on Nos. 15 and 16.

“This is how I feel like I used to play,” Morikawa told the media after signing his card. “That’s what’s great is that you just find a way to score and you find a way to keep yourself near the lead. Webb Simpson told me early on in my career, ‘if you just have a chance with nine holes to go or 18 holes on a Sunday, you’ve done a lot of the work needed.’ Tomorrow is just all about committing to your shots and just remembering that, staying in your own head, not trying to play anyone else’s golf.”

Thanks to Sepp Straka’s birdie on 18, Morikawa will tee off in the penultimate group Sunday.

The kid is special

Ludvig Aberg of Sweden reacts after making a birdie on the fifth hole during the third round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on April 20, 2024 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Ludvig Aberg is a stud.

Since making his professional debut at the RBC Canadian Open in June of last year, he’s finished inside the top 25 an amazing 15 times. He won the RSM Classic in November. He represented Europe in the Ryder Cup in Rome. He finished solo second at the Masters in his first major championship start.

And now, the Swede is in position to earn his first victory at a signature event.

Aberg made four birdies and a bogey on Saturday, signing for a 3-under 68 and enters the final round of the RBC Heritage three back of Scheffler.

“I think we’re all expecting (Scheffler) to be there with the way that he’s been playing,” Aberg said. “I think we all expect him to play well, and there’s nothing I can do about it. All I try to do is focus on myself and make sure that I hit the shots the way I want to and then see where that takes me.”

The 24-year-old wasn’t able to chase down the world’s best player at Augusta, but maybe he can at Harbour Town.

Is Rory McIlroy finding his swing?

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits a tee shot on the sixth hole during the third round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on April 20, 2024 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

It’s no secret that this season hasn’t gone to plan for Rory McIlroy, the second-ranked golfer in the world. He has just one top-10 finish which came a few weeks ago at the Valero Texas Open. After a disappointing week at Augusta National, it was hard to predict what we would see from the four-time major champion in Hilton Head.

Well, it seems like he’s finding a groove.

After a quick visit with Butch Harmon, McIlroy looks to have found a few swing feels and was passing through the golf ball beautifully – for the most part – on Saturday.

He opened with rounds of 67-68, and on Day 3 posted another 3-under 68 thanks to six birdies and three bogeys.

He’ll enter the final round six shots back of the lead.

Top 10 and odds to win

Odds: DraftKings

Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

Check out the best equipment you can buy: Best drivers for 2024 | Best irons for 2024 | Best putters for 2024 | Best golf balls for 2024

More PGA Tour