HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — The PGA Tour’s post-Masters reset begins Thursday at Harbour Town Golf Links, and the 2026 RBC Heritage Invitational is bringing a loaded field — and some marquee opening-round pairings to match.
As one of the Tour’s Signature Events with a $20 million purse, nearly every top player in the world (minus Rory McIlroy) is teeing it up, including defending champion Justin Thomas and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
Featured first-round pairings (Thursday)
While full tee sheets run from early morning through the afternoon, several headline groups stand out:
- Collin Morikawa & Shane Lowry — 1:20 p.m. ET
- Xander Schauffele & Russell Henley — 1:30 p.m. ET
These afternoon pairings headline a wave of elite players going off later in the day, typical of Signature Events that stack tee times for TV windows and featured coverage.
Early tee times (select groups)
The opening groups begin just after sunrise at Harbour Town, with more traditional two-man pairings:
- 7:05 a.m. ET — David Lipsky & Chandler Blanchet
- 7:15 a.m. ET — Brian Campbell & Joe Highsmith
- 7:25 a.m. ET — Adam Schenk & Matt Wallace
- 7:35 a.m. ET — Denny McCarthy & Jordan Smith
- 7:45 a.m. ET — Steven Fisk & J.T. Poston
- 7:55 a.m. ET — Lucas Glover & Patrick Rodgers
These early groups set the pace on a course known for tight sightlines, small greens, and the iconic Harbour Town lighthouse looming over the closing stretch.
Star power throughout the day
The RBC Heritage field remains stacked despite coming immediately after the Masters. Alongside Scheffler and Thomas, contenders include:
- Jordan Spieth
- Cameron Young
- Tommy Fleetwood
- Matt Fitzpatrick
With a limited field and no cut typical of Signature Events, fans will get four full days of these pairings — a major reason Harbour Town has become a player favorite year after year.
What to watch
Opening round pairings at Harbour Town often dictate the tone for the week. The course rewards precision over power, meaning players like Morikawa and Fitzpatrick — elite iron players — could thrive early.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Scheffler as the betting favorite and Thomas as the defending champion trying to go back-to-back on one of the Tour’s most unique layouts.
If you want, I can turn this into a full EasySportz article with a stronger lede, betting angles, and “groups to watch” sections — that would play really well for your site this week.
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