Scottie Scheffler Opens Under Par (Again) at RBC Heritage

Fresh off his second Masters win, the world No. 1 continued a remarkable streak Thursday.

Apr 18, 2024; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Scottie Scheffler acknowledges the fans after making / Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Unfortunately for the rest of the PGA Tour, the newly minted two-time Masters champion still isn’t a father yet, nor is he slowing down until then.

Scottie Scheffler shot a 2-under 69 Thursday in the first round of the RBC Heritage, showing no signs of a hangover from Sunday at Augusta National.  

The world No. 1, a winner in three of his last four starts including the Masters, still has yet to shoot an over-par round this year, out of 36 rounds. The next longest active streak of rounds at or under par is 12, by Tommy Fleetwood.

“I didn’t come here for any ceremonial congratulations and whatnot,” he told Golf Channel after the round. “I came to play, and compete.”

Still, he admitted to being tired and that he “tried to give myself a little bit of grace” and some time to get into the round. On the par-4 3rd hole he actually shanked a greenside bunker shot, leading to double bogey. But that would be the only blemish on the card, alongside four birdies.

Scottie Scheffler opened with 69 in his first round since winning a second green jacket. / Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

His wife Meredith is home in Dallas expecting their first child, and Scheffler said last week he would leave in the middle of the Masters if she went into labor. That didn’t happen, and Scheffler said Thursday that Meredith, whose due date is at the end of the month, hasn’t shown any signs yet so they stuck to the schedule set at the start of the year which included this signature event.

Scheffler finished T11 last year in his first appearance at the RBC Heritage. He hit 12 of 14 fairways and 13 of the 18 notoriously small greens at Harbour Town.

This week is Scheffler’s ninth start in the 2024 PGA Tour season and his eighth opening round under 70. At the Arnold Palmer Invitational he opened with a 70 and went on to win. 

J.T. Poston held the clubhouse lead at 8 under when Scheffler finished. 

Bernhard Langer is the last man to win the RBC Heritage one week after the Masters, in 1985.