RBC Heritage Notebook: Scottie Scheffler Is Lurking, Tommy Fleetwood Is Figuring It Out at Harbour Town

Scottie Scheffler is three off the lead and will play in a final group for the 22nd time in his career on Saturday.

HILTON HEAD, S.C. – Stop me if you’ve heard this one: Scottie Scheffler is in the hunt.

Scheffler has been a force this year, with nine top 10’s and wins in Phoenix and at the Players Championship.

Now he is back in a familiar place, in contention through 36 holes, but this time on a golf course that is foreign to him.

“There's a lot of nuances to this golf course, and I'm still kind of learning on the fly with it being my first time around this place,” Scheffler said after a Friday 6-under 65 that left him three shots behind Jimmy Walker. “If you're hitting it really good, you can score anywhere, and you can hit the shots.”

Like Augusta National, where Scheffler won the Masters last year, Harbour Town is a course where you can find yourself in peril, without really knowing the problem existed.

“On seven today, I ended up right of the green, which I didn't think it was that bad of a spot,” Scheffler said. “And then I'm kind of hitting this where, if it went in the bunker, it would have been hard, and then where I was sitting kind of in the rough, it was really an awkward shot that I didn't realize.”

Saturday will be the 22nd time in his career that Scheffler will play in the final group.

Fleetwood Figuring It Out At Harbour Town

Englishman Tommy Fleetwood is familiar with Harbour Town after three trips around the Pete Dye masterpiece, some good some not so good.

The T10 in 2022 was Fleetwood’s best experience with a 64-68 on the weekend.

“Yeah, it's beaten me up once, and the other times I played pretty well,” Fleetwood said highlighting his missed cut in 2021. “It's not somewhere where you can overpower. I think you have to be very patient. I think you have to be a good iron player.“

Fleetwood made the cut by one shot last year while struggling with his game, but his putter obeyed, and Fleetwood played well.

This week Fleetwood’s putter continued on the similar path as the final 36 holes last year and now instead of wallowing far from the leaders, Fleetwood after a 6 under 65 is just four shots back at 8 under.

“I actually enjoy playing the week after majors,” Fleetwood said. “I feel like they're the ultimate in, every aspect of your game and the challenges that the game can present you. I think the majors are the ultimate, and I quite like coming the week after. That way you've prepared so hard for those, and you feel like you've done everything you can. So, you sort of come here with the mindset of everything's done and you just go out and play. “

Jon Rahm Is Still Jon Rahm

Seven birdies, Jon Rahm, the Masters champion was back.

After struggling to a 1-over 72, with a smattering of birdies and bogeys, Rahm was back to being Rahm.

“I felt like I had a bit more of a pop in my swing, a little bit better,” Rahm said of his turnaround. “Yesterday I had a few shots I started left and weren't cutting back. So that's usually signs of me being tired.”

Rahm made some of the putts he missed on Thursday.

“Reserves were very low Sunday, Monday, Tuesday,” Rahm said. “I think mentally in that case is quicker to recover right after a win, once you process things a little bit. It makes it easier.”

Oddly, Rahm keeps going back and forth, having images of what he did at Augusta National and what he must do this week.

On Friday, the images were easier to deal with.

“Today overall felt pretty good, I felt like my body was moving properly, still not as good as I would like it to be, but really, really good,” Rahm said. “So hopefully it can keep getting a little bit better. Glad it was a morning round today because I can get some lunch and rest the rest of the afternoon and be fresh for tomorrow.“

Quick Hits

73 players made the cut at 2 under par.

Dylan Frittelli withdrew after nine holes in the second round.

Defending Champion Jordan Spieth is 7 under and five shots behind leader Jimmy Walker.

Three Englishman are on the leaderboard: Justin Rose, Aaron Rai and Fleetwood.