‘Dawgs on Tour: Exhale

Tournament: RBC Heritage, April 12-15, 2018

Course: Harbour Town Golf Links, 7,099 yards, par 71.

Purse: $6,700,000

Defending Champion: Wesley Bryan. The former Gamecock (and trick shot artist) is the first South Carolinian to win in the Palmetto State. Bryan shot a tidy 67 while everyone else in the final groups faded.

Fun Fact: Held on Hilton Head Island, this tournament is hosted by a municipality that is the 2nd smallest on the PGA Tour schedule. The smallest being nearby, the RSM Classic at Sea Island, GA. Davis Love III, host of the RSM, has won here on HHI five times. Oh, and they shoot a cannon to start the tourney.

Television: Thursday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 1-2:45 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).

Former 'Dawgs in the Field ( Six ): Chris Kirk, Harris English, Keith Mitchell, Kevin Kisner, Brian Harman, Hudson Swafford.

Last week was as much pressure as you could ask for. And while millions of dollars are on the line, this week is the perfect counterpoint and chance for everyone to catch their breath. With all the hype of The Masters, the RBC Heritage is close to a complete opposite. Sandy soil, the Calibogue Sound, humid air at sea level, super casual (but knowledgeable) fans. Even the course is different. Where Augusta National has severe elevation changes, is pretty dang long, and has green speeds equaling your bathtub, Harbour Town is flat as a pancake, pretty short, extremely tight thanks to overhanging tree limbs, and green speeds typical of a PGA Tour event.

We have a nice contingent of former Bulldogs playing. Kisner and Harman make the short trek from Augusta down Highway 278 onto the island, where Kirk, English, Mitchell, and Swafford are eager to get back on the course after having a week off (not invited to play in last week’s Masters).

Enjoy the respite, and enjoy golf for the men of leisure.

And as always….

GO ‘DAWGS!!!