Rory McIlroy commits to play in RBC Heritage tournament
Rory McIlroy is more than a decade removed from playing in his last RBC Heritage.
But the defending FedEx Cup champion and the No. 1 player in the world is coming back.
McIlroy announced through PGATour.com he’ll play in the tournament that was moved back because of the coronavirus pandemic. He’ll play in the first three tournaments of the revised PGA schedule in the Charles Schwab Challenge, the Heritage and the Travelers Championship.
In his last appearance at Hilton Head, he finished 58th in 2009.
“That’s my plan, play the first three. I think it will be nice to get back out and play,” McIlroy told PGATour.com. “Obviously we’re going to have to take as many precautions as possible to be able to put Tour events on again, but I think the PGA Tour has got a very robust plan in place, and if they can execute it the right way, I see no reason why we can’t start June 11. If we do, I’ll be ready to go in Fort Worth.”
The Heritage, played at Sea Pines Resort’s Harbour Town Golf Links, is traditionally the week after The Masters. This year the Heritage will be played June 18-21 without spectators.
McIlroy hasn’t finished worse than tied for fifth in his past six tournaments. He won the WGC-HSBC Champions in November. His last complete tournament was a tie for fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The PGA Tour on Wednesday presented its “Return to Golf Events” plan with the media, with testing and social distancing key components.
“Players, caddies and key staff around them will be tested once a week for the new coronavirus, and everyone at the golf course will have their temperatures taken every day when the PGA Tour returns next month and tries to show it can resume its season with minimal risks,” The Associated Press reported. “The idea is to keep players and essential staff in a bubble, and those estimated 400 people would be tested for COVID-19.”
Others projected for the 2020 Heritage field
▪ “Ambassadors” for RBC, the title sponsor, are likely to play, and that means Dustin Johnson, Jim Furyk, Webb Simpson and Matt Kuchar.
▪ Patrick Cantlay, who has top-10 finishes in each of his three Hilton Head appearance, and Bryson deChambeau are probable. South Carolinians Kevin Kisner and Wesley Bryan are committed to play.
▪ Tommy Fleetwood, Jordan Spieth and Zach Johnson are committed to the Colonial the week prior and are expected to play in Hilton Head.
The official field won’t be finalized until the Friday prior to the tournament (June 12). The Heritage, like the Colonial, has been expanded from 132 to 144 players this year.
This story was originally published May 13, 2020 at 8:16 PM.
