Will Tiger follow McIlroy, Koepka and play at Heritage? Woods’ yacht might be hint
UPDATE: Tiger Woods will NOT play in this year’s Heritage.
The RBC Heritage announced Wednesday that the top five players in the world will compete in the PGA Tour event held at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head next weekend.
Could golf’s biggest name — Tiger Woods — join Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson in a quest for the plaid jacket?
There’s been plenty of speculation on social media this week that Woods could make his return to PGA competition at the Heritage, which will be held next week (June 18-21). That speculation started in part because Woods’ yacht, which is named Privacy, left North Palm Beach, Florida earlier this week and headed north with a destination of St. Simons Island, Georgia.
St. Simons is about 120 miles from Hilton Head, which could mean that Woods’ yacht is on the move up the East Coast as he prepares to play in his first tournament since February.
Or it could mean nothing.
Steve Wilmot, the Heritage tournament director, told the Golf Channel that he has not yet heard if Woods is planning to play in the Heritage.
“We have not heard one way or another,” Wilmot told the Golf Channel. “We’re up for the challenge and have a contingency plan if he plays. We do have a unique situation if that is what he would like to do.”
Golf fans are hoping to see Woods make his PGA return in South Carolina.
Woods is not playing in the Charles Schwab Challenge this weekend in Texas, the first tournament being held since March.
The “Bleav in Tiger Woods with Cam Rogers” podcast was among those speculating about Woods’ return.
“I’m obviously cautiously optimistic. I do think he wants to be playing, so I like the idea of him playing at Harbour Town,” podcast co-host Bridget Whelan said. “Harbour Town would be cool. I could really go for seeing Tiger next week. Tiger if you can hear this, you should play.”
Woods has not played in the Heritage since 1999. He has until Friday afternoon to commit. Woods last played in a tournament at The Genesis Open in California Feb. 13-16. He struggled to a 68th-place finish.
Woods did team up with Peyton Manning to defeat Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady in The Match last month.
Woods could dock the yacht at Harbour Town Golf Links and sleep aboard the boat during the tournament. , where he could dock Privacy. In the past, players such as Greg Norman, Curtis Strange and Davis Love III have stayed on yachts during the Heritage.
The Heritage was originally set for mid-April and is traditionally the week after The Masters. C.T. Pan edged Matt Kuchar to win the 2019 Heritage.
World Golf Rankings
No. 1 Rory McIlroy: Has not competed at Harbour Town since 2009.
No. 2 Jon Rahm: The 25-year-old is making his first start at the RBC Heritage.
No. 3 Brooks Koepka: Also making his first start at the Heritage.
No. 4 Justin Thomas: The 27-year-old will be competing at Harbour Town for the third time.
No. 5 Dustin Johnson: SC native joined Team RBC in 2018, competed at the RBC Heritage that year for the first time since 2009.
RBC Heritage schedule, TV info
How to watch the event:
The Golf Channel: June 18-19 from 3-6 pm, June 20-21 from 1-2:30 pm
CBS Sports: June 20-21 from 3-6 pm
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 5:15 PM.
