How 2024 RBC Heritage in Hilton Head will look different as PGA Tour ‘signature’ event

The PGA Tour’s tournaments designed to attract the best players have been called “designated” and “elevated” and now “signature” events during the organization’s topsy-turvy restructuring of the last few years.

Through the changes, the RBC Heritage, played annually on Hilton Head Island since 1969, ranks among those to earn a seat at golf’s head table and, tournament director Steve Wilmot said, “We’re where we need to be.”

That’s now.

Then — not that long ago — neither Wilmot nor the tournament’s board of directors nor the event’s most avid supporters could have envisioned this scenario.

Remember 2010, the year that Verizon decided to drop its title sponsorship? Remember 2011, the year officials used cash reserves to stage a sponsorless-event?

“We didn’t know what our future would be,” Wilmot said in reflecting on the uncertainty in those years. But “RBC stepped up to the plate” to put its name on the South Carolina rite of spring.

“The best players want to be here and that’s a tribute to (Sea Pines Resort), the (Hilton Head) community, the state of South Carolina, everyone involved,” Wilmot said. “It’s who we are — unique and special. You need to embrace who you are, and we have.”

In the ever-evolving PGA Tour landscape, the RBC Heritage received “elevated” or “designated” status for the 2022 event that feature a $20 million purse and the field included a who’s who on the Tour.

The 2024 Heritage is now called a “signature” event, will offer the same purse and a no-cut field limited to about 70 players. The top stars are no longer required to play — the tournament comes the week after the Masters — but Wilmot looks at the purse and does not expect many eligible players to pass.

“The week after a major, the Masters in our case, used to be considered a detriment, but we have embraced that date for the past 20 years or more,” the long-time director said. “It’s the time of year that golf really starts to get attention with the Masters, and we strive to build on that.”

The 2024 Heritage, set for April 18-21 over the treasured Harbour Town Golf Links, will be different with the smaller field and no cut.

“For the 2023 Heritage, we found out the previous October that we would be a designated event and didn’t have a chance to change things,” Wilmot said. “This year, with a field of 70 or so, we will have 50 to 60 fewer players, families, caddies and entourages, and that will make everything more manageable logistically.

“Fewer players will help with parking, for example, and that’s going to improve the fans’ experiences. Making the tournament more enjoyable is something we’re always striving to improve, and the limited field will help with that.”

Although this could change, current plans call for all players to tee off on No. 1 in twosomes, eliminating the double-tee starts. With no cut, the “name” players are guaranteed to be competing on the weekend. Too, with no cut, a golfer who gets off to a bad start can make up ground with a strong weekend.

“That’s what the stars want ... to compete against the best and to play on great golf courses, and we have that,” Wilmot said.

The 50 or 60 players who will not qualify for the Heritage will have the opportunity to compete in an “opposite-field” event.

One challenge that the new setup creates centers on sponsor exemptions. The Heritage will have four, down from eight, and, Wilmot said, “It’s going to be a different vibe.”

Players have begun calling about exemptions and “it’s a challenge,” Wilmot said. “For instance, some RBC guys (players sponsored by the bank) aren’t in the field yet, and of course this tournament is important to RBC. We’ve changed exemptions for former champions, too.”

Tickets go on sale soon, and “we will sell out,” Wilmot said.

Now, if the 2024 event unfolds with the drama of the last two — Jordan Spieth edged Patrick Cantlay in a 2022 playoff and Matt Fitzpatrick toppled Spieth in a 2023 playoff — that would be icing on the cake.

Chip shots. Led by junior Louise Rydqvist’s second straight strong performance, USC’s women’s team finished third in the Mason Rudolph Championship in Franklin, Tennessee. Rydqvist tied for first in the season-opening Annika and shared fifth in the Mason Rudolph. ... Clemson’s Calahan Keever finished third in the J.T. Poston Invitational, competing as an individual in the tournament in Sapphire, North Carolina. ... Sophomore Zach Adams secured the decisive point in USC’s men’s 3 and 2 victory over Kentucky in the match-play portion of the SEC Fall Preview in Birmingham. Transfers Laurens Schulze-Doering and Frankie Harris earned the Gamecocks’ other two points. In the stroke play portion of the event that determined the match-play pairings, Carolina finished 14th.