(Hilton Head Island) Scottie Scheffler ran out of energy just four days after his victory at the Masters Tournament.
He missed a bunker exit and almost lost his head due to mud on his ball. He nevertheless recorded a score of 69 (-2) during the first round of the RBC Heritage tournament.
JT Poston took the lead on the Hilton Head Island course thanks to nine birdies, including six in a span of seven holes. He shot 63 and has a two-shot lead over Collin Morikawa and Seamus Power.
Poston holed a 65-foot cut approach on the par-3 fourth hole to begin his spectacular birdie streak. He followed up with three precise putts of about 10 feet, then another of 15 feet on the ninth hole, a par 4. He then holed another putt of about ten feet to start his back nine.
Ludvig Aberg, second at Augusta, is part of the group three shots from the lead, as is Canadian Mackenzie Hughes. Rory McIlroy made birdies on his last two holes to finally reach the finish in 67 strokes.
Thousands of spectators lined the fairways of the Harbor Town course to watch Scheffler, who is aiming for a fourth victory in five tournaments. He struggled at times and blamed his lack of preparation time after his victory at the Masters Tournament.
“So I wanted to play with grace today, because yeah, I’m a little emotionally and mentally drained,” Scheffler said.
Other Canadians in contention this weekend are Adam Hadwin (67), Corey Conners (69), Nick Taylor (71) and Adam Svensson (72).