The second day of the 2026 RBC Heritage tournament was characterized by fluctuating weather patterns. Competitors playing in the early hours benefited from minimal wind, whereas those on the afternoon schedule encountered the challenging aspects of Harbour Town Golf Links, as strong gusts emerged and the playing surface solidified.
Among the morning participants, Matt Fitzpatrick, champion of the 2023 RBC Heritage, capitalized most effectively, posting a second-round score of 63 to establish a leading position at 14 strokes under par entering the final two days. Achieving victory at Harbour Town relies heavily on precise ball-striking and proficient putting; Fitzpatrick presently ranks fourth in strokes gained for ball-striking and third for putting.
His assuredness on the putting surfaces throughout the initial two rounds has been particularly striking. Following his impressive second-round display, he mentioned that recent practice sessions with his putting instructor have enhanced his confidence. He also noted that the greens, following Davis Love III’s renovation at Harbour Town, now possess increased contours and reduced intricacy, simplifying the process of selecting and committing to a putt’s trajectory.
Despite Fitzpatrick’s excellent play throughout the week, fortunate bounces often determine success or failure on the PGA Tour. Should Fitzpatrick claim the plaid jacket for a second occasion this Sunday, he will probably attribute his birdie on the 14th hole on Friday as a pivotal moment in his journey to victory.
Following a significant hook on the par-3 hole, his golf ball struck a tree, rebounded across the green, and came to rest just before the water hazard after passing through a sprinkler head. He fully capitalized on this fortunate turn of events, sinking a birdie putt from the fringe of the green after his drop, suggesting that this could indeed be a winning week for the English golfer.
“I felt the shot I struck wasn’t exceptional, but it certainly wasn’t terrible, and it’s always beneficial to receive such fortunate occurrences,” Fitzpatrick remarked after concluding his round. “These moments are essential in golf. Things won’t consistently go your way across 72 holes. It was pleasing to receive the fortunate bounce and then convert it into an advantage.”
Even with his strong performance seemingly aimed at establishing a significant lead, Fitzpatrick faces formidable rivals pursuing him as the tournament heads into its final stages.
Leading Competitors for the Weekend
2. Viktor Hovland (-13)
3. Harris English (-10)
T4. Ludvig Åberg, Patrick Cantlay, Sepp Straka (-9)
T7. Rickie Fowler, Robert MacIntyre, Si Woo Kim and four others (-8)
T14. Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa and three others (-7)
T19. Akshay Bhatia, Russell Henley and six others (-6)
Hovland’s display on Friday was arguably as commendable as Fitzpatrick’s, particularly since he competed under significantly more challenging conditions later in the day. His score of 65 kept him closely trailing Fitzpatrick and secured his spot in Saturday’s final group, as he aims for his inaugural victory of 2026. He has also demonstrated exceptional putting, placing second in strokes gained in that category. Should he maintain this level while further enhancing his ball-striking over the weekend, he will pose a significant challenge for his first signature event title.
Harris English, currently excelling as the top putter, did not post an equally low score on Friday but remains a strong contender entering the weekend. The cluster of players at 9-under includes Ludvig Åberg, the first-round leader, who encountered considerably tougher conditions with the afternoon wind on Friday. Nevertheless, he managed to secure an under-par round, despite not being at his peak, thereby retaining his competitive standing. Straka’s inclusion among the leaders is not unexpected, given his precise tee shots and strong ball-striking, while Cantlay maintains his recent consistent performance with a 64, providing him a solid opportunity for the weekend.
Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa are positioned somewhat behind the frontrunners. Scheffler, who partnered with Fitzpatrick for the initial two days, has struggled with his putting, preventing him from matching the leading pace. However, the improvements in his ball-striking, evident since the Masters, appear to persist, affording him numerous chances to achieve a breakthrough low score this weekend. Morikawa has been candid about his mental difficulties following his back injury, yet he continues to deliver consistent golf despite these obstacles. It is hoped that as he continues to string together strong rounds, he can begin to overcome the persistent worry about his back’s durability.
Initial Underperformers
T53. Jordan Spieth (-1)
T61. Chris Gotterup (E)
T67. Tommy Fleetwood (+1)
T81. Justin Thomas (+8)
This week’s tournament does not feature a cut, meaning all 82 participants will advance to the weekend. However, despite everyone being scheduled for Saturday and Sunday tee times, several prominent players are not expected to contend for the title.
Gotterup commenced the season with an exceptional burst of performance but has been unable to regain that momentum since departing the West Coast. Although he delivered a respectable performance at his inaugural Masters, he has struggled to achieve any significant progress this week at Harbour Town.
Fleetwood began the season with considerable anticipation following his initial PGA Tour victory at the Tour Championship, yet he has not managed to rediscover that late-season form in 2026. This trend has persisted this week on a course that typically suits his abilities, leaving him striving to find his best play.
Spieth and Thomas, both former winners of this competition, likely harbored high hopes that this familiar course would elicit their peak performance. Regrettably for Thomas, this expectation has not materialized; he has appeared somewhat disoriented throughout the week, concluding the second round in last place. Spieth has performed comparatively better, though his second round began with an out-of-bounds tee shot resulting in a double bogey, creating an early setback from which he could not completely recover. Spieth has seemed on the verge of a significant breakthrough all year, yet he consistently struggles to compile complete rounds — let alone entire tournaments — of consistently excellent golf.
Revised RBC Heritage Betting Odds and Selections
Matt Fitzpatrick (23/20)
Viktor Hovland (31/10)
Scottie Scheffler (12-1)
Ludvig Åberg (15-1)
Patrick Cantlay (18-1)
Harris English (20-1)
Sepp Straka (27-1)
Anticipation is for elevated winds during the afternoon sessions throughout the weekend, which should favor golfers with superior ball-striking abilities. Fitzpatrick and Hovland have established a comfortable lead, and I do not foresee them faltering significantly. However, should their momentum wane, English and Scheffler could offer considerable value. Last week provided an example of Scheffler’s potential when his striking is precise and his putting converts, and I believe English will maintain a strong challenge through the entire weekend.
