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The cream started to rise to the top in the third round of the 2023 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links. While 44-year-old Jimmy Walker tried his best to hold onto the lead, a few loose swings late forced his name from the top spot on the leaderboard. In his place, Matt Fitzpatrick holds the solo lead at 14 under after a career-low score in the third round.
Signing for an 8-under 63, the Englishman turned a six-stroke deficit into a one-stroke lead with 18 holes to play. A major champion already, Fitzpatrick eyes just his second career victory on the PGA Tour. Walker remains firmly in the mix, but the 2016 PGA Championship winner's name is not the one Fitzpatrick will be watching.
Instead, Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler headline the immediate chasing pack. All within just a few strokes of Fitzpatrick, this trio of Americans aim to disarm Fitzpatrick and slip on the tartan jacket. While Spieth and Cantlay met in a playoff at this tournament a season ago, Scheffler is making his debut appearance. Getting more and more familiar with the nuances of Harbour Town as play progresses, the world No. 2 hopes to grab his seventh PGA Tour title and reascend to world No. 1.
The leader
1. Matt Fitzpatrick (-14)
Between injury and poor play, it has been a rather mundane start to 2023 for the reigning U.S. Open champion. At one point missing four out of six cuts, Fitzpatrick appeared to turn a corner last week at the Masters. Gaining more than four strokes off the tee and another five on approach, the Englishman experienced his strongest ball-striking performance of the season. He has carried this momentum and it came to light in a massive manor on Saturday.
"I loved it [Harbour Town]," said Fitzpatrick. "Aside from Augusta it's my favorite golf course. It really is. I love coming here to play it. I've not had the best results around here. I've had a couple good runs and a couple poor ones, but I really enjoy the design, enjoy the test, and I think it's a great golf course."
Other contenders
2. Patrick Cantlay (-13)
3. Jordan Spieth (-12)
T4. Scottie Scheffler, Taylor Moore, Tommy Fleetwood, Jimmy Walker, Mark Hubbard (-11)
T9. Chez Reavie, Cam Davis, Hayden Buckley, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar, Emiliano Grillo, Xander Schauffele (-10)
The world No. 4 hasn't had a real opportunity to win since a 72nd hole blow up at the Shriners Children's Open in the fall. Despite his inability to enter the winner's circle in 2023, Cantlay has been enjoying an extremely strong statistical season, primarily in the ball striking categories. Riding a five tournament top-20 streak that includes finishes of solo third at the Genesis Invitational and T4 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Cantlay appears primed to grab his first win of the year at a course that has been historically kind to him.
"Just stay patient," Cantlay said of his game plan for the final round. "I've had a good track record around this golf course and had a number of chances, so should be nothing new tomorrow. I'll have a chance and I'll go out and do my best."
Spieth aims for a career first
Spieth's career has seen just about everything: Major championship victories, major collapses, epic hole outs and everything in between. However, not once has the three-time major champion successfully defended a tournament title. He entered the final round in 2022 three strokes off the lead before defeating Cantlay in a playoff to claim the title. Spieth will begin the final 18 just two off the pace with eyes on his first successful defense. If he were to do so, the Texan would join Davis Love III, Payne Stewart and Boo Weekley in a small group of back-to-back RBC Heritage winners.
"Anytime you have a chance on a Sunday you've accomplished your goal for the week," said Speith. "Then it just becomes go out there and get it done and try to separate yourself. You know you're going to have nervous shots and pressure-packed shots, and that's where the fun is. For me, that's why I got into this gig. The ball is in your hands, and I've had plenty of times where it's worked out, I've had plenty of times where it doesn't, but each time I never regretted being in that situation."
Scheffler's milestone could be a memorable one
Making his 100th start on the PGA Tour, Scheffler has eyes on his seventh career victory. Without a single win in his first 71 tournaments, the world No. 2 has notched six since. With his torrid stretch dating back to last spring, Scheffler occupied the top two spots in the Official World Golf Rankings. With a victory in Hilton Head, he'll reclaim the top spot in the back-and-forth affair with Masters champion Jon Rahm.
2023 RBC Heritage updated odds and picks
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
- Matt Fitzpatrick: 11/5
- Patrick Cantlay: 5/2
- Jordan Spieth: 5-1
- Scottie Scheffler: 7-1
- Tommy Fleetwood: 20-1
- Taylor Moore: 28-1
- Xander Schauffele: 30-1
- Jimmy Walker: 35-1
- Mark Hubbard: 45-1
- Rickie Fowler: 45-1
Let's rock with Spieth at 5-1. Just two strokes off the pace, the Texan will be featured in the final group of threesomes that will be utilized due to weather. With the ability to see what Fitzpatrick and Cantlay are doing, Spieth should thrive in this setting. His approach play is peaking and his putter has that magical feel to it.
