Scottie Scheffler is coming off a four-stroke win at The Masters, where he earned his second Green Jacket in three years.
He didn’t take a direct route to Hilton Head for the RBC Heritage Signature Event. Instead, he went home to his wife Meredith for a few days before hitting the road again.
This week marks just his second start at the RBC Heritage tournament. Last year was his debut, and he finished T11. When he arrived in Hilton Head this time around, the two-time major winner chose a simple approach to his preparations.
“Only played the back nine today. I’ll see the front nine tomorrow when I tee off,” Scheffler said. “I like the golf course. I’m trying to focus a bit more on rest in my preparation this week.”
Scottie Scheffler has landed in Hilton Head. Is playing the back nine today, but that’s it for prep.
“Will see the front nine tomorrow when I tee off” pic.twitter.com/DqcrCuXCMR
— Sean Zak (@Sean_Zak) April 17, 2024
It is certainly interesting to see that his plan of attack is a blind one, at least on the front nine.
Scheffler took off the week before The Masters, but the RBC Heritage will mark his third event in four weeks. Winning three events within the first four months of the calendar year has to be physically and mentally tiring.
In Scheffler’s last five events, the lowest finish was a T10 at the Genesis Invitational. After that tournament, the 9-time PGA Tour winner dominated with three wins and a runner up finish.
He could have withdrawn from this event, but that isn’t who Scheffler is.
“I made a commitment to this tournament,” he said. “Like I said, I like coming here and playing the golf course. Yeah, I’m a bit tired right now, but I’ve got all afternoon today to continue to rest and get ready for the week.”
Thus far, his approach has proved tricky. Scheffler has a couple of birdies on the card, but picked up a double bogey on the par-4 3rd. He sits at even par nearing the turn, five shots off the lead.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.