Jordan Spieth Has 8 Birdies in RBC Heritage First Round

The RBC Heritage, much like last week’s Charles Schwab Challenge, features a loaded field that includes the top five players in the world rankings, but it was a former No.1 player in the world that provided a lot of fireworks in the opening round at Harbour Town Golf Links at Hilton Head, S.C.

Jordan Spieth was three-over on his round following a triple bogey on No. 12 (his third hole since he started on the back nine), but rebounded with eight birdies including a run of six consecutive birdies to finish with a 66.

“Today wasn’t really a roller coaster. That triple, again, it was a bogey at worst if it doesn’t ricochet 25 yards out of bounds,” Spieth said. “I’ve been making a lot of putts. I’ve been making a lot of birdies in my rounds, and I knew that, if I could try — my goal was to get four more. I told Michael on 13, I said, all right, that’s over. Let’s get four today and shoot under par for the day, and that’s the new goal. I ended up getting a few more than that.”

Spieth’s 66 leaves him two shots behind leaders Ian Poulter and Mark Hubbard, who each fired opening round 64s to sit atop the leaderboard.

Colleyville resident Ryan Palmer is one shot out of the lead with a first round 65.

“Lowest round I’ve shot here, I think, that’s for sure,” Palmer said. “I just drove the ball great today. I kept the ball in front of me. That’s huge for this golf course is just giving yourself the free shots to the greens without having to dodge these overhanging trees.”

Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, Bryson DeChambeau, Ernie Els, Max Homa and last week’s Colonial champion Daniel Berger each shot opening round 67s to sit in a large group tied for 16th.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is making his first appearance at Harbour Town since 2009 and he opened with a 1-over par to sit in a tie for 101st.

“Just missing tee shots. I’m sort of missing my 3 wood left and missing my driver right,” McIlroy said. “So, yeah, just a little bit of a struggle. Yeah, going to work on it a little bit this afternoon and see if I can straighten it out.”

World No. 2 Jon Rahm, fresh off missing the cut last week at Colonial, opened with an EVEN par round to sit in a tie for 85th

World No. 3 Justin Thomas also struggled to a 1-over par opening round. Thomas hit just 7 of 18 greens in regulation en route to shooting 72.