RBC Heritage 2026 LIVE: Tee times, field, leaderboard, prize money and why Rory McIlroy isn’t playing

Elite golf action continues this week at the 2026 RBC Heritage, the next Signature Event on the PGA Tour.

Rory McIlroy clinched Masters glory on Sunday after another thrilling event at Augusta National.

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McIlroy is taking a couple of weeks off now, so won’t be at Harbour Town, but Scottie Scheffler, runner-up in the first major of the year, will be the favourite.

Justin Thomas won this tournament last year, beating Andrew Novak in a playoff.

18 of the world’s top 20 will be teeing it up at Hilton Head for what is one of the best events on the schedule.

Harbour Town Golf Links, known for being an extremely tight, strategic course, has undergone a six-month restoration since last year’s tournament.

RBC Heritage 2026: Date and how to follow

This PGA Tour event is taking place from Thursday, April 16 to Sunday, April 19.

It is being held at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina – the course is a par 71 and will measure a maximum of 7,243 yards.

Play is due to start at 12:05pm UK time each day.

talkSPORT will have live coverage from Harbour Town throughout the week.

Tune in to talkSPORT through the website via the live stream or find us on DAB digital radio through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

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Sky Sports Golf will also have coverage of the event from 12pm each day.

RBC Heritage 2026: Field and tee times

The RBC is a signature event again this season, meaning there will be limited 72-player field in Harbour Town.

While McIlroy is not playing, the other nine of the world’s top ten players will feature.

Scheffler won here in 2024 and will be favourite while Tommy Fleetwood, Cam Young, Collin Morikawa, Robert MacIntyre and Justin Rose are in the field.

Matt Fitzpatrick won this event in 2023 and will return, while Thomas will be looking to defend his title.

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The full field, tee times and groupings can be found here, with the latest leaderboard from Hilton Head Island found here.

Scheffler and Fitzpatrick are playing the opening two days alongside each other and will tee off at 6:50pm UK time on Thursday.

The prize pot for this event is set at $20million with the winner taking home $3.6m.

RBC Heritage 2026: Is Rory McIlroy playing?

Masters champion McIlroy is not in the field this week as he soaks up the enjoyment of his back-to-back victories at Augusta.

McIlroy is expected to return to action for the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral on April 30, a new tournament on the PGA Tour this season and a signature event.

He will then tee it up at another signature event the following week at the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow, one of his favourite venues, before headlining the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club from May 14.

When McIlroy won the Masters last year, he suffered a sudden dip in form as he struggled for motivation in the wake of his Grand Slam glory.

While he’s looking forward to some time off to celebrate again, he doesn’t expect to experience another fall off this year.

He said: “I still have things that I want to achieve but I still want to enjoy it as well. I’ve waited so long to win the Masters and all of a sudden I win two in a row. I still want to enjoy it.

“I’ve got a couple of weeks off before I go back to playing competitive golf. I don’t think I’ll go through that lull of motivation or the sort of things that I was feeling last year post-winning this tournament.”