Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm have been battling it out for the top spot on the PGA Tour Power Rankings and the World Golf Rankings since the season began. With his win at The Masters, Jon placed some distance between he and Scottie for the #1 position–but that could be reversed in a heartbeat depending on what happens at Hilton Head this weekend.
Rahm is leading on the strength of 4 Tour wins including a major at Augusta last week, while Scheffler has recorded 2 wins including The Players and a T10 at The Masters. Scottie however, has the advantage in cut percentage and top ten percentage, so if he were to win this weekend at the RBC Heritage, and Rahm were to miss the cut, Scottie would move back to the top spot on the 2023 Power Rankings.
On the other hand, if Rahm were to win this week and have 5 wins by April, he would not only open up a substantial lead on Scheffler, he’d be putting together a mega-season not seen since Tiger was prowling at the height of his powers.
One thing is for sure, watching Rahm and Scheffler each week is starting to feel like Arnie and Jack back in the early 60’s—and it just can’t get any better than that.
RBC Heritage Update
Now that the RBC Heritage has been given the mantel of “Designated Event” by the PGA Tour, with a total purse of $20 million (even higher than The Masters), the field is among the strongest of the year. Nine of the top ten in the 2023 PGA Tour Power Rankings will be competing (and six of the top ten in the World Golf Rankings).
After opening with a 3 under round of 68 on Thursday, Scottie Scheffler charged to within a few shots of the lead at -9 with a 65 on Friday. Jon Rahm, coming down from the high of last week’s dramatic win at Augusta, posted a listless +1 round of 72 on Thursday, needing a solid round on Friday just to make the cut.
Rahm delivered a sizzling 64, rocketing up the leaderboard to finish at -6 and keep Scottie (along with the other leaders) clearly in his sights.
And with Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantley, Xander Schauffele and Victor Hoveland all among the top ten heading into Saturday, this weekend promises to be one heck of a show.
Looking Ahead
Following the RBC Heritage the Tour heads to TPC Louisiana for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans (April 20-23) and then to Vidanta Vallarta for the Mexico Open (April 27-30).
In May the Tour heads north for the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, NC (May 4-7), and then to Texas for the AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney.
The second major of the season is next with the PGA Championship at famed Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, NY (May 18-21) and then moves back to Texas for the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial in Fort Worth (May 25-28).