On the day competition was originally scheduled to begin at the 52nd RBC Heritage Presented By Boeing, the PGA Tour officially released a revised schedule that would allow Hilton Head Island’s annual professional golf event to take place June 18-21 — albeit without spectators.
The PGA Tour announced Thursday a revised schedule that includes the Heritage in the slot opened when the U.S. Open was postponed to September.
“The well-being of the Hilton Head Island community remains of utmost importance and as a result, the tournament will be played without spectators or sponsors,” the tournament said in a release. “The PGA TOUR, RBC and the Heritage Classic Foundation will continue to work directly with local, state and federal government agencies to ensure the health and safety of the select constituents — players included — who are allowed on the grounds during the RBC Heritage.”
The possibility that the Heritage would find a new date emerged earlier this week when Golf Digest reported on the PGA Tour’s tentative plans. The tour made those plans official Thursday, announcing it will return to the links June 11-14 with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, followed by the stop at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island.
“It has been a whirlwind of emotions over the past month,” RBC Heritage Tournament Director Steve Wilmot said in a release. “We’re excited and grateful for the opportunity to host the event we work so hard for every single year and thank the PGA Tour for trusting us with this decision. We’ll be ready to host the 52nd RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing in June and hope the world tunes in to experience South Carolina’s only PGA Tour event.”
The PGA Tour plans to play the first four events on the revised schedule without spectators “but will continue to monitor the situation and follow the recommendations of local and state authorities in order to determine the most appropriate on-site access in each market,” according to a release.
The Heritage Classic Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization, enhances the quality of life and economic vitality of our region by hosting the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, South Carolina’s only PGA TOUR golf tournament.
The announcement provides at least temporary hope that the event will go on, even if its economic and charitable impact takes a huge hit through the loss of ticket sales and revenue from concessions and merchandise sales.
“Save the date. We’ll give you a great RBC Heritage tournament,” Wilmot said. “It won’t be the same as other years, but I’d take this alternative any day. The second-best thing to being at Harbour Town during the RBC Heritage is to watch it from the comfort of your homes, plaid outfits on and drinks in hand!”
For more information on the 52nd annual RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing tournament, visit rbcheritage.com or call 843-671-2448.