Carl Pettersson will defend his title at this year's RBC Heritage, according to a news release.

Pettersson, from Sweden, joins six other past champions who have made early commitments to the tournament: two-time champions Stewart Cink and Boo Weekley, plus Brandt Snedeker, Jim Furyk, Glen Day and Justin Leonard.

Pettersson has won five times on the PGA Tour, most recently at the 2012 Heritage. He beat Zach Johnson by five strokes after carding three birdies on the first five holes.

The win tied him with Jesper Parnevik for most wins on the PGA TOUR by a Swedish player. Pettersson moved to Greensboro, N.C. with his family in high school and later attended N.C. State. He now lives in Raleigh and is a U.S. citizen.

Snedeker won twice in 2012, first at the Farmers Insurance Open and then at the Tour Championship. In 2011, Brandt fired a final round seven-under par 64 at Harbour Town to tie Player of the Year Luke Donald and then went on to defeat him in a playoff. Furyk, the 2010 victor, as well as 1999 champion Day, both won after playoffs. Cink, former British Open Champion, captured the Heritage in 2000 and 2004. Weekley is the last to win back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008. Leonard won at Harbour Town in 2002.

The entire group will be shooting for the top prize of $1,044,000 from a purse of $5,800,000.

The 45th annual Heritage will be held April 15-21 at Harbour Town Golf Links. Daily tickets and weeklong badges for this year’s tournament are now on sale online at www.rbcheritage.com or by calling the tournament office at 843-671-2448.