Luke Donald returns to RBC Heritage field, hoping to put close calls aside
Former world No. 1 Luke Donald, still seeking a tartan jacket despite his constant presence on the Harbour Town leaderboard in recent years, heads the newest list of lineup additions for next month’s RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing.
Donald owns three runner-up finishes and two thirds in the past seven editions at Harbour Town, including a playoff loss to Brandt Snedeker for the 2011 title.
The latest group also features 2009 champion Brian Gay, European Ryder Cup standout Ian Poulter, Sean O’Hair and Jamie Lovemark. They join a field that features Jason Day, now back atop the world rankings after winning last week’s WGC Dell Match Play, and Open Championship titleholder Zach Johnson.
Gay, who won his jacket by a record 10 strokes, becomes the 10th former champion on the roster headed by five-time winner Davis Love III. Recent champions Graeme McDowell, Matt Kuchar, Carl Pettersson and Snedeker also were early commitments.
Heritage Week begins April 11 with the traditional opening ceremony fronting Calibogue Sound, with the tournament's 48th edition teeing off three days later.
Though Donald’s proficiency at Harbour Town has made him No. 3 in all-time earnings at the event, he has been left wanting on Sunday evenings. Perhaps most disappointing was the 2011 edition, when Snedeker’s closing 64 forced a playoff that ended with a birdie on the third extra hole.
The English pro also was nipped by Kuchar’s bunker chip-in two years ago, finished two shots behind McDowell one year earlier and three shots behind Jim Furyk in 2010.
Gay is returning to Harbour Town after sitting out all of 2014-15 with thumb and neck injuries. That ended a streak of 15 consecutive starts at the RBC Heritage.
Weeklong badges and daily tickets are available for purchase at RBCHeritage.com, via Kroger outlets in Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce offices or by calling the tournament at 843-671-2448.
Jeff Shain: 843-706-8123, @jeffshain
Committed RBC Heritage participants
Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Zac Blair, Jonas Blixt, Chad Campbell, Paul Casey, Alex Cejka, Kevin Chappell, Stewart Cink, Chad Collins, Ben Crane, Jon Curran, Glen Day, Jason Day, Brendon de Jonge, Bryson DeChambeau, Graeme DeLaet, Luke Donald, Ernie Els.
Harris English, Matt Every, Brian Gay, Lucas Glover, Fabian Gomez, Andres Gonzales, Jason Gore, Branden Grace, Bill Haas, Chesson Hadley, Adam Hadwin, James Hahn, Brian Harman, David Hearn, Russell Henley, J.J. Henry, Jim Herman, Justin Hicks, Charley Hoffman.
Billy Horschel, Charles Howell, Zach Johnson, Jerry Kelly, Chris Kirk, Kevin Kisner, Colt Knost, Russell Knox, Jason Kokrak, Matt Kuchar, Danny Lee, Marc Leishman, Justin Leonard, Spencer Levin, David Lingmerth, Davis Love III, Jamie Lovemark, Jeff Maggert, Peter Malnati.
Ben Martin, Graeme McDowell, William McGirt, George McNeill, Kelly Mitchum, Francesco Molinari, Kevin Na, Seung-Yul Noh, Sean O'Hair, Carlos Ortiz, Jeff Overton, Greg Owen, Ryan Palmer, Carl Pettersson, Scott Pinckney, Ian Poulter, Kyle Reifers, Ryan Ruffels, Rory Sabbatini.
John Senden, Brandt Snedeker, Brendan Steele, Robert Streb, Chris Stroud, Daniel Summerhays, Hudson Swafford, Nick Taylor, Vaughn Taylor, Justin Thomas, Brendon Todd, David Toms, Camilo Villegas, Johnson Wagner, Boo Weekley, Mike Weir, Steve Wheatcroft, Will Wilcox, Mark Wilson.
Note: Even though a player has committed, he can remove his name from the field anytime before the entry deadline Friday, April 8 at 5 p.m.
This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 6:09 PM with the headline "Luke Donald returns to RBC Heritage field, hoping to put close calls aside."