RBC Heritage notebook: Players rave about unique Harbour Town layout

As they do each year, players plugged Harbour Town Golf Links’ timeless design Thursday.

The 7,000-yard Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus creation has held up against more modern behemoths, they said.

Despite the relatively short length, about 10- to 14-under par wins here, first-round leader Luke Donald said. He pointed to another Dye design, Whistling Straits, which hosted the PGA Championship last year.

The layout stretched more than 7,500 yards, much of it sand.

“And what does (winner) Jason Day shoot?” Donald said. “It’s built to be a major championship and he shoots 20 under.”

Matt Kuchar, who trails Donald by one and won here in 2014, reiterated the thought that Harbour Town is different that anything the professionals see all year.

“I enjoy trying to make sure I hit the proper shots in the proper part of the fairways,” Kuchar said. “Even if you miss, you generally have a fun recovery shot that you can attempt to pull off. “It’s a fun golf course to play.”

New greens firm, playable

One of the most noticeable aspects of Harbour Town’s renovation last year has been the greens. They retained the original shape through three-dimensional imaging, and so players have found the breaks and measurements similar to past years.

Donald, though, left his yardage book at home in order to note any new subtleties.

And the new grass and fresh foundation under the turf have made for a firmer surface. Players have had to allow for more roll on their approaches.

“But as far as putting, they roll beautifully and seem to have very similar characteristics,” Kuchar said.

Charley Hoffman, who opened with a 3-under 68, said distance control has been more difficult.

“You come up short or stop really kind of quick, and others bounce away from you,” Hoffman said. “It was hard picking clubs, but everybody is having the same challenges.”

Gainey, McGirt, Haas lead those with SC ties

No South Carolinan has won the state’s only PGA Tour event. Kevin Kisner came closest, losing a playoff to Jim Furyk last year.

A few Palmetto State players are in decent position after Round 1.

Camden’s Tommy Gainey, Wofford product William McGirt and Greenville’s Bill Haas opened with 2-under-par 69. Haas finished in style, chipping in for birdie off the 18th green

Former Clemson golfer Ben Martin finished with a 1-under 70, while fellow Tigers Kyle Stanley and Lucas Glover joined Aiken’s Kisner at 1 over.

Chip shots

▪ Camilo Villegas tried to get relief after his drive on the par-5 15th came to rest inside what looked like a small cave of pinestraw. He was allowed to remove the ball for identification but had to replace it. He punched a shot several yards into the adjacent rough.

▪ Fabian Gomez saved saved par from the sand with a nice 10-foot putt on the par-4 13th. He plucked his ball from the cup and rolled it to spectator Lynda Hysong, of Brevard, N.C.

▪ Tony Finau finished with a boom on No. 9, his 18th hole. He drove the green on the 330-yard par-4 and tapped in a 4-footer for eagle and 4-under 67.

This story was originally published April 14, 2016 at 8:02 PM with the headline "RBC Heritage notebook: Players rave about unique Harbour Town layout."