Newest RBC Heritage additions include pair of major near-misses

Branden Grace and Marc Leishman, who both came tantalizingly shy of of putting his name on a major trophy last year, head a list of five new commitments to join the lineup for next month’s RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing.

Russell Knox and Danny Lee, who both notched their first PGA Tour wins last year, also added their names to the roster Friday, along with Kevin Na.

They join a list now surpassing more than three dozen confirmed participants, including reigning major champions Jason Day and Zach Johnson, plus five-time Heritage winner Davis Love III and recent Harbour Town champions Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker and Graeme McDowell.

Heritage Week begins with its traditional opening ceremony on April 11, with competition set to begin three days later.

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.

Grace stands 12th in the world rankings, having won earlier this year at the Qatar Masters. The South African is in his first season as a PGA Tour member, earning his card via a pair of top-five finishes in last year’s majors.

He was part of a five-man scramble on the back nine of the U.S. Open, briefly holding the lead at Chambers Bay until a wayward drive at No. 16 led to a double bogey. Those two dropped shots became the margin between Grace and winner Jordan Spieth.

Grace also finished a distant third at the PGA Championship, when Day set the major championship scoring record.

Leishman came even closer at the Open Championship, involved in a three-man playoff at St. Andrews eventually won by Johnson, with Louis Oosthuizen second. An opening bogey in the four-hole playoff left the Aussie fighting to make up lost ground.

Knox made his first career victory a World Golf Championships event, capturing the WGC-HSBC Champions last October in China. The Scotsman also owns two top-10 finishes at Harbour Town in as many appearances.

Lee, a former U.S. Amateur champion, had his breakthrough season as a pro last year when he won the Greenbrier Classic in a playoff over Kevin Kisner. Na owns two runner-up finishes this season and a pair of thirds, but is still seeking his first victory since 2011.

This story was originally published March 18, 2016 at 5:02 PM with the headline "Newest RBC Heritage additions include pair of major near-misses."