2021 RBC Heritage: Top 10 power rankings at Harbour Town

In his third tournament appearance, Tyrrell Hatton tied for third at the 2020 RBC Heritage. He was the 54-hole co-leader with two others on a bunched leaderboard. Shooting 5-under on Sunday was solid, but it left the Englishman two off the pace.

No one was better than Hatton the final three days as he bounced back from an opening 71 for 64-63-66. The 63 tied the low round of the tournament.

Hatton led the field in strokes gained putting (9.256 total) and tied for first in sand saves, successfully getting up and down from just two bunkers all week. He also made no double bogeys or worse.

Hatton finished T-29th at the 2017 RBC Heritage and missed the cut in 2018.

“It’s an old golf course, and it’s nice to play courses like this from time to time rather than long wide open fields, which sometimes we do play,” Hatton was transcribed by ASAP Sports in 2020. “So it’s nice that this has a definite feel to it. Yeah, maybe that suits some of the guys from Europe. I don’t know.”

The 29-year-old won early this year on the European Tour at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. He polished off Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and a host of others.

Hatton posted another top-10 in the Middle East before coming stateside. He could be a little sharper, but three top-25s in his last five starts are a good launching point for the summer.

The near lock for the European Ryder Cup team this fall ended his slump at the majors last week, finishing T-18th (71-74-74-68) at the Masters. His low round Sunday should give him momentum to take to Harbour Town.

Hatton ranks 10th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained approach (.773). With lesser clubs in his hands off the tee, he’ll hope to hit plenty of fairways. He’s 16th in proximity from the fairway (29’10”) but 111th from the rough (46’1”).

He’s 110th in driving distance (295.8) and isn’t a favorite at some of the bomb and gouge style venues. Harbour Town is far from that, which is why I like Hatton to contend.