Golf Glance: Scheffler seeks signature win; LPGA kicks off major season

Field Level Media's Golf Glance provides weekly news and storylines from each of the major North American golf tours.

PGA TOUR

LAST TOURNAMENT: The Masters (Scottie Scheffler)

THIS WEEK: RBC Heritage, Hilton Head Island, S.C., April 18-21

Course: Harbour Town Golf Links (Par 71, 7,213 yards)

Purse: $20M (Winner: $3.6M)

Defending Champion: Matt Fitzpatrick

FedEx Cup Leader: Scottie Scheffler

HOW TO FOLLOW

TV: Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS)

X: @RBC_Heritage

Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Friday, 7:15 a.m.-6 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday, 6:45 a.m.-6 p.m.

NOTES: This is the fifth of eight signature events in 2024, featuring a $20 million purse along with 700 FedEx Cup points for the winner. ... Fifty-four players in the field competed in the Masters last week, including all five players who finished tied for third or better. Five players are competing in their first signature event of the year: Erik Barnes, Brice Garnett, Chandler Phillips and Alejandro Tosti via the Aon Swing 5 standings along with sponsor exemption Kevin Kisner. Victor Perez was bumped from the Aon Swing 5 when Erik van Rooyen finished T55 at the Masters. That pushed Thomas Detry from the Aon Next 10 to the Aon Swing 5 and Perez out of this week's field. ... Five-time champion Davis Love III holds the tournament record with 33 career starts. ... World No. 6 Viktor Hovland withdrew after missing the cut at the Masters.

BEST BETS: Scottie Scheffler (+400 at BetMGM) has won three of his past four starts and finished tied for second in the other. The last player to win on tour following a major victory was Tiger Woods in 2006. ... Xander Schauffele (+1200) finished eighth at the Masters despite failing to break 70 in any round. It was his third consecutive top-10 finish. ... Ludvig Aberg (+1400) is coming off a solo second place in his Masters debut. ... Rory McIlroy (+1400) hasn't been in great form as of late, but did post a solo third two weeks ago at the Valero Texas Open. ... Tommy Fleetwood (+1800) quietly tied for third at Augusta after a T7 in Texas. ... Matt Fitzpatrick (+2500) finished fifth at the Players, T10 at the Valero Texas Open and was in contention before settling for T22 at the Masters in his past three starts. ... Max Homa (+2500) finished T3 after shooting 73-73 over the weekend at Augusta, but missed the cut here last year. ... Jordan Spieth (+2800) missed the cut at the Masters but won this event in 2022 and lost in a playoff last year.

THIS WEEK: Corales Puntacana Championship, April 18-21

Course: Puntacana Resort & Club, Corales Golf Course (Par 72, 7,670 yards)

Purse: $4M (Winner: $720,000)

Defending Champion: Matt Wallace

HOW TO FOLLOW

TV: Thursday-Friday, 8-10 a.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 3-5 p.m. (GC)

X: @CoralesChamp

NOTES: This is the first of three events in which players can earn points to qualify for the next signature event, the Wells Fargo Championship. The other two are the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The five players who earn the most points in those three events who are not otherwise exempt via the Aon Next 10 or a higher category will qualify. ... The winner will receive 300 FedEx Cup points and a two-year PGA Tour exemption. ... No. 34 Nicolai Hojgaard is the highest-ranked player in this week's field. He's the only player in the field who also competed in last week's Masters. ... Alex Fitzpatrick, the brother of Matt Fitzpatrick, who is defending champion at the RBC Heritage, is making his tournament debut, as are Billy Horschel and Daniel Berger.

NEXT TOURNAMENT: Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Avondale, La., April 25-28

LPGA Tour

LAST TOURNAMENT: T-Mobile Match Play (Nelly Korda)

THIS WEEK: The Chevron Championship, The Woodlands, Texas, April 18-21

Course: The Club at Carlton Woods (Par 72, 6,824 yards)

Purse: $7.9M

Defending Champion: Lilia Vu

Race to CME Globe leader: Nelly Korda

HOW TO FOLLOW

Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 6-8 p.m. ET (Golf Channel/Peacock); Saturday, 2-3 p.m. (Peacock); 3-6 p.m. (NBC/Peacock); Sunday, 2-3 p.m. (Peacock); 3-6 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

Streaming (ESPN+ Featured Group Coverage): Thursday-Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

X: @Chevron_Golf

NOTES: This is the first of five major championships on the 2024 schedule. ... World No. 1 Nelly Korda has won each of her past four starts. ... Chevron has extended its title sponsorship of the event through 2029. Along with the increased purse this year, players who miss the cut will receive $10,000, double that of last year. ... Twenty-time tour winner Lydia Ko would secure a spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame with a victory this week. ... The Course at Carlton Woods was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 2001. It took over as the event host last year, replacing the Dinah Shore Course at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif. (1983-2022). ... Vu defeated Angel Yin with a birdie on the first playoff hole last year.

NEXT TOURNAMENT: JM Eagle LA Championship, Los Angeles, April 25-28

PGA Tour Champions

LAST TOURNAMENT: The Galleri Classic (Retief Goosen)

THIS WEEK: Invited Celebrity Classic, Irving, Texas, April 19-21

Course: Las Colinas Country Club (Par 71, 6,703 yards)

Purse: $2.2M (Winner: $330,000)

Defending Champion: Mark Hensby (Celebrity, Tony Romo)

Charles Schwab Cup leader: Steven Alker

HOW TO FOLLOW

TV: Friday, 9-11 p.m. ET (Golf Channel-Tape Delay); Saturday-Sunday, 5-7 p.m. (GC)

X: @ChampionsTour

NOTES: The 78 professionals will play a 54-hole stroke-play event, while 40 celebrity players will compete under the modified Stableford Scoring System. ... The field includes two World Golf Hall of Fame members: Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh. ... Bernhard Langer, who tore an Achilles tendon in February, said that he hopes to return to competitive golf in May.

NEXT TOURNAMENT: Mitsubishi Electric Classic, Duluth, Ga., April 26-28

LIV Golf

LAST TOURNAMENT: Miami, April 5-7 (Individual: Dean Burmester; Team: Legion XIII)

THIS WEEK: OFF

2024 Leaders: Players, Joaquin Niemann; Team, Crushers GC

NEXT TOURNAMENT: Adelaide, Australia, April 26-28