⛳️ Plaid Dreams & Masters Drama: RBC Heritage Preview!

Good morning. This is your Happy Valley Golf Team newsletter. Let’s get it!

Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

• Rory McIlroy’s $65M private jet steals the Masters spotlight—wait ’til you see the insane maintenance costs!

• Scottie Scheffler hunts a rare RBC Heritage repeat, but Justin Rose’s laser irons could crash the plaid party.

• Bryson DeChambeau channels US Open glory to shake off Masters blues with a must-see shot remake.

• PGA Tour greenlights rangefinders this week—will it speed up play or spark new debates?

Unsolicited Golf Tips

Watch: I Couldn't Lead With My Hips Until I Was Shown This Drill

Golf Trivia

RBC Heritage Preview: Masters Hangover? Not in Plaid Country!

Rory’s Masters masterpiece is still giving us chills, but there’s no time to sip mint juleps—the RBC Heritage is teeing off at Harbour Town Golf Links. Let’s slice into the spicy storylines for this week’s tartan takeover!

Masters Aftershocks

• Rory McIlroy’s Grand Slam glow-up has him dreaming of plaid, but Harbour Town’s tight fairways might harsh his Augusta buzz. He’s skipping this one, so we’ll see him at the Zurich Classic instead.

• Justin Rose, gut-punched by that Masters playoff, is ready to laser his irons and steal the show on this precision-friendly track.

• Scottie Scheffler (T4 at Augusta) is itching to remind everyone he’s the World No. 1 and last year’s plaid king.

Defending the Throne

• Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2023 champ, is back to try and reclaim the plaid jacket. His pinpoint iron play is like a GPS for Harbour Town’s tiny greens.

• Can Fitzy fend off the post-Masters fatigue? Or will he be napping by the lighthouse?

• Scottie Scheffler, the 2024 plaid prince, returns with a vengeance. His buttery iron play last year tamed Harbour Town like a charm.

• Scheffler’s chasing a rare repeat—only four guys have gone back-to-back here. Is he the next plaid dynasty?

Harbour Town’s Vibe Check

• This Pete Dye gem laughs at long bombers. It’s all about accuracy, strategy, and not chunking it into the Lowcountry marsh.

• That iconic 18th-hole lighthouse? It’s seen more drama than a reality TV finale.

RBC’s Homeboys

• RBC ambassadors Sam Burns and Corey Conners (fresh off a T8 at Augusta) are ready to make their sponsor proud.

• Conners’ ball-striking is so crisp, it could cut diamonds. Burns? He’s got that “I’m due” swagger.

💰 The Deets

• Purse: $20M (Signature Event = a field stacked like a pancake breakfast)

• Winner’s Share: $3.6M (plus a plaid jacket that screams “I’m fancy”)

• FedEx Cup Points: 700 for the champ

• Betting Odds (via BetMGM): Scottie Scheffler (+400), Collin Morikawa (+1100), Xander Schauffele (+1100), Ludvig Åberg (+1200), Justin Thomas (+1800), Corey Conners (+2500), Matt Fitzpatrick (+8000), Justin Rose (+6500), Sam Burns (+10000).

📺 Tune In

• Thursday-Friday: Golf Channel, 2-6 PM ET

• Saturday-Sunday: CBS, 3-6 PM ET

Forward this to your golf crew and drop your picks in the replies! Who do you think is snagging the plaid?

One and Done

Patrick Cantlay - Cantlay is a Harbour Town specialist with three top-3 finishes in his last four starts here. His precise iron play and strong record on Pete Dye courses make him a top choice. He’s due for a win at this event.

Corey Conners - Conners is in great form (T-8 at the Masters, T-6 at The Players) and fits the course perfectly with his accuracy and ball-striking. He’s made five straight cuts at Harbour Town, including a T-4 in 2021.

Sungjae Im - Im has four straight top-25s at Harbour Town and is coming off a T-5 at the Masters. His short game and consistency at this course make him a strong, slightly under-the-radar pick.

News You Need to Know

👉 Rory McIlroy's maintenance bill on £38m private jet is absolutely mind-blowing

👉 Bryson DeChambeau takes out Masters frustrations by recreating shot that beat Rory McIlroy to US Open glory

👉 PGA Tour to allow rangefinders starting this week to speed up play

👉 J.J. Watt took on Augusta National from the members' tees with no gimmes. Here’s how he fared

Meme of the Week

Thanks for reading!

Enjoy the rest of your week,

Cody.