The PGA Tour returns to the Palmetto State this week as Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island hosts the 2026 RBC Heritage, scheduled for April 13–19. One of the most beloved events on the PGA Tour calendar, the RBC Heritage has long been the traditional post-Masters stop, offering players and fans a stark but welcome contrast to the grandeur of Augusta National.
This year’s event carries a $20 million purse, cementing its status as a Signature Event on the PGA Tour — the tour’s top-tier designation reserved for the most prestigious tournaments outside the major championships. The elevated purse has attracted a world-class field eager to compete on one of the most distinctive and challenging courses in professional golf.
Harbour Town Golf Links, designed by the legendary Pete Dye in collaboration with Jack Nicklaus, opened in 1969 and has remained a timeless test of precision and course management. Unlike many modern tour stops that reward power above all else, Harbour Town demands accuracy off the tee, creative shot-making, and a deft touch on the greens. Tree-lined fairways, small and undulating putting surfaces, and the constant presence of wind off Calibogue Sound make every round an exercise in patience and strategy.
The course’s iconic lighthouse on the 18th hole has become one of the most recognizable backdrops in professional golf. The par-4 finishing hole, framed by the red-and-white striped Harbour Town Lighthouse, has witnessed countless dramatic conclusions over the decades and remains among the most photographed settings on the PGA Tour.
Past champions at Harbour Town include some of the game’s greatest names — a roll call that reflects the premium placed on skill and experience at this particular venue. Players who can shape the ball both ways and manage their game under pressure consistently rise to the top of the leaderboard, making the RBC Heritage a favorite among fans who appreciate the finer points of the sport.
For golfers in Spartanburg and the broader Upstate region, the RBC Heritage represents the closest PGA Tour event of the year. Hilton Head Island is approximately approximately three hours from Spartanburg, a manageable drive that has made the Heritage a popular weekend destination for Upstate families and golf enthusiasts. No other PGA Tour stop comes closer to the Spartanburg market, making this week a must-attend event for local fans looking to experience elite professional golf in person.
What’s Happening
Q: What makes the RBC Heritage a Signature Event on the PGA Tour?
A: The PGA Tour’s Signature Event designation is reserved for the most prestigious non-major tournaments, featuring elevated purses, stronger fields, and enhanced production. The 2026 RBC Heritage carries a $20 million purse, placing it among the most lucrative events outside the four major championships.
Q: Who designed Harbour Town Golf Links?
A: Harbour Town Golf Links was designed by Pete Dye in collaboration with Jack Nicklaus. The course opened in 1969 and is widely regarded as one of Dye’s finest designs, known for its narrow fairways, small greens, and the iconic lighthouse backdrop on the 18th hole.
Q: How far is the RBC Heritage from Spartanburg, South Carolina?
A: Hilton Head Island is approximately approximately three hours from Spartanburg, making the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town the closest PGA Tour event to the Upstate South Carolina region each year.
