Most players facing Andrew Novak's situation on the 9th hole on Saturday would have pitched out and taken the bogey, but Novak opted for a creative alternative.

His tee shot found a spot next to a tree near the green, no clean swing, no obvious out. So he pulled out his putter, rolled the ball down the cart path, and chipped on from there.

"I don't know how my ball ended up where it did, but I had nothing," Novak said after his third round at the 2026 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on Saturday.

"I could have chipped it short of the green, but where I would have chipped to would have been horrible."

He took the bogey, and then he went out and shot a 6-under 31 on the back nine.

"I played it the way that I thought gave me the best chance of making par and at least taking a big number out of there," Novak said. "Kind of lived to fight another day."

That back nine carried him to a third-round 65 and 12 under for the tournament, tied for sixth, five shots behind leader Matt Fitzpatrick.

The result means more given where Novak is from. He grew up in Mount Pleasant, S.C., playing courses like Charleston National, Wild Dunes, and Seabrook Island, all cut from the same cloth as Harbour Town.

"This feels like home to me," Novak said. "This is the kind of golf course that I feel like I've played many times growing up."

The crowd felt it too, and also, while walking the 18th fairway Saturday, he heard "Go Raptors" from the gallery, a nod to his days at Academic Magnet High School.

Novak's Playoff Heartbreak Makes Sunday's Finale Personal

Andrew Novak finished second at the 2025 RBC Heritage after losing to Justin Thomas in a playoff.

On Sunday, he gets another chance to win the plaid jacket, this time starting five shots behind Matt Fitzpatrick with 18 holes left to play.

His wedges and short irons have been very good all week, and his putting, which let him down in Friday’s round of 71, was much better on Saturday. He said he hit the ball well on Friday, too, but could not make putts. In the third round, everything worked out again.

"I feel like my attack clubs have been very good all week," Novak said. "Wedges have been nice. Short irons have been on point. That's allowed me to make a lot of birdies."

Harbour Town fits Novak’s game well, and it is a tight course that rewards smart shots and punishes mistakes. It is the kind of challenge he grew up playing on courses around Charleston.

The moment when his putter rolled down the cart path showed what his week has been like. He has fought hard when needed and played very well the rest of the time.

A strong final round would position Novak as a contender for the title.

What do you think about Novak's chances on Sunday? Let us know below!

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Kalp Thaker