Scottie Scheffler carded a 3-under 68 at the 2026 RBC Heritage. However, what's more impressive is that it came despite a surprising opening-hole out-of-bounds penalty.

Scheffler found himself facing a tough start as he hit a ball into difficulty on the first hole after it veered off through the trees and onto the cart path, resulting in an unintended penalty.

“Yeah, OB,” said Scheffler when asked if it was a lost or out-of-bounds shot. In fact, the reporters didn't know that spot was out of bounds.

"Yeah. I didn't know either. It's a ways over there, but yeah," Scottie Scheffler said during the post-round media interaction.

"When I was on the tee, I hit it, and it was looking like it was going to hit those trees, and I guess it flew right through them and then hit the path and went out of bounds," said the World No. 1.

Although this mistake seems uncommon, it is worth mentioning that Scheffler is known for his meticulous preparation and precision on the golf course.

The 29-year-old is currently sitting at T20 after his first round with Ludvig Aberg in the lead. However, if Scheffler can replicate his Masters form, then he could surge into contention.

Maintaining Precision at Harbour Town

Indeed, the unexpected cost paid on the first hole was indicative of the tight margins that are common at the iconic Hilton Head Island golfing spot.

According to Scheffler, one has to be very good at controlling their ball, stating, "It's a special and unique place in the sense of you have to control your ball."

Although he faced some adversity, Scheffler kept focusing on his game. The PGA Tour pro credited his ability to adapt to the redesigned course to the efforts of Davis Love III, who maintained its traditional tree-lined characteristics.

"I think Davis has a great understanding of what makes this golf course amazing," said Scheffler, who values preserving the course's original features.

Scheffler maintained his fitness routine to recover from the physical toll of the Masters. So, do you think he has a shot at winning the RBC Heritage title?

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Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi