Maybe no event on the PGA Tour will see a bigger year over year change than this weekend’s RBC Heritage at Harbour Town. The oft skipped event was chosen as an elevated event in 2023, and the implications of that decision could make it a must-watch.

Here are 5 reasons to tune in to the RBC Heritage this weekend…

1. The strength of field is like nothing the event has seen

Mainly due to being held the week after the Masters, the event is often skipped by top players. The past two RBC Heritage events for instance featured 10 and 9 players from the OWGR Top 20. This year features 17 with only Rory (withdrew), Will Zalatoris (season ending surgery), and Cam Smith (LIV) not participating.

2. The narrow course and small greens tend to produce interesting winners

Harbour Town is short compared to most other PGA Tour courses, but the unique Dye + Nicklaus design presents many other challenges for players. Narrow tree lined fairways and small protected greens reward accuracy over power. This setup has tended to produce an interesting leaderboard. For example Stewart Cink won the event in 2021, 21 years after first winning it in 2000. And this event is the only PGA Tour win for 3 of the last 6 winners.

3. $$$

This elevated event provides a $20m purse with $3.6m for the winner, more than double last year. If the course produces another unexpected winner we could see something like Kurt Kitayama nearly doubling his career earnings with a single win at the Arnold Palmer. Rahm and Scheffler can also both surpass the single season earnings record with a Top 5 and Top 2 respectively (and it’s only April!).

4. The Masters hangover

Coming just a week after the Masters, players no doubt will be coming into this event with either new found confidence or scar tissue. Rory couldn’t even face the event! Last year’s winner Jordan Spieth comes off a solid T4 in Augusta. Kitayama, Brian Harman (2nd as of Thursday), and Justin Thomas all missed the cut in Augusta and will be looking for redemption. Also fun fact: John Rahm is the first Masters champion to play the next week at this event since Spieth in 2015.

5. We’re going to be there!

We’re going to Harbour Town! Members of the Leaderboard team will be at the event Sunday, and hopefully get a chance to play the course next week. Follow us on Twitter for pictures and videos during and after the event.