Wesley Bryan claims maiden PGA Tour title at RBC Heritage

Wesley Bryan claimed his maiden PGA Tour title at the RBC Heritage with a one-shot victory over five-time tournament runner-up Luke Donald.

Bryan shot a final-round 67 that included six birdies and two bogeys on his way to becoming the first South Carolina native to win the tartan jacket in his home state. 

With his win, Bryan has earned exemption through the 2018-19 season in addition to a spot in the 2018 Masters. 

“It felt good. To get it done here in the state of South Carolina for my first one was really special” Bryan told Sky Sports Golf.

Coming in to this event, Bryan had already recorded two back-to-back T4 finishes at the Genesis Open and the Honda Classic – but the rookie seemed incredibly surprised to walk away as the Champion. 

“I mean, it’s not even real yet. I just went out and played a really solid round of golf, I stayed composed and was able to get it done”

It was Ollie Schniederjans who held the early lead, making the turn in 13-under-par after shooting a five-under front nine of 31, but two bogeys on a birdie-free back nine pushed him back down the leaderboard two behind eventual winner Bryan with Patrick Cantlay and William McGirt.

“It was a great week and I played a lot of good golf,” Schniederjans said. “It’s tough, you want to win more than anything when you’re in the mix. My game felt as good as it’s ever been. I just came up a little shy.”

After an early double-bogey Luke Donald rallied with five birdies to hold a share of the lead with both Schniederjans and Bryan, but wasn’t able to find another in his last four holes and was left to settle with his fifth second-place finish at Harbour Town.  

Those in overnight contention had a tough time maintaining the form of the previous days, and none more so than Ian Poulter. Poulter was left to rue lost chances, carding a two-over-par 73 which left him short of the money required to secure his PGA Tour status. 

Poulter has one more event to earn just over $30,000 at next week’s Valero Texas Open, but the Ryder-Cup stalwart said he was more disappointed in letting a potential win slip than thinking about his status on the tour.

“I’m not disappointed in not getting the job done today in terms of finishing where I needed to finish. That today could have been a victory but I let it slip”

“Three-putting from 25 feet was unacceptable. I had chances on the two par-fives, but the flat stick let me down today. I played well enough to win the golf tournament today and I just didn’t do it with the flat stick”