Matt Fitzpatrick Leads RBC Heritage After Bogey-Free 63
Matt Fitzpatrick carded a bogey-free 63 during the second round of the 2026 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links to capture a one-shot lead over Viktor Hovland heading into the weekend.
Fitzpatrick’s round of 63, which included no bogeys, moved him to 14-under par for the tournament and gave him a one-shot advantage over Hovland, who posted a 65 in the second round to sit at 13-under.
The English golfer, the defending champion at Harbour Town, took advantage of calm morning conditions to attack the course early. His performance featured strong ball-striking and putting, with Fitzpatrick ranking fourth and third in those strokes gained categories through two rounds.
Fitzpatrick credited recent work with his putting coach for improved comfort on the greens, noting that the restored greens by Davis Love III have more slope and less subtlety, making it easier to read lines and commit to putts.
He also highlighted a fortunate break on the 14th hole during his round, where a hooked tee shot hit a tree, caromed across the green and stopped short of the water after rolling through a sprinkler, ultimately leading to a birdie.
Hovland, playing in the afternoon wave, dealt with increasing wind and firmer conditions but stabilized his round with a front-nine 32 and back-nine 33, including a birdie on the par-3 17th. He acknowledged hitting some poor tee shots but managed to keep his round on track.
Fitzpatrick’s lead sets up a final-round showdown with Hovland, as both players look to claim victory at the 2026 RBC Heritage.