Hoge, Morikawa part of four-way tie for lead in PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage; Scheffler tied for 10th

At the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage tournament, Collin Morikawa surged into contention with a bogey-free five-under second round of 66, joining J.T. Poston, Tom Hoge, and Sepp Straka at the top of the leaderboard. Meanwhile, Masters champion Scottie Scheffler’s impressive 65 narrowed the gap to just three shots, setting the stage for an exciting weekend battle.

Morikawa’s round showcased his skill, starting with a birdie on the par-5 fourth and a superb chip from the sand on the ninth for another birdie. Despite not being at his best, Morikawa maintained a clean scorecard, sinking crucial putts including a ten-footer on the 11th and a remarkable 36-foot birdie putt on the next hole.

Reflecting on his performance, Morikawa emphasized the importance of minimizing mistakes and expressed satisfaction with his ability to do so. Despite a challenging start to the season, Morikawa found renewed confidence after a productive session on the range, leading to improved consistency in his game.

Ludvig Aberg, the Masters runner-up, also made his presence felt with a bogey-free round of 66, moving within striking distance of the leaders. Despite only turning professional last year, the 24-year-old Swede has quickly climbed the world rankings, currently sitting at number seven.

Aberg’s round tested his patience, but his disciplined approach paid off with four birdies in the last six holes, including a strong finish on the 17th and 18th. Despite the impressive performances from Morikawa and Aberg, the leaders face stiff competition from world number one Scheffler, who sits just three strokes behind heading into the weekend.

Scheffler expressed satisfaction with his round, acknowledging missed opportunities but overall pleased with his performance. With world number two Rory McIlroy also in contention, the stage is set for a thrilling finish to the RBC Heritage tournament as the top players vie for victory.