Justin Thomas takes early lead at RBC Heritage with stunning 61

Thomas fires 10-under to lead Scheffler and Henley at Harbour Town after round one.

Justin Thomas of the United States tees off on the 16th hole during the first round of the 2025 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on April 17, 2025, in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Justin Thomas takes early lead at RBC Heritage after delivering one of his finest performances in recent memory, shooting a sizzling 10-under-par 61 at Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina on Thursday. The two-time major champion stormed to the top of the leaderboard after carding 11 birdies against a single bogey, securing a three-shot advantage in the opening round of the $20 million signature PGA Tour event.

Coming off a disappointing tie for 36th at the Masters just days earlier, Thomas showed no signs of a hangover as he tamed the tight fairways and firm greens of the iconic Hilton Head course. The 31-year-old, who has been searching for consistency in his game this season, looked locked in from the opening tee.

"I just played really solid," Thomas told reporters after his round. "I feel like I didn’t do anything crazy. I just drove the ball well and put the ball in a spot where I had a lot of good numbers. It was nice to see the work I’ve put in pay off."

Scheffler and Henley stay in touch

Trailing Thomas by three shots are world number one Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley, both of whom fired bogey-free 64s to sit tied for second at seven under. Scheffler, who finished fourth at the Masters last Sunday, continued his strong run of form with a composed, stress-free round on a course that punished inaccuracy throughout the day.

"I felt like if you compared my four rounds last week to today, today was much less stressful," Scheffler said. "I didn’t have to scramble the way I did at Augusta. I was in position most of the day and gave myself some good looks."

Henley, a three-time PGA Tour winner, matched Scheffler shot for shot with a similarly clean round, capitalizing on calm morning conditions to stay in contention.

Wyndham Clark and a chasing pack of contenders

Just one shot back from Scheffler and Henley sits Wyndham Clark, who posted a six-under 65. The reigning U.S. Open champion made a fast start and held steady through the turn to keep himself within striking distance heading into Friday’s second round.

Hot on Clark’s heels are a group of five players at five under, including England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Brian Harman, who recently lifted the Texas Open title. Harman, in particular, has shown glimpses of his best golf in recent weeks and was satisfied with his performance at Harbour Town.

"I’ve been waiting on some good golf," Harman said. "I’ve been playing a lot better than I’ve been scoring, so hopefully this is the start of something good. I just want to keep the momentum going."

Matt Fitzpatrick, a consistent presence on leaderboards this season, also enjoyed a solid opening round and looks poised to contend over the weekend.

Rose rebounds with late birdie surge

Further down the leaderboard, Justin Rose sits in a logjam of 11 players tied for 10th place on four under. The Englishman, who came up just short in a thrilling Masters playoff against Rory McIlroy last weekend, bounced back in style by finishing with consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th holes.

Rose’s composure and resilience after a draining final day at Augusta suggest he remains a serious contender this week, especially given his comfort level with links-style setups like Harbour Town.

"I wanted to carry over some of that energy from Augusta," Rose said. "I felt like I played well enough to win last week, and it’s nice to come out here and still have that rhythm."

Harbour Town provides ideal test

The Harbour Town Golf Links, known for its narrow corridors, overhanging trees, and small greens, proved to be the perfect challenge for the Tour’s elite. Unlike the wide fairways of Augusta, the South Carolina venue rewards precision and shot-shaping, attributes that played directly into Thomas’s strengths on Thursday.

Although Thomas dominated the day, the leaderboard remains packed with talent and experience. With conditions expected to firm up as the week progresses, round two could see significant movement and more dramatic shifts.

Among those hoping to make a charge on Friday are defending champion Matt Kuchar, who posted a solid 68, and rising star Ludvig Åberg, who opened with a two-under 69 after a slow front nine.

The battle ahead

Justin Thomas takes early lead at RBC Heritage, but the tournament is far from decided. With Scottie Scheffler, Russell Henley, and Wyndham Clark all within reach, the stage is set for a thrilling contest heading into the weekend.

For Thomas, the question remains whether he can build on this exceptional start and claim his first victory of the 2025 PGA Tour season. His putter was reliable, his irons sharp, and his confidence evident — signs that the former world number one could be back on track after a turbulent stretch.

"It’s just one round," Thomas said. "I’ve had good starts before, and it’s about staying in the moment and continuing to hit good shots."

With $20 million up for grabs and the world’s top players chasing him down, Thomas will need to remain focused as he tees it up again on Friday. Whether he can sustain this momentum will be the key storyline as the RBC Heritage continues to unfold.