Justin Thomas’ interview after winning the RBC Heritage

Written by Rob Bolton

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Oh, daddy!

Justin Thomas arrived at the RBC Heritage with 15 career victories on the PGA TOUR, but now he has one as a first-time father, so make it a sweet 16. Thomas’ wife, Jillian, gave birth to their daughter, Molly, on Nov. 18, so she’s only five months old and will have to rely on video evidence that she was in attendance, and on Easter Sunday no less.

Thomas held off Andrew Novak in a sudden-death playoff that required only one additional time through the par-4 18th hole on which Thomas poured in a birdie try from just outside 21 feet. Novak already has failed to convert for birdie from outside 33 feet.

While it’d be aggressive to cite that the champ has slumped over time, this still is his first win since the 2022 PGA Championship. That said, since Molly arrived, he had recorded a pair of seconds and another two top 10s in official competition. He also placed third at the Hero World Challenge in his first live action of any kind as a dad, so the Nappy Factor cannot be ruled out as a driver for his most recent surge.

With odds to win of +2000 pre-tournament at FanDuel, Thomas was sixth-shortest in the field of 72 at Harbour Town Golf Links. There was no cut.

For winning the fifth Signature Event of the season, Thomas collects 700 FedExCup points and earns $3.6 million. He already was exempt into all remaining Signature Events and the PGA Championship, but now he’s a lock to return to Kapalua for The Sentry to open the 2026 season. His membership exemption as a winner extends an additional season through his age-35 season of 2028.

Novak was bidding to become the first first-time winner of a Signature Event since the series was introduced last season, but he settled for his third podium finish of the season. Despite a T3 in his last start at the Valero Texas Open, he was a tasty +12000 to prevail at Harbour Town.

The four-way share of third place was a de facto co-championship of the B flight given that the group came to rest three strokes outside the playoff. It consists of Daniel Berger (+5000), Maverick McNealy (+6500), Brian Harman (+8000) and Mackenzie Hughes (+12000).

Defending champion and tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler (+360) finished in a three-way tie for eighth place, five shots off the pace. It’s his fifth top 10 in eight starts this season but he’s still winless on the PGA TOUR since the Travelers Championship 10 months ago. His victories at the Olympics and the Hero World Challenge in the interim are not official.

Patrick Cantlay (+1800) checked up another two swings back at T13, thus expanding his career record at Harbour Town to 7-for-8 that also includes one second, four thirds and a T7.

And fresh off his playoff loss at the Masters, Justin Rose (+7000) finished T42.

NOTE: Points and Payouts cites pre-tournament odds to win at FanDuel for all golfers who made the cut. For live odds, visit FanDuel.

POSITIONGOLFER (ODDS TO WIN)SCOREFEDEXCUP POINTSEARNINGSP1Justin Thomas (+2000)267 / -17700.000$3,600,000.00P2Andrew Novak (+12000)267 / -17400.000$2,160,000.00T3Daniel Berger (+5000)270 / -14312.500$960,000.00T3Mackenzie Hughes (+12000)270 / -14312.500$960,000.00T3Brian Harman (+8000)270 / -14312.500$960,000.00T3Maverick McNealy (+6500)270 / -14312.500$960,000.007Tommy Fleetwood (+3300)271 / -13225.000$670,000.00T8Scottie Scheffler (+360)272 / -12175.000$580,000.00T8Russell Henley (+2800)272 / -12175.000$580,000.00T8Si Woo Kim (+7500)272 / -12175.000$580,000.00T11J.T. Poston (+7000)273 / -11125.000$480,000.00T11Sungjae Im (+4000)273 / -11125.000$480,000.00T13Sam Burns (+8000)274 / -1090.000$364,000.00T13Sepp Straka (+4500)274 / -1090.000$364,000.00T13Viktor Hovland (+3000)274 / -1090.000$364,000.00T13Cam Davis (+27000)274 / -1090.000$364,000.00T13Patrick Cantlay (+1800)274 / -1090.000$364,000.00T18Xander Schauffele (+1400)275 / -950.000$226,055.56T18Sami Välimäki (+25000)275 / -950.000$226,055.56T18Chris Kirk (+27000)275 / -950.000$226,055.56T18Eric Cole (+17000)275 / -950.000$226,055.56T18Jordan Spieth (+4000)275 / -950.000$226,055.56T18Ryo Hisatsune (+20000)275 / -950.000$226,055.56T18Tom Hoge (+10000)275 / -950.000$226,055.56T18Shane Lowry (+2800)275 / -950.000$226,055.56T18Keegan Bradley (+6500)275 / -950.000$226,055.56T27Davis Thompson (+7500)276 / -834.300$140,200.00T27Ryan Gerard (+12000)276 / -834.300$140,200.00T27Billy Horschel (+12000)276 / -834.300$140,200.00T27Max Greyserman (+12000)276 / -834.300$140,200.00T27Wyndham Clark (+5500)276 / -834.300$140,200.00T32Bud Cauley (+8000)277 / -726.000$109,083.33T32Austin Eckroat (+22000)277 / -726.000$109,083.33T32Matt Kuchar (+20000)277 / -726.000$109,083.33T32Thomas Detry (+12000)277 / -726.000$109,083.33T32Stephan Jaeger (+11000)277 / -726.000$109,083.33T32Brian Campbell (+22000)277 / -726.000$109,083.33T38Tony Finau (+8000)278 / -620.688$86,250.00T38Aaron Rai (+4500)278 / -620.688$86,250.00T38Byeong Hun An (+7500)278 / -620.688$86,250.00T38Matt Fitzpatrick (+8000)278 / -620.688$86,250.00T42Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+20000)279 / -516.500$64,142.86T42Patrick Rodgers (+12000)279 / -516.500$64,142.86T42Matthieu Pavon (+75000)279 / -516.500$64,142.86T42J.J. Spaun (+7000)279 / -516.500$64,142.86T42Taylor Pendrith (+7000)279 / -516.500$64,142.86T42Akshay Bhatia (+7000)279 / -516.500$64,142.86T42Justin Rose (+7000)279 / -516.500$64,142.86T49Corey Conners (+2500)280 / -412.500$48,000.00T49Denny McCarthy (+5500)280 / -412.500$48,000.00T49Nick Taylor (+12000)280 / -412.500$48,000.00T49Jason Day (+4000)280 / -412.500$48,000.00T49Adam Scott (+12000)280 / -412.500$48,000.00T54Collin Morikawa (+1100)281 / -39.536$44,500.00T54Michael Kim (+7500)281 / -39.536$44,500.00T54Ludvig Åberg (+1200)281 / -39.536$44,500.00T54Sam Stevens (+15000)281 / -39.536$44,500.00T54Will Zalatoris (+9000)281 / -39.536$44,500.00T54Cameron Young (+20000)281 / -39.536$44,500.00T54Karl Vilips (+30000)281 / -39.536$44,500.00T61Min Woo Lee (+5500)282 / -27.500$41,500.00T61Adam Hadwin (+30000)282 / -27.500$41,500.00T61Gary Woodland (+12000)282 / -27.500$41,500.00T61Lucas Glover (+9000)282 / -27.500$41,500.00T61Jacob Bridgeman (+11000)282 / -27.500$41,500.00T66Robert MacIntyre (+4000)283 / -16.625$39,750.00T66Harris English (+9000)283 / -16.625$39,750.0068Rickie Fowler (+11000)284 / E6.250$39,000.0069Sahith Theegala (+8000)285 / 16.000$38,000.0070Max Homa (+9000)286 / 25.750$37,500.0071Nick Dunlap (+30000)290 / 65.500$37,000.0072Joe Highsmith (+17000)291 / 75.250$36,000.00

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