RBC Heritage: Ludvig Åberg leads after first round as Robert MacIntyre makes strong start following Masters drama

Ludvig Åberg took the lead after the opening round of the RBC Heritage as Robert MacIntyre made a strong start following his controversial showing at The Masters.

With the PGA Tour resuming just days on from Rory McIlroy’s triumph at Augusta National, Sweden’s Åberg produced a superb eight-under 63 to establish a one-shot lead over his Ryder Cup team-mate Viktor Hovland and American Harris English.

In an extremely strong field for the top-level Signature Event at Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina, albeit not featuring McIlroy, England’s Matt Fitzpatrick is among a group of six players two shots off the lead on six under.

Åberg said: “Obviously, scoring-wise it was a really good day. Anytime you are bogey free and you make eight birdies, it’s a good day.

“I felt like the highlight for me was definitely my irons and my approach play. I felt like that was really positive. Felt like I was hitting the flights I was trying to do. I was on the correct side of the flags, those kind of things that I really like to see. Then a few putts went in on the back nine that I didn’t really do on the front.

“Overall, super-pleased with today.”

MacIntyre endured a tough week at Augusta National as he missed the cut after an opening-round 80, and was then spotted making an obscene gesture at one of the famous course’s greens during his second round.

The Scot then made light of the obscene gesture in a post on social media, which has led some to speculate that he could face punishment as extreme as a ban from next year’s Masters.

However, the 29-year-old put that behind him to shoot five under on Thursday, putting him among a group of five players that sit three shots back from Åberg.

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler recovered from hitting the first shot of his round out of bounds to shoot three under, as he attempts to bounce back from finishing second to McIlroy in The Masters.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry finished one under as he looked to recover from a disappointing final round at The Masters, having been in contention going into Sunday.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood is in major danger of missing the cut after finishing five over, while American Justin Thomas also struggled to a 76.

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MacIntyre: I’m trying my best to control the emotions

MacIntyre spoke to Sky Sports Golf following his round, and opened up on the challenge of controlling his emotions.

He said: “Coming off last week, a disappointing performance, I was comfortable with the golf course, comfortable with my game, my game’s been in good shape. Trying to put as much of last week behind me as I could.

“I’m driving it beautifully off the tee, I’m being aggressive off the tee, which gives me a lot of wedges around here. I didn’t take many chances in the middle part of the round, which was a bit disappointing, but five under par is always good to start.

“I know what I did isn’t the best way of me doing things, but look, I wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m trying my best to control the emotions. I work with someone back home. And yeah, there was a lot going on, and I’m disappointed with that, but I’m very good at putting things behind me.

“Things that get said elsewhere, it doesn’t faze me. I’ve got my family, friends, part of my team – these guys are the ones that I really listen to. And if I’ve done something wrong, they tell me.

“And that’s how I go about life. I just do what I want, how we want, not just personally but with family and friends. And we go about our business the way we want to do it.

“Some people like it, some people don’t. But, at the end of the day, it’s a job and I try to come out here and perform the best I can.”

Watch the RBC Heritage live on Sky Sports Golf. Coverage of the PGA Tour Signature Event begins on each day of the tournament at 12pm. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.