Golfer gets to hear about Rahm’s Masters play at Heritage Pro-Am. ‘Incredible champion’

If Dave McKay, a recreational player from Toronto, was nervous playing with the 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm at Harbour Town Golf Links on Wednesday, he didn’t show it.

Over the first three holes, with Rahm watching, the lefty with a smooth swing hit his tee shots straight and true. McKay is president and CEO of RBC, the Canadian banking giant and title sponsor of the PGA Tour event on Hilton Head Island.

“Hey,” said McKay with a laugh at the 12th hole tee box when he was asked about his nerves playing with Rahm, “I birdied the 1st hole”

In advance of the big-stakes, $20 million RBC Heritage PGA Tour event, which begins Thursday, 104 pros, some of them dressed in shorts and sipping coffee, teamed with more than 200 amateurs Wednesday at the annual RBC Pro-Am — a less intense round in which weekend golfers such as McKay are paired with the greats of the game, like Rahm of Spain, the PGA Tour’s No. 1 golfer.

It’s nerve-racking and intimidating, the amateurs said, and exciting and fun. At the same time, it helps raise money for tournament host Heritage Classic Foundation, which has generated $50 million running the entire RBC Heritage Tournament since 1987. Sponsors purchase Pro-Am spots as part of their of sponsorship packages.

“We have a fairly substantial waiting list to get in the Pro-Am,” said Angela McSwain, a spokesperson for the RBC Heritage

The Pro-Am draws golfers from across the country, and even the world, in addition to local players, including a player this year who will be teeing off at Sea Pines for the 20th time, said McSwain. A few individuals purchase a place in the Pro-Am, too, she said.

At about 7:30 a.m., Chris Johnson, of Dillard’s Department Store in Little Rock, Arkansas — “just your weekend golfer” —was putting on his golf shoes in the parking lot before heading to the putting green in advance of his 8:40 a.m. tee time. His team was paired with pros Alex Smalley, the 78th ranked player and the world, and world No. 49 J.T. Poston.

“It will be fun — just the experience. Just to meet a pro,” Johnson said.

Four amateurs were teamed with one pro — one pro played the front nine, a second pro the back nine — and the best net score of the five was used. “Par is your partner” rules were in place, meaning par was the worst score possible.

“It’s really a game of how many birdies you can get,” said Jim Hicks, a starter for the tournament who calls out the names of the players at the tees.

Collin Morikawa, world No. 11, teed off at 7:30 a.m. from the back tee. His four “teammates” moved several yards ahead in the tee box to hit their first shots.

“No pressure, but we need you to hit the fairway,” Grant Simmons called out, ribbing one of his teammates preparing to tee off.

Michael Wertheim of Charlottesville, Virginia, was excited to tee off, but “I’m still going to be very nervous on this first tee shot,” which he crushed.

“It’s fun,” said Hugh Weathers, South Carolina’s Commissioner of Agriculture, who’s a pretty good golfer, moments before he teed off with pro Max McGreevy. “Intimidating.”

Large crowds follow Rahm

The Pro-Am doesn’t draw the crowds of the main tournament but Rahm’s team drew a large number of fans who followed the contingent around the course.

“Mr. Rahm, congratulations on the Master’s,” a young boy said from behind the rope separating the players and spectators.

Apart from his game, Rahm looked as if he could have been part of the weekend golf crew, not the winner of the Masters, as he chatted with the amateurs like they were old friends as they walked together down the fairway.

“It’s great to hear him talk about his experience over the weekend,” said McKay, the Toronto man who played with him at Harbour Town Golf Links, referring to Rahm’s discussions of his Masters play. “An incredible champion.”

After McKay hit his first tee shot, somebody yelled out, “Great ball Dave!”

“Good to get that over with,” McKay said.

After he finished his round, Rahm said the Masters week was demanding. “A lot going on with the weather,” he said of the rainy conditions.

He’s ready for the real tournament to begin Thursday. Harbour Town Golf Links, Rahm said, is an unbelievable course that’s challenging because you need to hit the fairway and have the right distance.

“Looking forward to battle out there and having some fun,” Rahm said.

Rahm says he has the green jacket he received for winning the Masters with him at Harbour Town. He’s hoping to add the plaid jacket of the RBC Heritage to his wardrobe.

If he can get through the first few rounds, he said, he thinks he has enough energy left to win.

One of the congratulatory messages he received after the Masters win, he noted, came from tennis great Rafael Nadal, who also is from Spain.