Justin Thomas makes course architect claim after tying record at RBC Heritage

PGA Tour star Justin Thomas believes "more architects should design places like Harbour Town Golf Links" after tying the course record in the first round of the RBC Heritage. 

Thomas, 31, fired a stunning 10-under 61 to open up an early three-shot lead over defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley. 

The former World No.1 narrowly missed a six-footer for birdie on the 18th to set the outright course record.

But the opening 61 was a huge step in the right direction for 15-time PGA Tour winner Thomas, who has not registered a win to his name since earning his second major at the 2022 US PGA. 

"I just played really solid," said current World No.8 Thomas, who finished a lacklustre T36 at The Masters last week. 

"I feel like I didn't do anything crazy. I just drove the ball well, which is very, very important out here, and I felt like it was just one of those days I put the ball in a spot that I had a lot of good numbers.

"Although you have to be a little conservative at times out here, I felt like they were kind of pins and angles and everything that I could be a little aggressive and I just kind of got rolling with it."

Thomas is now the only player with multiple rounds of 62 or better on the PGA Tour so far this season. 

Thomas very much enjoys his time at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina and he believes more course architects should follow the lead of legendary designers Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus when it comes to the heavily tree-lined Harbour Town Golf Links. 

"Yeah, I love it," admitted Thomas, who finished T5 at last year's RBC Heritage. 

"I wish we played more places like it. I think more architects should design places like this.

"It kinds of stands the test of time, especially if we continue to get weather like this and if these fairways get firm, the greens are already firm, it's going to be everything we want by the end of the week.

"I just think it's a really, really cool place that requires you to think on every single shot you're hitting, and you can't get lazy."

This week's $20m RBC Heritage is the fifth of eight Signature Events on the 2025 PGA Tour season.

The winner earns $3.6m. 

World No.1 Scheffler is also off to the races as he bids to defend the famous tartan red jacket. 

Scheffler opened with a flawless round of 7-under 64 to lie T2 with his U.S. Presidents Cup partner Henley, who also nipped round without a bogey. 

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