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RBC Heritage 2025 – Recap: Justin Thomas Ends Drought with Playoff Win at Harbour Town

This marks Thomas’s 16th win on the PGA TOUR, achieved in his 250th career start, and places him in historic company alongside names like Mark O’Meara, Tom Weiskopf, and Jack Burke Jr. His victory came nearly three years and 59 starts after his last, but if Sunday was any indication, he’s still got plenty more to give.

After opening with a blistering 10-under 61—matching the tournament’s all-time 18-hole scoring record—Thomas battled through the weekend with a mix of steady iron play and signature short-game touch. He entered the final round one shot off the lead and ground out a closing 68 to finish at 17-under-par, forcing extra holes with Novak, who played in the final group.

Once in the playoff, Thomas didn’t flinch. On the famed par-4 18th, he stuck his approach to inside 10 feet and calmly rolled in the winning birdie putt. Novak’s birdie try missed just low.

“I’ve always said I’d rather win ugly than lose pretty,” Thomas quipped. “Today was a little bit of both.”

Andrew Novak: Breakthrough Still Coming

For Andrew Novak, it was a bitter but encouraging result. Making his first playoff appearance on TOUR, Novak held the solo 54-hole lead and looked poised to break through. Though he couldn’t close it out, a runner-up at Harbour Town follows his second-place finish at last year’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship and confirms he’s trending upward.

 

It was Novak’s 99th career start, and his third time in the final pairing this season—more than any other player. His composure on a tough Sunday will serve him well as he continues to hunt for that first victory.

FedExCup Shakeup, OWGR Boost

Thomas’s win comes with more than just hardware. He jumps from No. 11 to No. 2 in the FedExCup standings and moves up to No. 6 in the Official World Golf Ranking, putting him firmly back in the conversation as one of the game’s elite.

It also marks the first time this season an 18-hole leader has gone on to win, breaking a streak of 17 straight events where the early pace-setter couldn’t close. JT now improves to 5-for-12 when holding an 18-hole lead, and 7-for-14 from the 36-hole pole.

Notably, this is Thomas’s eighth come-from-behind victory—and his fifth straight—further proof that he thrives under Sunday pressure.

Around the Field

  • Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1 and defending RBC Heritage champion, finished T8 after a final-round 70. It’s his eighth top-25 in eight starts this season, a testament to his staggering consistency.
  • Tommy Fleetwood finished solo seventh, marking his 39th career top-10 finish on TOUR—an astonishing stat for the seven-time DP World Tour winner who is still seeking his first PGA TOUR title. That figure is now the most top 10s without a win in the last 40 years on TOUR.

Heritage Lives Up to the Name

This was the 17th playoff in RBC Heritage history, and the fifth playoff on TOUR this season—a run that includes THE PLAYERS, the Mexico Open, and last week’s Masters. With Justin Thomas joining the list of champions at one of the TOUR’s most beloved stops, 2025’s edition delivered a fitting nod to its tradition of drama and excellence.

And for Thomas? The win not only ends a frustrating drought—it reopens the door to a season that now looks very, very promising

Image: Getty Images

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