Saturday’s rundown: Scheffler feeds off fans’ energy to take 1 shot lead at RBC Heritage

Scottie Scheffler, fresh off a win at the Masters, looked like he was out of gas following the first round of the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head Island Thursday. He was six strokes off the lead and even shanked a bunker shot. Afterward, Scheffler talked about being tired in the wake of his major victory and “not quite into the competition.”

Fueled by huge crowds that are cheering him on, the World No. 1 has revved up his game since his slow start and now he’s in position to win the Heritage. Scheffler took sole position of first place Saturday when he carded an eight-under par 63 — two strokes off the record low round for the course.

But he has a slew of players nipping at his heels.

Entering Sunday’s final round, Scheffler is one stroke ahead of World No. 23 Sepp Straka of Austria and two strokes in front of two-time mjajor Collin Morikawa of California.

“There’s a lot of guys that are still in this,” Straka said. “It’s a pretty packed leaderboard.”

Straka and Scheffler will be paired together on Sunday.

Trailing by three strokes are Sahith Theegala, Ludvig Åberg and Patrick Rodgers, while Patrick Cantlay, who had an eagle on 15, Seamus Power, J.T. Poston and Tome Hoge are four back.

Scheffler seemed to suck all of the muggy Lowcountry air out of the course on Saturday, drawing huge crowds of fun-loving fans dressed in their Saturday best who followed Scheffler around Harbour Town Golf Links like he was the second coming of Tiger Woods, shouting “Scottie” and “get in the hole.”

At some locations, fans lined up 5 or 6 deep to get a glimpse of Scheffler who munched on pistachios to fuel up as he walked the fairway on a beautiful Hilton Head day that saw temperatures approaching the 90s.

On the 9th hole, he sank a 36 foot putt for birdie. The crowd went wild.

It was that kind of day.

“It felt to me like the crowd was coming with me today, and there was definitely a lot of cheers out there, and it’s nice to have their support,” Scheffler said.

Scheffler isn’t just winning he’s dominating. His margin over the second-ranked player (Rory McIlroy) is the largest gap between the No. 1 and No. 2 since 2009, when Woods was the PGA Tour’s best, according to the PGA Tour.

His Masters win was his third in his last four starts. If he holds on to win the Heritage, he’ll become the first player since Woods in 2006 to follow up a major win with a victory the following week.

“It’s incredible what he’s doing right now, Straka said.

Scheffler has noticed a change in how fans are cheering for him since he went on his winning spree like Saturday, when the grandstand behind the first tee box was packed when he teed off only to empty out by the time he reached the green.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing in front of a crowd,” Scheffler said. “It may not look like I’m paying much attention to them out there, but I can feel their energy, and it’s great to have the support.”

Scheffler did not waste any time getting started Saturday, nailing a putt for birdie on the second hole and continuing the eagle-eyed accuracy that’s a Harbour Town Goff Links prerequisite all the way to the scenic 18th hole on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, which also ended with birdie.

He is expecting challenging conditions on Sunday.

“We’re going to get a different wind tomorrow, so the golf course will play pretty different,” Scheffler said. “It’s something that we’ll adjust to tonight, kind of get in the right headspace.”

TEE TIMES:J.T. Poston and Tom Hoge, 1:15 p.m.; Seamus Power and Patrick Cantlay, 1:25 p.m.; Patrick Rodgers and Ludvig Aberg, 1:35 p.m.; Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala, 1:45 p.m.; Scottie Scheffler and Sepp Straka, 1:55 p.m.

HOW TO WATCH: 1-3 p.m., Golf Channel; 3-6 p.m., CBS; ESPN+, 7:15 a.m.-1 p.m.