Ludvig Åberg Takes the Lead at RBC Heritage, Robert MacIntyre Bounces Back

Sweden's Ludvig Åberg has taken the top spot after the first round of the RBC Heritage, with a remarkable eight-under 63, while Robert MacIntyre made a strong comeback following a tumultuous Masters tournament. The PGA Tour resumed just days after Rory McIlroy's victory at Augusta National, with Åberg producing an impressive performance to secure a one-shot lead over Ryder Cup teammate Viktor Hovland and American Harris English. In a highly competitive field at the Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina, England's Matt Fitzpatrick is among a group of six players two shots behind the leader, scoring six under. Åberg reflected on his game, saying, "It was a great day in terms of scoring. Going bogey-free and making eight birdies is always a good day. "My irons and approach play were the highlights for me. I felt like I was hitting the right shots and making the correct decisions. A few putts fell into place on the back nine, which was a bonus. "Overall, I'm extremely pleased with my performance today." MacIntyre had a difficult week at Augusta National, missing the cut after an 80 in the first round and then making headlines for an obscene gesture during his second round. However, he put that behind him to shoot five under on Thursday, joining a group of five players three shots behind Åberg. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler recovered from a rocky start, hitting his first shot out of bounds, to shoot three under as he attempts to bounce back from his second-place finish at The Masters. Ireland's Shane Lowry finished one under, looking to recover from a disappointing final round at The Masters, while England's Tommy Fleetwood is in danger of missing the cut after finishing five over. American Justin Thomas also struggled with a 76. MacIntyre spoke with Sky Sports Golf after his round, discussing the challenge of managing his emotions. He said, "After last week's disappointing performance, I was comfortable with the golf course and my game. I'm trying to put as much of last week behind me as possible. "I'm driving the ball beautifully off the tee, being aggressive, and giving myself plenty of wedges. I didn't take many risks in the middle of the round, which was a bit disappointing, but five under is a great start. "I know I didn't handle things perfectly, but I wear my heart on my sleeve. I'm working on controlling my emotions, and I have a great support team that helps me stay focused. "I don't let outside opinions affect me. I listen to my family, friends, and team, and if I've done something wrong, they'll tell me. That's how I approach life and my golf game." The RBC Heritage continues on Sky Sports Golf, with coverage starting at 12pm each day. You can get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.