RBC Heritage Classic 2012: Carl Pettersson Runs Away With The Tournament

With the three top golfers in the 2012 FedEx Cup not participating in this weekend’s RBC Heritage Classic, Carl Pettersson took advantage, shooting up the standings from No. 17 to No. 4 with his victory on Sunday.

The 500 points Pettersson received for winning make him the sixth golfer this season to clear the 1,000 point barrier, as the Swedish golfer now has a projected total of 1,111.

Carl Pettersson hasn’t done much since posting birdies on three of his first five holes, but he’s maintained what looks to be an insurmountable lead, being up five strokes on Zach Johnson through 14.

Pettersson missed a shot at a birdie with his long putter that would’ve put him at 16-under for the tourney, but it doesn’t seem it will matter much. The real battle is for second: Johnson is still holding on to the spot at 10-under after a bogey on the 10th put him a stroke further from the lead. Pettersson’s partner, Colt Knost, who led through 36, started the day one stroke off the lead at 11-under, but his day hasn’t gotten any better on the back nine after a front that included a triple bogey. He followed suit with bogeys on 10 and 12, but a long birdie putt on 13 has him at 9-under. Boo Weekley didn’t do himself any favors by double-bogeying the par-3 14th - he missed the green, gambled and failed, then missed an additional bogey putt. He’s at 7-under, now even for the day through 15.

Swede Carl Pettersson has extended his lead on the front side of his final round at the 2012 RBC Heritage Classic. Pettersson is draining everything early, holing out putts for three birdies in the first five holes to move to 15-under. He has a four-shot lead over Zach Johnson and is looking for his fifth career win at one of the tour’s most venerable and prestigious stops.

Pettersson’s playing partner, Colt Knost, started the day one shot back, but has dropped two shots already after a triple-bogey on the third hole. That opened the door for Johnson to move into second place with three birdies of his own in the first five holes. Unfortunately for the former Masters champ, Pettersson has matched him birdie for birdie. With a four-shot lead for Pettersson, Harbour Town better be sure to have an XXL tartan jacket on hand.

The RBC Heritage Classic’s third round wrapped up Thursday with Carl Pettersson (-12) grabbing a one-stroke lead over Colt Knost (-11) after shooting a five-under 66 a day after shooting a 65. Knost and Pettersson were partners for the round.

Saturday started with Knost holding a two-stroke lead over Pettersson, -9 to -7. Pettersson, the 68th-ranked player in the world, made seven birdies and six bogeys in the round, which could have gone even better. Pettersson birdied five consecutive holes from 2-6, but Knost was holding on.

The majority of the field is in the clubhouse after the second round at the RBC Heritage Classic, and 26-year old Colt Knost is two clear with a 9-under.

Knost followed up a 4-under that had him in first place after the first 18 with a 5-under on the second day. Knost played solid golf, not bogeying any holes, to give him a two-stroke lead. The Dallas resident only has two career professional wins, both on the Nationwide Tour, so if he holds on, this will be his first victory on the PGA.