Hilton Head Island’s rbc heritage location was packed again Saturday as Plaid Nation Day returned for the third round at Harbour Town Golf Links, with up to 20,000 fans expected to pour through the gates by day’s end. Matt Fitzpatrick of England carried a one-stroke lead into the round while Scottie Scheffler kept moving up the leaderboard in the chase for the $20 million purse.
By about noon, Larry Speaks of Coastal Security was still waving people in at the front gate and shouting, “Two lines open,” as the crowd kept building. The tournament’s Golf Shop had a large tent filled with polo shirts, visors and other merchandise, and a sign in the area said the popular Heritage gnomes were already sold out, even as plenty of plaid golf balls remained on hand.
Plaid Nation Day always comes on the third day of the tournament, and this year the tartan carried across Sea Pines Plantation with the same easy pace that has made the event a draw for fans and locals alike. Paul Von Feldt said it is part of being here on the island, while Joan summed up the mood more simply: you have to support Plaid Nation.
The day fits the tournament’s relaxed Lowcountry feel, but it also reflects a marketing push that has clearly landed with the crowd. Kenn Francis said the vibe here is always the most unique on tour and described the overall mood as really chill and fun, adding that the line for merchandise runs pretty much all day through 5 p.m. and that people love the merchandise. The plaid tribute also nods to traditional golf attire in Scotland, even as recently hatched baby alligators sometimes draw more attention than the golfers themselves.
For all the color on the grounds, the competition remains the point. The world’s best golfers are still fighting over the money and the course, and Fitzpatrick’s lead leaves little margin as the tournament heads deeper into the weekend. On a day built around tartan, the leaderboard is the part that will decide who leaves Hilton Head with the trophy.