World's top five golfers to play in RBC Heritage tournament

World's top five golfers will be playing next week's RBC Heritage tournament to be held on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, the organisers have confirmed.

For the second straight week, the top five in the world will be competing as golf resumes its schedule from the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown that began in March, reports Xinhua news agency.

After missing this week's Charles Schwab Challenge, American superstar Tiger Woods will also be skipping the RBC Heritage event.

The Charles Schwab Challenge, which is to end on June 14, was the first PGA event back, with protocols that included mandatory testing for players, caddies and essential personnel when they arrive. All 487 tests were negative.

Even without Woods on Hilton Head Island, the field for next week's event is historically strong with 114 PGA Tour winners, including the top five players Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson.

Because of this year's condensed schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PGA Tour expanded fields and next week's event will feature 154 players, 22 than normal field.

The RBC Heritage tournament will take place between June 18-21 and there will be no spectators at this year's event.