One withdrawal and Harbour Town would have gotten three more pros on the course at the RBC Heritage.
Such situation never played out Thursday afternoon in Hilton Head, where alternates Brooks Koepka, Keith Mitchell and Taylor Moore each packed up after not being able to compete for the signature event’s $20 million purse.
Koepka was serving as the first alternate, with Mitchell and Moore present to be added as part of the Returning Member Program created in January.
Koepka, who finished T-12 at last week’s Masters, agreed he would not accept sponsor invites to signature events when he rejoined the Tour three months ago.
He can still play his way into events like the RBC Heritage, thanks to the Aon Next 10 (or Swing 5) list, which is based on FedExCup rankings of players not already qualified.
Koepka, who began the week as the second alternate, was bumped up to the top spot on the Aon Next 10 after Michael Thorbjornsen replaced Justin Rose in the 82-player, no-cut field on Monday.
Per the Returning Members Program, another player automatically gets into the field if Koepka is added — so Koepka’s decision to return to the Tour never takes a spot from someone who would have otherwise qualified. And to even out the field, another player would get in.
First alternate life for Brooks Koepka at the @RBC_Heritage 🙃
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) April 16, 2026
He's been chilling at Harbour Town waiting to see if a tee time opens up. pic.twitter.com/16LBJD68hF
Those scenarios were never triggered this week.
Koepka and his fellow alternates were rendered unnecessary once Max Homa and Sudarshan Yellamaraju made it off the tee shortly after 2:10 p.m. ET.