The official 2023 PGA Tour season is in the books, but there is still golf to be played prior to the calendar switching over to 2024. The week after Thanksgiving, 20 of the top players in the world will take part in the Hero World Challenge hosted by Tiger Woods.
The four-day, no cut event is played at the Albany Golf Course in the Bahamas as a benefit for the Tiger Woods Foundation. While an official event on the PGA Tour schedule, the event does not offer FedEx Cup points or official money. Since 2009, the Hero World Challenge has offered Official World Golf Ranking points.
Viktor Hovland returns to the island as he tries to win the tournament for the third year in a row. The 26-year old from Norway concluded his best season on the PGA Tour by claiming the 2023 FedEx Cup title. Hovland has a trio of marquee victories this year, including the Memorial Tournament, BMW Championship, and TOUR Championship.
BET ON THE HERO WORLD CHALLENGE AT BOOKMAKER
Albany Golf Course
This season is year number eight for the Albany Golf Course playing host to the tournament. The Ernie Els designed layout is a par-72 that measures approximately 7,400 yards in length. The course is unique with five par-5s and five par-3s on the scorecard.
A links-style design in the Caribbean, the course features the best of both links and desert features. Strategically placed water hazards pair with windswept dunes to present a challenge to the world’s best.
Over the last five years, the averaging willing score of the tournament has sat right at 18-under par. Bubba Watson fired a 25-under (263 total) the first year the event was moved to Albany, setting the scoring record for the tournament at this venue.
The Hero World Challenge Field
Scottie Scheffler, the no. 1 ranked player in the world, headlines the star-studded field. Scheffler has been the runner-up the last two years behind Hovland.
Brian Harman and Wyndham Clark join the field after their major victories this season and appearance in the Ryder Cup. Clark captured the U.S. Open while Harman secured the Claret Jug, both first-time major wins for the pros.
Max Homa and Matt Fitzpatrick, ranked no. 7 and no. 8 in the world, are set to tee it up. Homa picked up PGA Tour victory no. 6 back in January at the Farmers Insurance Open while Fitzpatrick got back into the winner’s circle this fall at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the DP World Tour.
Tournament host Tiger Woods is expected to return to competition for the first time since withdrawing from the Masters in the third round earlier this year and undergoing surgery on his ankle in late April. Woods has won this event five times, including a stretch where the 82-time PGA Tour winner won four of five in 2003, ‘04, ‘06, and ‘07.
Other notable names in the field this week including Collin Morikawa, Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Will Zalatoris. Zalatoris, like Woods, hasn’t been in action since the Masters after being sidelined for most of the last year with a back injury.
