2024 Hero World Challenge Preview

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Although another season on the PGA Tour has come and gone, the top class golf continues with the annual Hero World Challenge.

An event hosted by Tiger Woods, the tournament is an invitational event which will see a limited field of just twenty players head to the beautiful setting of the Bahamas. Set up to aid the Tiger Woods Foundation, the tournament is recognised as an official PGA Tour event, there is a prize pool of $5,000,000 and world ranking points are awarded, so although the week has a relaxed feel about it in comparison to the majority of PGA events, there is still plenty to play for. 

With some of the very best players in the world set to be in attendance, there should be plenty of top class golf over the next few days. Ahead of the action teeing off on Thursday, here are just some of the things you need to be aware of.

The Course 

Although the tournament was first played back in 2000, it wasn’t until 2015 that the event was played at its current location, the Albany Golf Course. 

A par 72 that measures over 7,400 yards, it’s fair to say that since 2015 it’s been a scorer’s paradise with the winning totals often reaching as low as -20. 

Situated on the banks of the Atlantic, the wind can whip but its effect is often limited. With wide fairways and inviting greens, those playing this week will hope to make the most of the five par 5’s on offer. With all reachable in two, those who have their approach game dialled in can expect to have a big week. 

Is Tiger Woods Playing?

Is Tiger Woods Playing?

Usually this is an event that Tiger Woods not only hosts, but also competes in. However, after a year where Woods’ injury woes have returned, the fifteen time major winner has declared himself unable to play this week. 

Perhaps having learnt from his tournaments this year where he clearly wasn’t fit enough to last all four rounds, Woods will hope that the added rest he is able to acquire from not playing this week will set him up well for a healthier 2025.

Who Are The Favourites?

Golf betting can be difficult at the best of times, however with just twenty players taking to the course this week, if you are looking to back a winner, then this could be the perfect week to do this.

Back for more following his victory in the event last year, Scottie Scheffler will start as the overwhelming favourite for the win and that is hardly surprising given the fact that the world number one has won seven times this season, including the FedEx Cup Playoffs. 

Imperious throughout the season, Scheffler not only became the first player to defend his Players Championship, but he also won the Masters and claimed a second Green Jacket. 

There would have been disappointment that he wasn’t able to win a first major title outside of Augusta, but looking back, the Texan would have been delighted with his years' work. 

Scheffler hasn’t played since America’s success in the Presidents Cup but you can be assured that he hasn’t been putting his feet up. One of the hardest workers in the game, Scheffler should be fresh and raring to go as he goes in search of title number eight of the season. 

Scandinavian players have previously fared well in the Hero World Challenge with Henrik Stenson winning in 2019 and Viktor Hovland winning in both 2021 and 2022. Both of those players will be absent from this year’s tournament but hoping to keep a Scandinavian grip on the tournament is Ludvig Aberg.

Without any shadow of a doubt, Aberg is one of the most exciting young talents in the game and with this tournament bringing down the curtain on his first full season, the super Swede will hope to end his season with a bang. 

Having been forced to miss time due to the requirement for knee surgery, Aberg played well on his first start back to competitive action, finishing 17th at the RSM Classic. With that now behind him and with his knee tested, he should be ready to give a good account of himself in his first ever appearance at the tournament. 

Completing the top three in the betting is American star Patrick Cantlay. Cantlay, who has been in the news lately as the supposed ringleader behind the American Ryder Cup team earning prize money will want to put some of the distraction behind him and put in a good end of season showing.

Without a title this year, Cantlay is more than used to being in the winner’s circle and will want to win his first title in over 18 months this week. 

Other Names to Watch Out For

Other Names to Watch Out For


There is plenty of other talent to keep an eye on this week. Whereas most of the players on the PGA Tour have been resting ahead of the new season starting next month, those with a European persuasion have been battling hard on the DP World Tour and Robert MacIntyre heads to Albany with recent form behind him. 

After a rough start to life on the PGA Tour, the enigmatic Scot has shown that he belongs on the biggest stage, winning both the Canadian Open and the Scottish Open this season. Now a fixture inside the top twenty in the world rankings, MacIntyre will want to build on his efforts from this year and lay down a serious marker ahead of the action resuming in 2025.

Justin Thomas is a regular at this event and knows the playing conditions better than most. Despite being a two time major winner, Thomas has been battling poor form for the last two years and is another man in the field seeking a first title of the year.

Big hitters have enjoyed plenty of success at this tournament in the past and there are few men in the field that can hit it as far as Sam Burns. Burns has had an up and down season but was arguably one of the form men through the second half of the year. Able to finish fifth at the St Jude Championship and second at the BMW Championship, he will hope to land a sixth career PGA title this week.