Hero World Challenge
Venue: Albany Golf Club, Bahamas
Dates: Thursday 4th – Sunday 7th December 2019
Tournament Preview
One of the final showcases of the year gets under way in the Bahamas as the Hero World Golf Challenge arrives in the Bahamas once more. The event has been in operation since 2000 and heavily linked to the Tiger Woods foundation. Marketed as one of the most elite events on the calendar, the Hero Golf Challenge invites 18 of the world’s top players to take part in a glitzy showbiz event. With $3.4 million in the prize pot and a handsome $1 million on offer to the victor, there is plenty to play for in the Caribbean sunshine.
Betting Preview
Outright Winner
Some of the biggest names in the world of golf are in the field in the Bahamas this week:-
Spaniard Jon Rahm is in the form of his life following his impressive win at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai last time out, clinching him the European Tour Order of Merit title – he is also the defending champion here at the Albany.
The stock of Justin Thomas has continued to rise dramatically in 2019 and he will be hoping to finish what has been his most consistent season yet, in style here.
American Patrick Cantlay has enjoyed his best year on the PGA Tour and is operating at a career-high world ranking of 6 – following a season that has seen him announce himself amongst the big boys in the world of golf.
Englishman Justin Rose saw his challenge fade at the DP World Tour Championship last time out but he is a canny operator and he will be relishing the conditions at the Albany.
Last year’s Hero Golf Challenge runner up Tony Finau is another man to have enjoyed a particularly impressive season and he will be hoping to finish it with a flourish here.
1st Round Leader
With 18 of the best players in the world in the field, getting a fast start will be essential for all of the big hitters in the Bahamas:-
American Xander Schauffele has only managed to pick up one tournament win this term but he looks to be returning to form as 2020 beckons and he could get off to a flyer here.
2014 winner Jordan Spieth holds the course record at Albany and he will be hoping to emulate his heroics from 5 years ago once again this week in the Bahamas.
US Open champion Gary Woodland has come of age this season; epitomised by his first major win back in June and he notoriously gets off to a good start in the big events.
Top Five Finish
With so many quality players assembled here in the Bahamas, getting into the winning enclosure could be tough but there are plenty of candidates to finish in the top 5 come Sunday:-
Tournament host and 4-time Hero Golf Challenge winner Tiger Woods hasn’t been seen since his win at the Zozo Championship last month but he is always a contender in any event he plays.
Big-hitting American Dustin Johnson hasn’t enjoyed his best season but he will be a good fit for the course at the Albany and he could pick up some momentum with 2020 being a Ryder Cup year.
Few players demonstrate the levels of consistency across the PGA Tour that Webb Simpson and with another season in the world’s top 10 – he too is always a contender in all of the events he appears in.
BetXChange Best Bets:
Outright Winner: Justin Rose – 17.00
1st Round Leader: Xander Schauffele – 25.00
Top Ten Finish: Tiger Woods – 1.75
