How about a collection of the finest non-LIV golfers in the world competing against each other for a boatload of prize money? Well, that’s what we have this week at the unofficial Hero World Challenge when the invitation-only field tees it up at the Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas. The 20-man field features 16 of the top-20 players in the Official World Golf Ranking. Five of the top 10 in the OWGR make up the top of the outright betting market with No. 6 Jon Rahm the opening favorite slightly ahead of No. 2 Scottie Scheffler. Those two are featured in a head-to-head with the elite field allowing for other intriguing tournament matchups. Viktor Hovland emerged on top of the leaderboard last year when the event returned to the schedule following a COVID shutdown in 2020 and is one of four former champs in the field. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Hero World Challenge Matchup Odds
Jon Rahm -135 vs. Scottie Scheffler +105
Jon Rahm -170 vs. Tony Finau +140
Scottie Scheffler -145 vs. Tony Finau +115
Xander Schauffele -130 vs. Justin Thomas +100
Xander Schauffele -140 vs. Matt Fitzpatrick +110
Justin Thomas -120 vs. Matt Fitzpatrick -110
Viktor Hovland +100 vs. Sungjae Im -130
Viktor Hovland -130 vs. Sam Burns +100
Sungjae Im -145 vs. Sam Burns +115
Jordan Spieth -115 vs. Tommy Fleetwood -115
Jordan Spieth -105 vs. Collin Morikawa -125
Tommy Fleetwood -115 vs. Collin Morikawa -115
Cameron Young -115 vs. Shane Lowry -115
Cameron Young -115 vs. Tom Kim -115
Shane Lowry -115 vs. Tom Kim -115
Max Homa -140 vs. Billy Horschel +110
Max Homa -125 vs. Corey Conners -105
Billy Horschel -105 vs. Corey Conners -125
Sepp Straka -110 vs. Kevin Kisner -110
Need to Know
Albany Golf Club opened in 2010 and hosted for the first time in 2015. This marks the seventh consecutive playing on this course with the previous six winners all scoring 18-under or better. At over 7,400 yards and par 72 it’s slightly different in that there are five par-5 holes. And that plays to the strength of the big hitters. The fairways are generous, though water comes into play on several holes. Small greens require pinpoint accuracy on approach and a deft touch with the flat stick on the speedy surfaces. The exposed layout also gives Albany a links-style feel. Situated in the Bahamas it is more of a resort course and hasn’t presented many problems for the field in the past. Coastal winds are always something to consider but all in all, the layout doesn’t present many issues for a collection of the world’s best players.
Hero World Challenge Matchup Picks
Max Homa -125 vs. Corey Conners
For certain courses knowledge of the layout is important. Albany isn’t one of them. Basically a resort course in the Bahamas, it’s yielded low scores throughout its history so a first-timer shouldn’t be overwhelmed. And for Homa he’s been playing the best golf of his career with all five wins coming in the last few years, including three wins in the span of 12 months. Homa successfully defended his title at the Fortinet Championship in September and won the Wells Fargo in between. Toss in a nice showing at the Presidents Cup and he looks to be in a good spot with his game.
Tom Kim -115 vs. Cameron Young
It’s hard not to like what Kim has accomplished so I’ll continue to ride him until the balloon bursts, if it ever does. Kim had a nice finish to last season winning the Wyndham Championship in September with a solo seventh the start prior at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. He had a nice showing for the International Team at the Presidents Cup then opened the new season with a win at the Shriners. Most recently he was T11 at the CJ CUP and doesn’t appear to be slowing down.
Jordan Spieth -115 vs. Tommy Fleetwood
Improving areas that needed work helped Spieth to a nice last season that saw him win the RBC Heritage with runners-up at Pebble Beach and the Byron Nelson. He started last season as a member of the winning Ryder Cup squad and was perfect a few months ago for a US win at the Presidents Cup. He hasn’t played much this season but his familiarity with Albany will help. He won this event before it moved to the Bahamas and has three top-6 showings in five starts since.
Tony Finau +140 vs. Jon Rahm
It’s hard to bet against Rahm but Finau at this price is an unbelievable value pick. He won in Houston last time out, his third title in seven starts, and since winning the NORTHERN TRUST in 2021 the flood gates opened. He was always the guy that came close but couldn’t get over the hump. Well, he’s over the hump now and looks poised for another stellar season. He also has a history at Albany with a runner-up in 2018 and a T7 last year.
Justin Thomas +100 vs. Xander Schauffele
More times than not, I’ll end up backing Schauffele in a matchup. Turns out this isn’t one of those times. Like Finau there’s value on Thomas at even money, though he’s making just his second start this season and first since a T40 at the CJ CUP. There is added motivation for JT playing with his buddy Tiger while also promoting the next iteration of The Match. Thomas has always been a business-first player giving him an edge over most of his peers in a resort-like setting. That doesn’t mean he’s going to win the tournament or this matchup, but at least he’ll be prepared.
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