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The Hero World Challenge is returning after a year off due to COVID-19. The select field event returns to its faithful home of the Albany Golf Course in New Providence, Bahamas. The tournament is a benefit for Tiger Wood’s foundation and there is a good chance you may see him on camera but not playing.
Woods is still recovering from the injuries he sustained during a car wreck. The good news for his fans, and Tiger himself, is that video has emerged of the famed golfer taking a few swings on a driving range. That’s a good thing to see!
Tiger has won this event five times with Graeme McDowell being the only other Hero multi- winner. It’s tough to repeat as a winner at this event because the field is limited to only 20 players.
Those players are selected from the most recent winners of the four Majors and then available golfers from the Official World Golf Rankings. Spots are also held open for the defending Hero World Challenge winner and two exemption picks. Henrik Stenson returns to defend his title from 2019 but he’s not favored to win.
This year’s field is packed with “big-name” players starting with two players leading the odds list who are both coming in as co-favorites at +150. Here are the favorites coming in at +180 and under to win the 2021 Hero World Challenge outright according to Intertops.
Rory McIlroy +150
Collin Morikawa +150
Justin Thomas +180
2021 Hero World Challenge Preview
Where: Albany – New Providence, Bahamas
Course: Albany Golf Course
Par: 72
Length: 7302
When: December 2 –5, 2021
Purse: $3.5 million
Coverage: Golf Channel/NBC
Albany Golf Course brings everything you would think it would from being a golf course located in the Bahamas. There is wind, moisture, temperature changes, and stunning views. Look for golfers to try and attack the par-five holes with a vengeance as those are the best stroke-saving holes on the links.
Driving low under the breeze will be a plus, almost as if one were playing the windy courses in the UK. But, if the wind is down – players will be able to carve up the course while taking advantage of safe, and good-sized, Bermuda greens.
Because this is a limited field event, without FedEx points, the rough will be low to moderate giving players plenty of chances to wow fans and TV cameras with great approach shots. The course uses the gently rolling terrain to its advantage but there are no heavy elevation changes. Fairways and landing areas are picture-perfect islands of green with white bunkers protecting several of the greens.
Overall, this is not a course that will challenge 20 of the best players in the world. But it is a course that will allow them the opportunity to show off their skills. All while raising money for charity!
2021 Hero World Challenge Predictions
Collin Morikawa +150
Collin Morikawa has been one of the best players of 2021. He comes in strong at a course that he should be able to dominate with ease. He’s also coming in with a hot hand after recently winning the Race to Dubai, being part of the winning Ryder Cup team for the United States, and a T2 at the CJ Cup at The Summit.
Viktor Hovland +200
Viktor Hovland has won four times worldwide in the last 21 months including a successful title defense at Mayakoba. This is his first time to the Hero World Challenge but he’s seen this type, of course, plenty of times in his career so there will not be any surprises. He carded a T18 at the CJ Cup.
Justin Rose +560
Justin Rose may be somewhat of a long shot at +560 due to the limited field in this event. But he’s played in the HWC every year it’s been hosted by Albany and he’s had good results including a 3 rd place run and two T5 finishes. Rose will need his putter and short game to be on point. If so, he could pull off the win.
Others: I want to take Rory McIlroy (+150) as he’s been able to put on some clinic-type rounds as of late. But, he was also a bit inconsistent during several of the events during the late summer and fall. Harris English (+660) could rip this course apart, but he’s recovering from a slight back injury. This will be a good test of how far his recovery has come.
2021 Hero World Challenge Betting Lines
Rory McIlroy +150
Collin Morikawa +150
Justin Thomas +180
Viktor Hovland +200
Jordan Spieth +220
Bryson DeChambeau +240
Xander Schauffele +240
Scottie Scheffler +320
Sam Burns +320
Abraham Ancer +360
Daniel Berger +400
Webb Simpson +400
Tony Finau +400
Brooks Koepka +400
Matt Fitzpatrick +500
Tyrrell Hatton +500
Justin Rose +560
Harris English +660
Patrick Reed +660
Henrik Stenson +1000
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