The Hero World Challenge marks the unofficial kickoff to the PGA Tour’s 2026 season, bringing together an elite 20-player field for a no-cut, 72-hole stroke-play event hosted by golf legend Tiger Woods. This invitation-only tournament, which blends high-stakes competition with a luxurious island getaway, has long been a fan favorite for its intimate setting and star power. As the calendar flips to December, all eyes will be on world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who enters as the defending champion and overwhelming favorite. With $6 million in prize money on the line (winner’s share: $1 million), expect birdie fests amid the turquoise waters of the Bahamas. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown ahead of the action.
Venue and Course Overview
The tournament returns to Albany Golf Club in Nassau, New Providence Island, Bahamas, a seaside paradise co-owned by Tiger Woods and Johnny Damon. Opened in 2010 and designed by Ernie Els with input from Woods, Albany is a par-72 layout stretching 7,449 yards—relatively short by modern PGA Tour standards but packed with strategic challenges. The course winds through mangroves, over bridges spanning saltwater lagoons, and along the Atlantic Ocean, featuring 18 holes with generous fairways (averaging 40 yards wide) but punishing rough and water in play on 12 holes.
Key holes include the par-5 4th (a reachable island green over water), the drivable par-4 13th (with a lake guarding the right), and the closing par-4 18th (a 400-yard beast with ocean winds and a narrow green). Albany rewards accurate iron play and short-game creativity, with bentgrass greens running at 12-13 on the Stimpmeter. Past winners have averaged 18-under par, but wind can inflate scores dramatically—gusts off the ocean have reached 20-30 mph in previous editions. The course is in pristine condition following recent renovations, with firm, fast fairways (thanks to Tifway 419 Bermuda) and receptive greens softened slightly by December’s humidity.
Dates, Schedule, and Broadcast Details
The 2025 Hero World Challenge runs from Thursday, December 4, through Sunday, December 7, with the first tee time slated for approximately 10:30 a.m. ET each day. Play begins in earnest with Round 1 on Thursday, where featured groups will hit the course around 11:00 a.m. ET. The event maintains its traditional Thursday-Sunday format, with no pro-am this year due to scheduling adjustments.
Broadcast coverage kicks off early:
- Thursday-Friday (Rounds 1-2): 1:30-4:30 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel.
- Saturday (Round 3): Noon-2:30 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel; 2:30-5:00 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
- Sunday (Final Round): 1:00-4:00 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Live streaming is available via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ starting at 6:45 a.m. ET daily, with featured groups and holes covered in real-time. Tee times for Round 1 include intriguing pairings like Akshay Bhatia and Aaron Rai (10:46 a.m. ET), Andrew Novak and Chris Gotterup (10:57 a.m.), and Harris English with Brian Harman (11:08 a.m.), building to the marquee group of Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre, and J.J. Spaun later in the afternoon.
Weather and Course Conditions
December in the Bahamas delivers classic tropical vibes, but with a side of unpredictability. Forecasts for Nassau call for warm temperatures in the mid-70s to low-80s°F (24-28°C) during the day, cooling to the low-70s°F (22°C) at night, with humidity around 75-80% and about 7 hours of sunshine daily. Expect partly cloudy skies with a 20-30% chance of brief afternoon showers—nothing tournament-delaying, but enough to keep grounds crews vigilant on the greens. Winds will be a factor, blowing 10-15 mph from the east (off the ocean), potentially gusting to 20 mph on exposed holes like the 7th and 14th, favoring players who excel in crosswinds.
Course conditions should be ideal but demanding: Firm fairways for optimal rollout on the par-5s, lightning-fast greens (11.5-12.5 Stimpmeter) that demand precise approach shots, and lush rough to penalize errant drives. Recent rains have kept the layout lush without sogginess, setting up low scores for ball-strikers. Historical data shows scoring averages dipping under par early in the week before wind firms things up over the weekend.
The Field: Key Players and Matchups
This year’s field, selected primarily from the top of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) with a few sponsor exemptions, features seven major champions and a mix of established stars and breakout talents. Tiger Woods, the 15-time major winner and host, will not compete as he continues recovery from back surgery. The full 20-man lineup:
- Scottie Scheffler (No. 1 OWGR)
- J.J. Spaun (2025 U.S. Open champion)
- Robert MacIntyre
- Harris English
- Keegan Bradley
- Justin Rose
- Sepp Straka
- Hideki Matsuyama (2021 Masters champion)
- Wyndham Clark (2023 U.S. Open champion)
- Brian Harman (2023 Open champion)
- Sam Burns
- Corey Conners
- Chris Gotterup (2025 Genesis Scottish Open champion)
- Andrew Novak
- Akshay Bhatia
- Aaron Rai (replaced Justin Thomas)
- Billy Horschel
- Viktor Hovland
- Jordan Spieth
- Alex Noren
Key Matchups to Watch:
- Scheffler vs. The Peloton: As the two-time defending champ (2023-24), Scheffler enters with a target on his back. His pairing with MacIntyre (a precise iron player) and Spaun (fresh off his first major) in Round 1 could spark an early battle for the lead—MacIntyre’s ball-striking edges Scheffler’s putting woes.
- Young Guns: Bhatia/Rai vs. Gotterup/Novak: The rising stars group early, pitting Bhatia’s creativity against Rai’s consistency. Gotterup, a recent winner, could steal the show if his driver heats up on Albany’s wide fairways.
- Veterans’ Duel: Matsuyama vs. Rose/Bradley: Hideki’s short game mastery meets Rose’s experience and Bradley’s power—expect fireworks on the back nine if winds pick up, as all three thrive under pressure.
- Dark Horse Clash: Burns vs. Straka/Conners: Sam Burns’ hot putter could outduel Straka’s accuracy and Conners’ irons in a mid-pack scrap for top-5 contention.
With no cut, every shot counts, amplifying rivalries in this small-field shootout.
Tournament History
Launched in January 2000 as the Target World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club in California, the event relocated to Albany in 2015 for its Bahamas debut, embracing a more exotic vibe. Tiger Woods has hosted every edition, winning a record five times (2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2011)—his last victory a dramatic birdie-birdie finish. The purse has ballooned from $5 million to $6 million, with past champs including Vijay Singh (three wins), Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, and Henrik Stenson.
Recent history favors consistency:
Scheffler claimed back-to-back titles in 2023-24, posting 18-under and 20-under totals amid calm conditions. The event’s small field (capped at 20 since 2014) has produced wire-to-wire winners like Justin Rose (2018) and low-amateur drama, but Albany’s wind has created comebacks, like Woods’ 2011 rally. No player has repeated three times—can Scheffler make history?Recent Player FormsThe field is stacked with 2025 standouts, but form varies post-Fall Series:
- Scottie Scheffler: Blistering—five wins this year, including the Players and two majors. T2 at the RSM Classic last week; his Albany average: 68.5 rounds.
- Robert MacIntyre: Red-hot with a T3 at the Zozo Championship; elite ball-striker (No. 2 in strokes gained: approach) who thrives on links-like layouts.
- J.J. Spaun: Major breakthrough at the U.S. Open (won by two); three top-10s since, but putting lags (105th SG: putting).
- Cameron Young: Ended 2025 on fire with five straight top-11s, including a win at the Sanderson Farms. Albany debutant but bomber-friendly course suits him.
- Sam Burns: Four top-5s in last six starts; elite putter (No. 1 SG: putting) who averaged 66 at last Hero.
- Akshay Bhatia: T5 at Shriners; new caddie Joe Greiner (ex-Homa) adds stability to his creative game.
- Hideki Matsuyama: Steady with a T4 at the HSBC; short-game wizard (top-5 SG: around-the-green) loves resort courses.
- Wyndham Clark: Major drought but T6 at the Mexico Open; power off the tee (310+ yards) could dominate par-5s. Strugglers like Hovland (winless in 2025) and Spieth (erratic irons) seek resets in this low-pressure opener.
