The Dolphins yards were mainly garbage time with the Packers up by a lot.
The Raiders out-gained the Chiefs 434 to 329 yet lost 19-17. A 1-0 turnover ratio did them in at the end of a game on a brutal miscommunication.
The Jaguars yards were mainly garbage time against the Texans.
The Patriots out-gained the Colts 422 to 253 yet lost 25-24. They won the turnover battle 2-1 but 88 penalty yards, poor coaching, and bad red zone efficiency got the Pats.
The Cardinals out-gained the Vikings 406 to 273 yet lost 23-22. A 2-1 turnover ratio, 10 penalties for 96 yards, and poor red zone got the birds.
The Falcons out-gained the Chargers 350 to 187 yet lost 17-13. a Kirk Cousins 4-1 turnover ratio and poor coaching killed the Falcons.
The Saints out-gained the Rams 327 to 322 yet lost 21-14. Equal turnovers at 0 but bad red zone efficiency and allowing explosive plays got the Saints.
The Ravens out-gained the Eagles 372 to 252 yet lost 23-19. Equal turnovers at 0 but bad very special teams got the Ravens.
The Browns out-gained the Broncos 552 to 400 yet lost 41-32. A 3-2 turnover ratio including two pick 6s did in the Browns.
Utah State out-gained Colorado State 485 to 454 yet lost 42-37. A 3-1 turnover ratio did in the Aggies.
Nebraska out-gained Iowa 334 to 164 yet lost 13-10. A 2-0 turnover ratio and bad red zone efficiency got the Huskers.
Georgia Tech out-gained Georgia 563 to 405 yet lost 44-42 in 8 overtimes. Biased officiating is the reason that Georgia Tech lost.
UCF out-gained Utah 379 to 196 yet lost 28-14. A horrible 3-0 turnover ratio and very bad red zone got the Knights.
Northwestern out-gained Illinois 442 to 382 yet lost 38-26. A 4-2 turnover ratio did in the Wildcats.
UAB out-gained Charlotte 437 to 355 yet lost 29-27. A 1-0 turnover battle, poor coaching and red zone got the Blazers.
USC out-gained Notre Dame 557 to 436 yet lost 49-35. Equal turnovers at two but bad fourth down efficiency at 0/3 and bad red zone got the Trojans.
New Mexico State out-gained UTEP 543 to 298 yet lost 42-35. A 3-1 turnover ratio, two of them were TDs and a special teams allowed TD killed the Aggies.
Appalachian State out-gained Georgia Southern 465 to 357 yet lost 29-20. Equal turnovers at two, but 10 penalties, and poor red zone efficiency got the Mountaineers.
Cincinnati out-gained TCU 373 to 336 yet lost 20-13. A 3-0 turnover ratio did in the Bearcats.
Kansas State out-gained Iowa State 364 to 324 yet lost 29-21. A 2-0 turnover ratio did in the Wildcats.
James Madison out-gained Marshall 382 to 261 yet lost 35-33. A 1-0 turnover ratio and bad 3rd down efficiency 4/13, along with poor red zone defense got the Dukes.
The Hero World Challenge, an unofficial PGA TOUR event held annually after the FedExCup Fall, returns to Albany in The Bahamas for the ninth consecutive year, marking its 25th edition overall.
Tournament host Tiger Woods will not compete in this year’s Hero World Challenge as he continues recovering from microdecompression surgery on his lumbar spine for nerve impingement, which he underwent last September. Woods last competed on the PGA TOUR at the 2024 Open Championship. A five-time winner of the Hero World Challenge, all at Sherwood Country Club, his most recent victory came in 2011. In his latest appearance at the event, Woods finished 18th at the 2023 Hero World Challenge.
Scottie Scheffler
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler returns to competition for the first time since the Presidents Cup, capping an extraordinary 2024 season. Scheffler, the defending champion at Albany, secured seven victories this year, including a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, and recorded 16 top-10 finishes in 19 starts. A nominee for the Jack Nicklaus Award as PGA TOUR Player of the Year, Scheffler is aiming to become the first player to win the honor three consecutive times since Tiger Woods achieved the feat from 2005 to 2007.
FedEx Cup Points: No FedExCup points are awarded, but Official World Golf Ranking points will be awarded
Field: 20 Players
Cut: No Cut
Playoff Format: Sudden Death
Course Architect:
Course Architect: Ernie Els (2010)
Renovations: N/A
Comparable Courses & Greens:
Comparable Courses:
Waialae Country Club – Sony Open in Hawaii – RESULTS
Black Desert Resort – Black Desert Championship – RESULTS
El Camaleón Golf Course at Mayakoba – World Wide Technology Championship – RESULTS
Port Royal Golf Course – Butterfield Bermuda Championship – RESULTS
Designer Link (Ernie Els (2010)):
Wentworth Golf Club (West Course) – Ernie Els Renovation (2009) – BMW PGA Championship
Comparable Yardage (7,449 Yards):
TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course) – 7,438 Yards – Valero Texas Open
Vidanta Vallarta – 7,456 Yards – Mexico Open at Vidanta
The Country Club of Jackson – 7,461 Yards – Sanderson Farms Championship
Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge – 7,466 Yards – Arnold Palmer Invitational
Comparable Greens (TifEagle bermudagrass .085”):
Sea Island Golf Club (Seaside Course) – Tif Eagle bermudagrass .090” – RSM Classic
Plantation Course at Kapalua – TifEagle bermudagrass .115” – Sentry Tournament of Champions
PGA National Resort (The Champion) – TifEagle bermudagrass .115” – The Honda Classic
Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge – TifEagle bermudagrass .110” – Arnold Palmer Invitational
Comparable Average Green Size (4,500 sq. ft.):
PGA WEST (La Quinta Country Club) – 4,000 sq. ft. – The American Express
TPC Southwind – 4,300 sq. ft. – FedEx St. Jude Championship
Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) – 5,000 sq. ft. – Farmers Insurance Open
PGA WEST (Pete Dye Stadium Course) – 5,000 sq. ft. – The American Express
Colonial Country Club – 5,000 sq. ft. – Charles Schwab Challenge
Muirfield Village Golf Club – 5,000 sq. ft. – the Memorial Tournament
TPC River Highlands – 5,000 sq. ft. – Travelers Championship
TV Information (all times ET):
Round 1: Thursday, December 5th, 2024
Golf Channel – 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Round 2: Friday, December 6th, 2024
Golf Channel – 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Round 3: Saturday, December 7th, 2024
Golf Channel – 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM
NBC – 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Round 4: Sunday, December 8th, 2024
Golf Channel – 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
NBC – 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Weather:
Course/ Tournament History:
The Hero World Challenge, founded in 1999 and hosted by Tiger Woods, is an exclusive annual tournament featuring a select field of the world’s top golfers. The tournament made its debut in 2000 with two stagings: the first in January at Grayhawk Golf Club in Arizona and the second in December at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California. It remained at Sherwood until 2014, moved to Isleworth Golf & Country Club in Florida for one year, and found its current home at Albany in The Bahamas in 2015. Known for its competitive field and picturesque setting, the event is a highlight of the late-year golf calendar. Though unofficial for FedExCup points, it offers world-ranking points and a substantial purse. Proceeds benefit the TGR Foundation and other charities, further enhancing its impact beyond the game.
Previous Tournament Venues:
Duration
Course
Location
2000 (January)
Grayhawk Golf Club
Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
2000 (December) – 2013
Sherwood Country Club
Lake Sherwood, California, United States
2014
Isleworth Country Club
Windermere, Florida, United States
2015 – Present
Albany Golf Club
New Providence, Nassau, Bahamas
Previous Tournament Names:
Duration
Tournament Name
2000-2001
Williams World Challenge
2002-2007
Target World Challenge
2008-2011
Chevron World Challenge
2012
World Challenge
2013
Northwestern Mutual World Challenge
2014 – Present
Hero World Challenge
Tournament Records:
72-Hole Record (Hero World Challenge):
262, Jordan Spieth (2014)
18-Hole Record (Hero World Challenge):
61, Rickie Fowler (Round 4, 2017)
Largest Margin of Victory (Hero World Challenge):
10 Strokes – Jordan Spieth (Isleworth Country Club, 2014)
Largest Margin of Victory (Albany Golf Course):
4 Strokes – Jon Rahm (2018), Rickie Fowler (2017)
Course Records:
72-Hole Record (Albany Golf Course):
263, Bubba Watson (2015)
18-Hole Record (Albany Golf Course):
61, Rickie Fowler (Round 4, 2017)
Course Guide/ Scorecard:
Albany Golf Club is a par-72 course stretching 7,449 yards, offering a distinctive layout with five par-3s, eight par-4s, and five par-5s. Situated along the ocean, it combines the characteristics of both links and desert-style courses, creating a unique challenge. The course is notoriously difficult to handicap due to the variety of playing styles that have succeeded here. Some winners have relied on exceptional short games and putting, while others have leveraged their power off the tee to dominate. Despite these differences, one constant remains: a low score is essential to contend. Players must seize every scoring opportunity to have a chance at victory.
The five Par 3’s range between 179 yards and 217 yards. At the 2023 Hero World Challenge, only two holes (No. 2 & No. 12), had a scoring average over par.
No. 8, 217 yards, Par 3: A long Par 3 usually played with the wind into off the left. Missing the green to the left will leave a difficult chip to an elevated green.
No. 12, 204 yards, Par 3: A signature hole at Albany tucked away at the furthest end of the golf course, this long Par 3 with a slight peninsula green makes this a great hole and very difficult.
No. 17, 189 yards, Par 3: The signature hole, with the finish line in sight, this picturesque hole has a massive body of water to its left with a front bunker to guard it and a small green.
Three of the eight Par 4’s range between 450 – 500 yards. No. 14 is the shortest Par 4 listed at 307 yards with the longest being No. 13, at 513 yards.
No. 14, 307 yards, Par 4: All about risk and reward, the Par 4 can have one go for the green or layup to have a short approach to the green. However, if not accurate, the large waste area awaits on the left of the hole as well as a significant waste mound on the right. The green is a very small target with a false front to capture short shots.
No. 16, 483 yards, Par 4: This hole is the hardest of them all, measuring 485 yards and usually playing into the prevailing wind, which makes it difficult to hit in two, even for the most skillful golfers. The drive is a little tricky with one deep fairway bunker on the right and waste areas line both sides of the hole. The approach shot is to an elevated green with bunkers both short right and left of the hole, making any shot with a long iron or fairway wood very daunting.
No. 18, 471 yards, Par 4: A very strong finishing hole, this 470-yard hole has water down the left-hand side to the green. To the right is a lone fairway bunker that collects any shot straying right off the fairway. The approach shot is to a narrow green with a grass swale to the right, making an up and down very difficult.
The five Par 5’s are No. 3, 6, 9, 11, and 15. Only one of the Par 5’s (No. 9) is listed over 600 yards. All of the Par 5’s had a scoring average below par at the 2023 Hero World Challenge.
No. 9, 632 yards, Par 5: A beautiful and long challenging Par 5. A demanding tee shot, with a well-positioned fairway bunker on the left and water all down the right side. If avoided, one is faced with a long second shot, again with bunkers down the left and water on the right. It’s also a difficult approach, with a narrow green entrance. The bunker on the left is easy to find, leaving a very hard up and down.
No. 11, 592 yards, Par 5: A very long Par 5 with well-placed bunkers throughout. Unable to carry the pot bunkers from the tee, playing up the left side gives a good angle for a second shot. The second shot is not reachable for most. Still, it has to be a well-executed shot to set up a favorable approach into the slightly elevated green with two challenging bunkers on the right side.
No. 15, 552 yards, Par 5: This reachable Par 5 demands a straight, accurate tee shot, with a large waste area to the right of the landing area and fairway bunkers down the left-hand side. It is a challenging task to hit this fairway. Navigate the approach shot around or over a high waste mound 40 yards short left of the green; once past that, the green is in sight with bunkers both left and right and a swale to the back right of the green.
As the Hero World Challenge takes place at Albany Golf Club, here are the key statistics to keep an eye on for this week’s event.
Statistics
PGA Tour Average
Albany Golf Club
Driving Distance (Yards)
283.67
N/A
Driving Accuracy
62%
70%
GIR Percentage
66%
66%
Avg GIR Prox to Hole (Feet)
29.17
N/A
Scrambling Percentage
58%
N/A
Avg 3 Putts / Round
0.55
N/A
Per DataGolf, this is the favored skillset at Albany Golf Club.
Good Drives Gained
Success this week will hinge on players’ ability to position themselves effectively off the tee. While the course’s considerable length underscores the significance of distance, precision holds equal importance.
Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
Scottie Scheffler
Russell Henley
Brian Harman
Akshay Bhatia
Aaron Rai
Matthieu Pavon
Tom Kim
Sepp Straka
Keegan Bradley
Patrick Cantlay
Strokes Gained: Approach
A strong iron game is crucial for success at Albany Golf Club, as demonstrated by recent tournament history.
Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
Scottie Scheffler
Nick Dunlap
Tom Kim
Aaron Rai
Brian Harman
Justin Thomas
Russell Henley
Sungjae Im
Ludvig Aberg
Patrick Cantlay
Strokes Gained: Total (Moderate Conditions)
The weather forecast predicts daily winds of 10-20 mph, giving an edge to players skilled at shaping shots in both directions.
Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
Scottie Scheffler
Sahith Theegala
Sam Burns
Patrick Cantlay
Brian Harman
Sungjae Im
Keegan Bradley
Wyndham Clark
Ludvig Aberg
Russell Henley
Strokes Gained: Putting (Bermudagrass)
The Greens at Albany Golf Club are TifEagle bermudagrass .085”.
Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
Jason Day
Akshay Bhatia
Russell Henley
Sam Burns
Brian Harman
Sungjae Im
Wyndham Clark
Patrick Cantlay
Scottie Scheffler
Sahith Theegala
Par 3 Strokes Gained
There are five par 3’s at Albany Golf Club more than a typical course. Three of the five Par 3’s range between 175-200 Yards.
Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
Wyndham Clark
Sam Burns
Sepp Straka
Matthieu Pavon
Scottie Scheffler
Keegan Bradley
Russell Henley
Jason Day
Ludvig Aberg
Tom Kim
Par 4 Scoring: 450-500 Yards (x3)
Three of the eight Par 4’s at Albany Golf Club range between 450-500 Yards.
Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
Russell Henley
Sungjae Im
Justin Thomas
Brian Harman
Robert MacIntyre
Scottie Scheffler
Cameron Young
Jason Day
Patrick Cantlay
Ludvig Aberg
Par 5 Strokes Gained
There are five par 3’s at Albany Golf Club more than a typical course. Three of the five Par 5’s range between 550-600 Yards.
Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
Scottie Scheffler
Patrick Cantlay
Sungjae Im
Ludvig Aberg
Sahith Theegala
Aaron Rai
Nick Dunlap
Cameron Young
Jason Day
Justin Thomas
Birdies or Better Gained
To be in contention at Albany Golf Club this week, players must capitalize on every scoring opportunity. Since this event has moved to Albany Golf Club, the winning score has been -16 or above each time.
Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
Sam Burns
Tom Kim
Scottie Scheffler
Nick Dunlap
Ludvig Aberg
Sungjae Im
Patrick Cantlay
Wyndham Clark
Robert MacIntyre
Sahith Theegala
Scrambling Gained
The course features wide fairways but places a premium on precision around the greens. Albany is known for its undulating putting surfaces, deep bunkers, and coastal winds, all of which increase the difficulty of getting up and down when players miss greens.
Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
Wyndham Clark
Akshay Bhatia
Justin Thomas
Sam Burns
Cameron Young
Sungjae Im
Sahith Theegala
Aaron Rai
Robert MacIntyre
Brian Harman
Proximity Gained: 175-200 Yards
Most approach shots at Albany Golf Club come from the 175-200 Yard range at a volume much higher than the PGA Tour average.
Leaders in Proximity Gained: 175-200 Yards in the last 24 Rounds:
Ludvig Aberg
Sungjae Im
Wyndham Clark
Nick Dunlap
Robert MacIntyre
Scottie Scheffler
Justin Thomas
Matthieu Pavon
Russell Henley
Akshay Bhatia
Comparable Courses and Event History
According to the Data Golf Course History Tool, previous experience at Albany Golf Club has shown to be beneficial for players.
Leaders in this category (Scoring Average Per Round):
Scottie Scheffler
Justin Thomas
Brian Harman
Sepp Straka
Cameron Young
Sam Burns
Patrick Cantlay
Sungjae Im
Keegan Bradley
Jason Day
The Field:
This year’s Hero World Challenge will feature a total of 20 competitors.
Here is the current basis of qualification for each entrant this week:
Field Size and Tournament Pointers
Previous Winners in the Field (Event):
Scottie Scheffler (’23)
Debutants in the Field (Event):
Aaron Rai, Akshay Bhatia, Ludvig Aberg, Matthieu Pavon, Nick Dunlap, Robert MacIntyre, Russell Henley, Sahith Theegala
Ludvig Aberg had several close calls this season but ultimately fell short of securing a win, finishing runner-up at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Masters Tournament, and BMW Championship. After undergoing knee surgery, he made his return at the RSM Classic, finishing T17 and narrowly missing out on defending his title. Despite the setback, Aberg showed glimpses of brilliance, posting two rounds of 63. This week, he will make his tournament debut.
SG: Approach
SG: Putting (Bermuda)
SG: Total (Moderate Wind)
Good Drives Gained
Birdies or Better Gained
Scrambling Gained
Proximity: 175-200 Yards
SG: Par 3Scoring
Par 4 Scoring:450-500Yards
SG: Par 5Scoring
10th
14th
9th
15th
5th
12th
1st
10th
10th
5th
Rank amongst field, Last 24 rounds
Justin Thomas (+1000) – DraftKings
After a resurgent 2023, Justin Thomas didn’t quite achieve the season he envisioned in 2024. He started strong with three consecutive top-15 finishes but managed only five top-20 results for the remainder of the season. However, Thomas finished the year on a high note with a T14 at the TOUR Championship, carrying that momentum into his lone FedExCup Fall start, where he finished T2 at the ZOZO Championship in Japan.
This marks Thomas’ sixth appearance at Albany Golf Club, where he has recorded four consecutive top-5 finishes. His best performance at this event came last year, when he secured a 3rd-place finish.
SG: Approach
SG: Putting (Bermuda)
SG: Total (Moderate Wind)
Good Drives Gained
Birdies or Better Gained
Scrambling Gained
Proximity: 175-200 Yards
SG: Par 3Scoring
Par 4 Scoring:450-500Yards
SG: Par 5Scoring
7th
20th
14th
17th
13th
3rd
8th
12th
3rd
11th
Rank amongst field, Last 24 rounds
Sungjae Im (+1400) – DraftKings
Sungjae Im faced a challenging start to the 2024 season, managing just two top-20 finishes before the Masters. However, his performance improved significantly after Augusta, highlighted by a victory on the KPGA Korean Tour and nine additional top-20 finishes, including a 7th-place result at the TOUR Championship. During the FedExCup Fall, Im made one start, earning a T13 finish at the ZOZO Championship in Japan.
This week marks his second appearance at Albany Golf Club, where he previously impressed with a T8 finish last year.
SG: Approach
SG: Putting (Bermuda)
SG: Total (Moderate Wind)
Good Drives Gained
Birdies or Better Gained
Scrambling Gained
Proximity: 175-200 Yards
SG: Par 3Scoring
Par 4 Scoring:450-500Yards
SG: Par 5Scoring
9th
6th
6th
12th
6th
6th
2nd
17th
2nd
4th
Rank amongst field, Last 24 rounds
Matchups
Brian Harman (-130) over Cameron Young – DraftKings
Brian Harman enters the Hero World Challenge fresh off a T25 finish at the RSM Classic. He has played in this tournament once before, securing an impressive T8 finish. Harman’s consistency with his driving and iron play positions him as a strong contender in this limited-field event.
Cameron Young, on the other hand, will make his first start since finishing T43 at the BMW Championship. He faced struggles late in the season, particularly with his iron play. Young has competed in this tournament twice, delivering a standout 3rd-place finish in 2022 and a T15 result in 2023. However, he ranks near the bottom of the field in several key metrics this week, including SG: Putting on Bermudagrass (20th), Good Drives Gained (20th), Par 3 Scoring (18th), and Proximity from 175-200 Yards (19th), which could present challenges in a field of elite players.
Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting. Any feedback whether positive or negative is always encouraged.
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