The Hero World Challenge is a golf tournament hosted by Tiger Woods, which takes place each December. It features a small number (currently 20) of top-ranked golf pros. The tournament is a benefit for the Tiger Woods Foundation. The event is part of the PGA Tour schedule, but does not offer FedEx Cup points or official money as it is an unofficial event.

Hero World Challenge
Tournament information
LocationAlbany, New Providence, The Bahamas
Established2000
Course(s)Albany Golf Course
Par72
Length7,414 yards (6,779 m)
Tour(s)PGA Tour (unofficial event)
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$4,500,000
Month playedDecember
Tournament record score
Aggregate262 Jordan Spieth (2014)
To par−26 as above
Current champion
United States Scottie Scheffler
Location map
Albany GC is located in Bahamas
Albany GC
Albany GC
Location in The Bahamas

Format

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Initially, the tournament had a 16-man field composed of the defending champion, the top 11 available players from the Official World Golf Ranking, and four sponsors exemptions chosen by the Tiger Woods Foundation. In 2008, the field was increased to 18 players, consisting of the most recent winners of the four major PGA tournaments, the top 11 available players from the Official World Golf Ranking, the defending champion, and two special exemption players selected by the foundation.[1]

In 2021, the field was increased to 20 adding an automatic invitation to the winner of The Players Championship going forward while the rest of the field selection remained the same. However, the 2021 field included automatic invitations to four major winners of both 2020 and 2021 since the 2020 event was not held.[2]

Prize money won by the players is not included in money rankings on any of the world's professional golf tours, but the tournament is recognized as an unofficial money event by the PGA Tour. Since 2009, the event offers Official World Golf Ranking points.[3]

In 2007 the total prize fund was $5.75 million, similar to many official PGA Tour events, which usually have fields of about 150 players.[citation needed] In 2014, the first prize was $1 million, and the total purse was $3.5 million.[4] Woods usually donates his prize money to his foundation.[citation needed]

Hero World Challenge tournament is preceded by a pro-am competition, in which professional golfers play with amateurs. Hero World Challenge pro-am is usually organized two days before the first round of professional play. "Am-Am outing" takes place on the first day, "Official Pro-Am" on the second day. The access to the pro-am competition is limited only to the tournament partners. The pro-am tournament is closed to public.

The amateur participants of the 2016 pro-am included, for instance, Derek Jeter and Tino Martinez.[5]

History

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In 2000, the tournament was staged twice, with Tom Lehman winning the first event in January. The tournament then moved to December of that year, with Davis Love III winning that event. It has been played in December ever since. The January 2000 event was played at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. From December 2000 to 2013, the event took place at Sherwood Country Club, a course designed by Jack Nicklaus, in Thousand Oaks, California.

In 2008, Woods did not compete due to knee surgery following his 2008 U.S. Open victory, even though he was the two-time defending champion. He did not play in 2009 due to time spent away from golf related to personal matters. Woods returned to the event in 2010.

In 2011, Woods won the tournament with a score of −10, defeating Zach Johnson by one shot. Woods made birdie on the final two holes to win; it was his first win in over two years, since the 2009 Australian Masters.

The tournament was the Williams World Challenge for its first three playings/two years. Beginning in 2002 was rechristened the Target World Challenge. It was called the Chevron World Challenge from 2008 through 2011. In 2012, new sponsor Northwestern Mutual was the presenting sponsor instead of a title sponsor;[6] they became the title sponsor in 2013.[7] In 2014, Hero MotoCorp became the title sponsor.[8] In 2015, the event moved to the Albany development in the Bahamas.[9]

Television

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The first World Challenge was televised by the USA Network and NBC Sports. It was then covered by USA and ABC Sports from 2000 to 2006. It has been televised by Golf Channel and a returning NBC since 2007.

Winners

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Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner-up Winner's
share ($)
Venue
Hero World Challenge
2023   Scottie Scheffler 268 −20 3 strokes   Sepp Straka 1,000,000 Albany
2022   Viktor Hovland (2) 272 −16 2 strokes   Scottie Scheffler 1,000,000 Albany
2021   Viktor Hovland 270 −18 1 stroke   Scottie Scheffler 1,000,000 Albany
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[10]
2019   Henrik Stenson 270 −18 1 stroke   Jon Rahm 1,000,000 Albany
2018   Jon Rahm 268 −20 4 strokes   Tony Finau 1,000,000 Albany
2017   Rickie Fowler 270 −18 4 strokes   Charley Hoffman 1,000,000 Albany
2016   Hideki Matsuyama 270 −18 2 strokes   Henrik Stenson 1,000,000 Albany
2015   Bubba Watson 263 −25 3 strokes   Patrick Reed 1,000,000 Albany
2014   Jordan Spieth 262 −26 10 strokes   Henrik Stenson 1,000,000 Isleworth
Northwestern Mutual World Challenge
2013   Zach Johnson 275 −13 Playoff   Tiger Woods 1,000,000 Sherwood
World Challenge
2012   Graeme McDowell (2) 271 −17 3 strokes   Keegan Bradley 1,000,000 Sherwood
Chevron World Challenge
2011   Tiger Woods (5) 278 −10 1 stroke   Zach Johnson 1,200,000 Sherwood
2010   Graeme McDowell 272 −16 Playoff   Tiger Woods 1,200,000 Sherwood
2009   Jim Furyk 275 −13 1 stroke   Graeme McDowell 1,350,000 Sherwood
2008   Vijay Singh 277 −11 1 stroke   Steve Stricker 1,350,000 Sherwood
Target World Challenge
2007   Tiger Woods (4) 266 −22 7 strokes   Zach Johnson 1,350,000 Sherwood
2006   Tiger Woods (3) 272 −16 4 strokes   Geoff Ogilvy 1,350,000 Sherwood
2005   Luke Donald 272 −16 2 strokes   Darren Clarke 1,300,000 Sherwood
2004   Tiger Woods (2) 268 −16 2 strokes   Pádraig Harrington 1,250,000 Sherwood
2003   Davis Love III (2) 277 −11 2 strokes   Tiger Woods 1,200,000 Sherwood
2002   Pádraig Harrington 268 −20 2 strokes   Tiger Woods 1,000,000 Sherwood
Williams World Challenge
2001   Tiger Woods 273 −15 3 strokes   Vijay Singh 1,000,000 Sherwood
2000
(Dec)
  Davis Love III 266 −22 2 strokes   Tiger Woods 1,000,000 Sherwood
2000
(Jan)
  Tom Lehman 267 −13 3 strokes   David Duval 1,000,000 Grayhawk

References

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  1. ^ "Chevron World Challenge - Furyk Keeps Lead, Couples Three Back". Golf Digest. Associated Press. December 19, 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  2. ^ "Hero World Challenge Field increases to 20 players". Hero World Challenge. August 1, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  3. ^ "Tiger Woods, in most events in 7 years, to figure out how much is too much". Fox News. Associated Press. October 17, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  4. ^ "Tiger returns to golf for 2014 Hero World Challenge". TigerWoods.com. October 14, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  5. ^ Photo Gallery: Hero World Challenge, Pro-am & Round 1
  6. ^ Harig, Bob (October 17, 2012). "Tiger Woods' event star-studded". ESPN. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  7. ^ Harig, Bob (August 14, 2013). "Title sponsor steps up for Tiger event". ESPN. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  8. ^ "Hero MotoCorp clinches the title sponsorship of the PGA Tour's golfing event". The Economic Times. September 15, 2014.
  9. ^ Ballengee, Ryan (December 12, 2014). "Is Tiger Woods on his way to being worth $2 billion?". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  10. ^ "Hero World Challenge canceled for 2020". PGA Tour. October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
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25°00′54″N 77°30′20″W / 25.0150°N 77.5056°W / 25.0150; -77.5056