After a rollercoaster weekend of golf that included a week off for most, a rain affected World Cup of Golf for some and a lazy $9 million payout for one Phil Mickelson, the PGA Tour resumes its regular scheduling this weekend as we head to the Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas for the annual Hero World Challenge hosted by the Tiger Woods Foundation.
We take a look at the event in full and give our betting tips below.
Hero World Challenge Betting Tips
The Course
The Albany Golf Course in the Bahamas will play host to this year’s Hero World Challenge. It will be thr fourth time that the Albany Golf Course has held the event, after moving from Isleworth Golf & Country Club in 2015. Albany was created in 2010 by Ernie Els
The course plays as a par 72 at around 7,247 yards. The greens are made of TifEagle Bermuda and average in size while the roughs have a links theme with taller, native grasses. Bunkers are prevelent around the greens, however, the fairways are relatively easy to hit, so the long hitters should have a field day. GIR percentages will be tested with the smaller greens on offer but putting shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Expect the winner to shoot north of –20 this weekend.
The Field
As per usual in the Hero World Challenge, the field is consisted of just 18 players. The four current major champions earn automatic invite as well as the next 11 best players on the Official World Golf Rankings. The Hero World Golf Champion earns automatic entry into the event while the remaining two spots are special exemptions players selected by the Tiger Woods foundation, the hosts of the event.
All of the above information means only one thing, the Hero World Challenge is a star studded affair. Last year’s winner, Rickie Fowler, will be back to defend his title and will be joined by the best golfers in the world.
Picks
As we mentioned above, long hitters should have no problem finding the fairways with the fairly straight and easy tee shots. It gives them a massive advantage in Albany, and three of the longest hitters on tour in Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama and Bubba Watson have won the event over the past three years.
We are looking at the longest of all this weekend in Dustin Johnson. The World No.3 has played just one tournament since the unsuccessful Ryder Cup bid, a T30 finish at the WGC-HSBC Champions. DJ was the tour leader in strokes gained off the tee last season and is renowned as the longest hitter in the game. He should be fresh coming into this weekend’s event and is as good a chance as any.
Dustin Johnson to win
$9.00
