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PGA Tour 2018 Hero World Challenge Odds: Tiger Searching for 6th Hero Title

Michael Harrison

by Michael Harrison in Golf

Updated Apr 13, 2020 · 3:00 PM PDT

Tiger Woods admires his shot.
Tiger Woods has his sights set on a sixth win at the Hero World Challenge. Photo by Keith Allison (flickr) [CC License]
  • An elite field of 18 competes in the Bahamas at the Hero World Challenge
  • Tiger has dominated this tournament; can Big Cat move all the way to #6 in the world?
  • Which golfer has the best chance of emerging victorious?

A star-studded field of 18 golfers descends on luxurious Bahamas for a event hosted by Tiger Woods – The Hero World Challenge. The exclusive tournament is comprised of the four major winners, the top eleven available players in the world, the defending champ and two players granted special exemptions (now three, with Tommy Fleetwood withdrawing and Keegan Bradley taking his place).

Odds to Win 2018 Hero World Challenge

Golfer Odds to Win 2018 Hero World Challenge
Justin Rose +700
Dustin Johnson +800
Tiger Woods +900
Rickie Fowler +900
Justin Thomas +900
Bryson DeChambeau +1000
Jon Rahm +1200
Jason Day +1600
Tony Finau +1600
Patrick Reed +1800

Tiger Woods Returns to Hero World Challenge Pain-Free

A lot has happened in the last year with Tiger Woods returning to a semblance of his former self that it’s easy to forget this was the tournament he’s made not one, but two comebacks following lengthy stints on the shelf.

Two years ago he led the field in birdies but finished 15th after 16 months off, and last year he held the lead for a brief time before settling for a top 10 result in his first start in 10 months.

Should the big cat taste victory this week, it would be a record sixth victory in this event – but first since 2011. It would also elevate him to an astounding sixth in the world golf rankings.

Both years Tiger showed serious flashes of dominating this golf course – and that’s after not competing for lengthy stretches beforehand. Now that he’s healthy and wanting to put the sour taste of losing “The Match” to Phil in the rear view mirror, I fully expect him to contend for the title.

Going Low Imperative to Win Hero World Challenge

In the three years this tournament has been contested in the Bahamas, the winner has made birdies in bunches and that’s reflective of the winning scores; -25, -18, and -18.

There’s no room to take your foot off the gas pedal, as demonstrated by Rickie Fowler’s remarkable 61 to erase a seven stroke deficit to claim the title last year.

Last 5 Winners of the Hero World Challenge

Year Hero World Challenge Winner
2017 Rickie Fowler
2016 Hideki Matsuyama
2015 Bubba Watson
2014 Jordan Spieth
2013 Zach Johnson

Hero World Challenge Best Value Picks

  1. Jason Day (+1600): Won twice last year and has had two strong starts to begin this season – a fifth place finish and 11th. Shocking to see seven golfers with lower odds than the Aussie to win.
  2. Hideki Matsuyama (+2200): Champion of this event just two years ago has had a couple of good – not great starts in the early season. Capable of making birdies in droves with even a luke warm putter. Placed T-5 in title defense last year.
  3. Gary Woodland (+2800): Done everything but land in the winners circle this season – in four events, has three top 10’s, including a second place showing and also a 54 hole co-lead in Malaysia.
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