With a $3.5 million prize pool and $1 million to the winner, you bet the action will be fierce when some of the best golfers in the world peg it up at the Hero World Challenge this week. The invitation-only field of 18 golfers will battle for four days and 72 holes beginning Wednesday, with the event taking place at the Albany Golf Course in the Bahamas. Jon Rahm earned his golden ticket as the defending champion. He’s also won his last two starts on the European Tour to claim the Race to Dubai. And that’s why he’s the betting favorite at online sportsbooks. Can you really have a favorite in a field of this magnitude, though? Pairing the best players makes for intriguing tournament matchups, but there isn’t many of them with such a small field. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete and updated list of matchup betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Hero World Challenge Matchup Odds at BookMaker.eu
Rickie Fowler -115 vs. Justin Rose -115
Tiger Woods -115 vs. Xander Schauffele -115
Rickie Fowler -105 vs. Webb Simpson -125
Jordan Spieth -115 vs. Matt Kuchar -115
Henrik Stenson -140 vs. Kevin Kisner +110
Jon Rahm -145 vs. Justin Thomas +115
Justin Rose +105 vs. Webb Simpson -135
Tony Finau -110 vs. Patrick Reed -120
Justin Thomas -135 vs. Patrick Cantlay +105
Bryson Dechambeau -130 vs. Gary Woodland +100
Jon Rahm -145 vs. Patrick Cantlay +115
Need to Know
Most importantly you need to know that the tournament is starting a day earlier than normal. First-round play gets underway on Wednesday so get your wagers in. Also keep in mind that the course sustained little damage from Hurricane Dorian and other weather events during the year so it will play much like it has in the past. And that’s been easy for the pros. At 7,302 yards, Albany Golf Course is a long par 72, but the resort layout offers little resistance for the best players in the world. Five scoreable par-5s give the field plenty of opportunities to go low, and we’ve seen that. The past four winners all shot 18-under or better with Bubba Watson setting a tournament record at -25 in the inaugural playing in 2015. And there are 11 members of the U.S. Presidents Cup team scheduled to play as they get set to defend their title next week. The course is more of a resort venue with generous fairways and few hazards. High winds are always a factor and the elements will be more of a challenge for the field than the course itself.
Odds Analysis
Rickie Fowler -115 vs. Justin Rose
This is a tough matchup to call with Rose playing uninspired golf recently and Fowler having a lengthy hiatus from competitive play. Both have performed well at Albany in the past, but I’m leaning toward Fowler just because I think he has something to prove. His Captain’s pick to the Presidents Cup team was criticized by some and as we’ve seen in the past, playing golf is like riding a bike. Four top-5s including a win here in 2017 has me going with Fowler.
Xander Schauffele -115 vs. Tiger Woods
I’m fading Tiger in this matchup simply because he has too much on his plate right now. Not only is he playing this week he’s also the tournament host with his foundation benefitting. And there’s that Presidents Cup thing next week at Royal Melbourne where he’s captaining and playing for the U.S. contingent. It’s not like the X-man is chopped liver in this matchup. He opened last season with a win at Kapalua and has been a threat ever since.
Jordan Spieth -115 vs. Matt Kuchar
Missing this event last season sent Spieth in a downward spiral. His game has been off for some time and a return trip to a venue where he’s enjoyed plenty of success could be the magic elixir. Spieth is likely to benefit more than any player from the generous fairways starting a trickle-down effect to the rest of his game. A good finish will also help his world ranking. Spieth won this event at Isleworth in 2014 and finished among the top-6 in three starts at Albany.
Tony Finau -110 vs. Patrick Reed
Reed played solid golf in a number of Euro Tour events when the PGA Tour season took a break and he’s been one of the most consistent players over the last several months. But Finau’s game is better suited for this track and even though he’s coming off MC in his last start I like him to tear up the par-5s with his monstrous drives, much like he did last year to the tune of 12-under on his way to a runner-up finish.
Jon Rahm -145 vs. Justin Thomas
Win the DP World Tour Championship and the Race to Dubai after not playing for six weeks. The man is not human. Can you afford not to throw down on Rahm the way he’s playing right now? Oh, and that event before Dubai six weeks ago resulted in a win on home soil at the Open de Espana. Rahm is on fire and he will cool off at some point, but ride this heater while you still can. He nearly lapped the field here last year in his debut shooting 20-under and winning by four shots. JT, meanwhile, isn’t fooled by many courses but Albany has been one.
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