Golf
Hero World Challenge 2025 Predictions: Scheffler set to bask in Bahamas three-peat
The Hero World Challenge returns this week to the sunny Albany layout in the Bahamas, where a select 20-player field will tackle one of the most distinctive courses on the schedule.
With Tiger Woods hosting and the season winding down, the event serves as both a relaxed showcase and a serious test of ball striking, par-5 scoring and long-iron control on a links-style, Bermuda grass layout.
With that in mind, here are two players well positioned to challenge for the trophy in the Bahamas this week.
Scottie Scheffler – 6/4
Scottie Scheffler goes off as a remarkably short favourite at 6/4, reflecting both his current dominance and his extraordinary record at Albany. In his last four starts at this event, he has two victories and a runner-up finish, including a record-tying 25-under total and six-shot win last year, and he arrives as the reigning Open and PGA Championship winner with a long streak of top-10 finishes in official events.
Statistically he is a near-perfect fit for this test, ranking first or second in this limited field over recent rounds in most of the key categories: Total Driving, Ball Striking, Strokes Gained: Approach and long-iron proximity, with even his Bermuda grass putting now trending into the top handful.
For Scheffler to win this week, he does not need anything outlandish; maintaining his tee-to-green standard and delivering an average or slightly positive putting week should be enough to keep him firmly in the mix. On a course that rewards aggressive scoring on the par 5s, he remains the clear benchmark that the rest of the field must try to chase down.
Hideki Matsuyama – 16/1
Hideki Matsuyama profiles as the standout alternative to Scheffler, sitting just behind him in many of the key metrics used to break down Albany. His approach play and proximity from 175–200+ yards are elite, and his scrambling remains among the very best in the game – both crucial measurements when the wind picks up and greens are missed more often.
Matsuyama is already a past Hero World Challenge winner at Albany, having lifted the trophy here in 2016 before posting another strong finish in his title defence. His Open Championship record at venues such as Royal Portrush, Royal Liverpool and Royal Birkdale underlines how comfortable he is on firm, links-like setups with demanding approach shots and small targets.
Recent results suggest he is peaking at the right time; he hasn’t finished outside the top 30 in a PGA Tour event for over five months. If the putter cooperates, his aggression on the par 5s and precision with the long irons makes him a prime candidate to spoil Scheffler’s bid for three straight titles.
This year’s Hero World Challenge sets up an entertaining battle between an overwhelming favourite and a former champion. Should either player settle quickly into their game plan and handle the breeze around Albany, it would be no surprise to see one of them lifting the trophy by Sunday evening in the Bahamas.
