Hero World Challenge Odds and Preview – Golf Betting December 4-7

This year’s Hero World Challenge at Albany in the Bahamas has an unusual Wednesday start to give the Americans an extra day next week to acclimatise to Australian conditions ahead of the upcoming Presidents Cup.

The Hero World Challenge features 18 of the world’s top players and Albany would not be one of the world’s most taxing courses. The par-72, 7,400-yard championship course may be a mixture of links and desert features with windswept dunes and numerous water features and it was designed by Ernie Els but it should be meat and drink to the pros in action this week. There are five par 3s and five par 5s with the latter setting up possibilities for seriously low scoring. The last five winners have all bettered a four-round total of under 13-under-par and no winner in the tournament’s history has recorded a winning total of less than seven-under-par.

Hero World Challenge Past Winners

This is generally a tournament, at the end of a long year, which favours those who have shown themselves to match-fit and in good form. Every single previous winner at Albany had played competitive golf somewhere during the previous three weeks and there has been only winner in the last decade in the tournament has defied a four-week break.
Eleven of the United States 12-strong Presidents Cup golfers playing in Australia next week are in action in the Bahamas. Tiger Woods (10/1 with Paddy Power) is hosting the tournament but, along with Justin Thomas (7/1 with 888sport) was last seen hitting a golf ball in anger at the ZOZO Championships six weeks ago.
Patrick Cantlay (a best 9/1) and Bryson DeChambeau (20/1 with 888sport) have suffered inaction for an even longer spell while Rickie Fowler last played in August. The latter is only a best 14/1 but did win the event two years ago while the 2015 winner Bubba Watson is a best 45/1.

Defending champion JON RAHM is a worthy favourite for a repeat. The Spaniard is only a general 4/1 but won the invitation-only tournament last year on his debut. He won the last two tournaments on the European PGA Tour to wrap up the Race To Dubai. Calm weather is forecast at the coastal course and Rahm should continue to rack up the birdies. He’s not much of a price but the obvious one to beat.

XANDER SCHAUFFELE is a general 9/1 and also goes on the short-list. The Californian was eighth last year when also making his tournament debut. He only lost out to Rory McIlroy in a play-off for the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai last month so arrives in good form.
JUSTIN ROSE (16/1 general) is more than capable if a return to familiar territory brings about a revival. He has finished fifth and third in the last two renewals of the Hero World Challenge but is half the odds of HENRIK STENSON.

Course specialist could be an interesting each-way proposition in select field

The Swede needed a wildcard exemption to play this year, as did former winner Jordan Spieth (a general 28/1). But that will not be preying on the mind of the European Tour veteran and he loves this course, particularly the longer holes. He was second in 2014 and 2016 and fourth 12 months ago. The 43-year-old last won a tournament in 2017 but the 30/1 with Boylesports this year should attract a few followers.

Hero World Challenge Current Best Odds

Jon Rahm 4/1
Justin Thomas 7/1
Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele 9/1
Tiger Woods 10/1
Webb Simpson 12/1
Rickie Fowler 14/1
Justin Rose 16/1
Gary Woodland and Patrick Reed 18/1
Bryson DeChambeau 20/1
Tony Finau 25/1
Jordan Spieth 28/1
Henrik Stenson 30/1
Matt Kuchar 33/1
Bubba Watson 45/1
Kevin Kisner 50/1
Chez Reavie 66/1
(Odds correct at 3.00pm December 3)