Held each December at the Albany Golf Course in the Bahamas, the Hero World Challenge will take place this week with the top golf pros from all around the world. Hosted by Tiger Woods (though he is not part of the field this year), the competition helps to benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation. While the event is part of the PGA Tour Schedule, it does not offer FedEx Cup points or official money as part of its proceedings.
While official points might not be on the line in the Bahamas, it is still an excellent event to showcase who is the best in the world. Below we take a closer look at who the top four favorites are heading into the tournament and who has the most momentum to make a title run.
The four-time major champion heads into the tournament as the odds-on favorite to win the championship. McIlroy is coming off a win at the CJ Cup in October and also won the Wells Fargo Championship back in May. The 2019 PGA Tour Player of the Year, McIlroy is having a solid, if a bit uneven 2021. Though he did tie for third place at the Olympic Games earlier this year, he ended up losing in a 7-man playoff for the bronze medal. After that, McIlroy was again on the short end of the stick during the 2021 Ryder Cup when he went 1-3 and his squad went 9-19, overall.
A three-time PGA Tour Player of the Year, McIlroy certainly has the resume to stand with any opponent but needs to find his groove early to make a championship run.
Another former World Number One player, Thomas is having another solid season since his breakout 2017 campaign. In 2017 alone, Thomas won five PGA Tour events, including the PGA Championship (his sole major title) and the FedEx Cup. In 2021, he won the 2021 Players Championship and also was part of the winning Ryder Cup team from the United States. So far this season, Thomas is fifth on the money list ranking for the tour and sixth overall in scoring.
The newest star on the tour, Morikawa has had a torrid pace since he won the Barracuda Championship in Reno, Nev. back in 2019. Since then, the 24-year old has won four more events including two major titles, including the PGA Championship in 2020 and The Open Championship in 2021. Though he is one of the younger players on this list, no one has had a stronger two-year span than Morikawa. With his stock trending up, the Hero World Challenge would be a great opportunity to put a bow on the year.
The current longest driver on the PGA Tour, DeChambeau approaches the game the way a mad scientist would dissect his latest specimen. The 2020 U.S. Open champion, the 28-year old has drawn rave reviews for his raw power and his sometimes playful rivalry with fellow golfer Brooks “Blake” Koepka. The native of Modesto, Calif., DeChambeau has won a victory on the tour this year, coming at the Arnold Palmer Invitational back in March.
| Odds to Win Hero World Challenge |  |
|---|---|
| Rory McIlroy | +800 |
| Justin Thomas | +1000 |
| Collin Morikawa | +1000 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | +1100 |
Prediction: With a stacked field, the 2021 Hero World Challenge will be a brilliant display of what the best in the golfing world can do. Though it is a crowded field at the top, look for Morikawa to continue his torrid pace and lockdown another PGA title by outlasting traditional favorites Morikawa and Thomas.
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About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football in the Mountain West Conference, and basketball. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones.
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