Steve Palmer has nailed 13 outright winners this year at 66-1, 60-1, 40-1 (three times), 33-1, 22-1, 20-1 (twice), 9-1, 8-1, 11-4 and 7-4.
Read on to find out his fancies for this week’s tournament.
Hero World Challenge date, start time & TV info
Date Thursday, December 4 – Sunday, December 7
Course Albany GC, Albany, New Providence, The Bahamas
Start time 3.46pm on Thursday, December 4
TV Live on Sky Sports Golf from 6.30pm on Thursday
Tiger Woods, who turns 50 on December 30, is not fit enough to take his place in the Hero World Challenge this year, so the living legend will be merely acting as tournament host at Albany Golf Club, Bahamas.
Robert MacIntyre, who finished seventh on his World Challenge debut last year, is the leading European in attendance at Albany. The Scot, impressive on the DP World Tour since the Ryder Cup, should go well, but he was bemoaning his putting in Dubai last time out, which is not ideal coming to a low-scoring track in ideal weather.
Hideki Matsuyama, the 2016 Albany champion, has been keeping himself busy, finishing fifth in the Dunlop Phoenix Open the week before last, but he cracked his driver during that Japan Tour event. MacIntyre and Matsuyama should be competitive, but may be outshone by two Americans in the Bahamas sunshine.
Steve Palmer’s Hero World Challenge predictions
Scottie Scheffler
8pts 31-20 bet365 enhanced win only
Cameron Young
2pts each-way 12-1 bet365
Steve Palmer’s Hero World Challenge preview
Top tip
Scottie Scheffler 31-20
There is no logical reason to oppose Scottie Scheffler in this week’s Hero World Challenge. Doubters will point to his lack of competition since the Ryder Cup, but this is a model professional who will make sure he is immaculately prepared as usual for his final of spin of the year.
Scheffler had the same schedule two years ago, following a disappointing Ryder Cup with a long break before the World Challenge, then he returned at Albany to win by three shots. It was the same last year – no competition after the Presidents Cup until the Hero – and the great man returned to action for a six-shot Albany triumph.
Scheffler’s full Albany form figures are 2-2-1-1. Viktor Hovland is the only player who has managed to beat Scheffler in the World Challenge. With Hovland 7,500 miles away in South Africa, Rory McIlroy in Australia and Tommy Fleetwood, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Aberg spending the week with their feet up, the stage seems clear for Scheffler to complete a cosy Hero hat-trick.
Punters should remember how much Scheffler was struggling when he arrived at Albany in 2023. He was deep in the doldrums with his putting and had been moved to tears during a Ryder Cup nightmare in Italy in his previous outing, but he thrived as usual at Albany and his victory provided the catalyst for an epic 2024.
With fair weather forecast, and boosted win-only offers available, Scheffler should be trusted to retain his title. Like in 2023, he is looking to set the record straight after a challenging Ryder Cup, but it must be noted that he defeated McIlroy in his Sunday singles in New York just over two months ago, salvaging some pride. A seventh victory of 2025 can be expected on Sunday.
Next best bet
Cameron Young 12-1
Given that it is difficult to make a case for 16 of the 20 runners this week, each-way terms of a quarter the odds, four places, hold plenty of appeal, so targeting each-way gains through Cameron Young looks a sensible tactic, in addition to a win-only investment on Scheffler.
Young teed up in last year’s Hero as the only PGA Tour maiden in the field, doubtless carrying an inferiority complex, but he finally got that monkey off his back in August, enjoying a six-shot romp in the Wyndham Championship.
Young’s PGA Tour form figures from the Wyndham onwards were 1-5-11-4-9 – he was brilliant in the FedEx Cup playoffs – so it was a no-brainer for Keegan Bradley to offer a Ryder Cup wildcard pick. Young justified that selection by top scoring for Team USA, winning three points from four matches, beating Justin Rose on the 18th green in the Sunday singles to lay the foundation for America’s Sunday comeback.
With self-belief surely at an all-time high, Young should be dangerous in the months to come, starting at Albany, where he finished third on debut in 2022, before leading after round one 12 months ago. He faltered from the front last year, but is much better equipped mentally for leading the Hero this week, and his length is a major asset on the five par-fives.
Read more top golf tips from Steve Palmer:
Hero World Challenge: Albany Golf Club course guide, start time, odds and how to watch
Steve Palmer’s free golf betting tips and predictions for the Nedbank Golf Challenge
Nedbank Golf Challenge: Gary Player Country Club course guide, start time, odds and how to watch
Steve Palmer’s free golf betting tips and predictions for the Australian Open
Australian Open: Royal Melbourne course guide, start time, odds and how to watch
For those looking for even more extensive golf coverage don’t miss Palmer’s extra pointers every Wednesday in the Racing Post newspaper.
As well as his tips and insight you will also get expert spotlight comments for all players in our extensive PGA Tour and DP Tour price comparison grids which include course and recent form, plus Palmer’s unique attribute icons to help identify the type of players likely to be suited to conditions each week.
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