Hero World Challenge 2025: Schedule, Favorites, and Where to Watch the Charity Golf Tournament

The PGA Tour may have wrapped up its official season for the year, but that doesn’t mean there’s no golf left to watch. The Hero World Challenge 2025 is one of the key postseason tournaments and will take place from December 4 to 7 — and fans of the sport and Sports Betting can already get ready.

Organized by the Tiger Woods Foundation since 1996, the charity competition brings together some of the biggest names in golf in the Bahamas for four days of strategic play. Featuring 20 of today’s top players, we’re not just talking about Scottie Scheffler — the defending champion and considered by many the best in the world.

If you’re already curious about what to expect, don’t worry. We’ve prepared this 2025 Hero World Challenge guide with everything you need to know about the tournament. Check it out!

Where will the Hero World Challenge 2025 take place?

The Albany Golf Course is part of the luxury Albany resort, located in New Providence — the most populated island in the Bahamas. With 72 holes and 7,449 yards, the course is hosting the tournament for the tenth time and is known especially for its 30-foot sand dunes (around 9.14 meters) and challenging stretches marked by significant water hazards.

There are five Par 3 holes — known for being quicker sections where golfers can score in just three strokes — along with five Par 5 holes, which is one of the main distinguishing features of a course where wind can be a major factor and demand strategic adjustments.

Format of the Hero World Challenge 2025

Marking the PGA Tour’s postseason period, the Hero World Challenge 2025 brings together the 20 standout golfers of the year to compete. And don’t be fooled by the charitable nature of the event — it awards points for the Official World Golf Ranking.

Each day features 18 holes of competition, with all players completing the full Albany Golf Course layout. This allows them to track their performance daily, intensifying the rivalry and excitement of the tournament.

The third day is the iconic Moving Day, when golfers typically push hard to climb the leaderboard ahead of the final day (as well as the luxurious commitments like cocktail parties and events).

To wrap it up, the final day sees all players competing for the coveted title. If two players tie for first place, the winner is decided through a sudden-death playoff — which does not apply to other positions.

Hero World Challenge 2025 Prize Money

As in the previous year, the Hero World Challenge 2025 will distribute a total purse of USD 5 million based on players’ performance — including USD 1 million for the champion and a minimum of USD 150,000 for participation.

Since two players can tie in points and therefore finish in the same position, prize amounts may vary slightly. Instead of each tied golfer receiving the full amount for that position, they receive the average between that prize and the one for the following position.

For example, South Korea’s Sungjae Im and Austria’s Sepp Straka tied for ninth place in 2024. Instead of earning USD 205,000, each received USD 202,500 — splitting the total between ninth and tenth place.

Below is the base prize distribution for the Hero World Challenge 2025:

• 1st: USD 1,000,000
• 2nd: USD 450,000
• 3rd: USD 300,000
• 4th: USD 250,000
• 5th: USD 225,000
• 6th: USD 220,000
• 7th: USD 215,000
• 8th: USD 210,000
• 9th: USD 205,000
• 10th: USD 200,000
• 11th: USD 195,000
• 12th: USD 190,000
• 13th: USD 185,000
• 14th: USD 180,000
• 15th: USD 175,000
• 16th: USD 170,000
• 17th: USD 165,000
• 18th: USD 160,000
• 19th: USD 155,000
• 20th: USD 150,000

Hero World Challenge 2025 Participants

Despite the anticipation surrounding the return of the legendary Tiger Woods — who underwent three back surgeries last year — the record-breaking champion will have to wait a bit longer before returning to the course. At 49 years old and tied with Sam Snead for the most PGA Tour wins (82), he’ll have to watch the competition as a fan.

Another notable absence is Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, ranked second in the OWGR and winner of the Masters Tournament in April. England’s Tommy Fleetwood and the United States’ Xander Schauffele are other highly ranked players who will also sit out.

But let’s focus on who will be in the Bahamas. Defending Hero World Challenge champion Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, arrives after winning both the PGA Championship and The Open this year. His countryman J.J. Spaun comes in riding the momentum of his U.S. Open victory in Pennsylvania and holds the position of sixth-best golfer today.

Although he didn’t win any tournaments this year, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre took part in 52 events in 2025 and is ranked seventh. Close behind are Americans Justin Rose — winner of the St. Jude Championship — and Harris English, champion of the Farmers Insurance Open, ranked 10th and 11th respectively.

Winner of the Travelers Championship, Keegan Bradley is another American heading to the Hero World Challenge as the world No. 14. Right behind him is Austrian Sepp Straka, champion of The American Express and the Truist Championship this year — returning to the tournament where he finished runner-up in 2023.

Without a win in 2025, Sweden’s Alex Noren sits at No. 17, while the American Cameron Young — ranked 18th — arrives after winning the Wyndham Championship. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, champion of The Sentry in Hawaii, returns to the tournament he won in 2016 as the current world No. 20.

Other golfers who earned their spots by winning tournaments in 2025 include Americans Chris Gotterup, Andrew Novak, and Brian Harman — ranked 28th, 31st, and 33rd, with victories at the Scottish Open, Zurich Classic, and Valero Texas Open.

Ranked 23rd globally, England’s Aaron Ray is another non-American joining the 2025 Hero World Challenge — as is Canada’s Corey Conners, ranked 30th. The rest of the field includes only Americans: Sam Burns (25th), Wyndham Clark (38th), Akshay Bhatia (43rd), Billy Horschel (45th), and Jordan Spieth (70th).

Hero World Challenge 2025 Schedule

Starting on Thursday, December 4, the tournament will feature a total of four rounds — one per day — ending on Sunday. You can view the matchups for each stage on the official Hero World Challenge 2025 website.

Below are the first-round pairings and their respective tee times:

• 10:46: Akshay Bhatia and Aaron Rai
• 10:57: Andrew Novak and Chris Gotterup
• 11:08: Harris English and Brian Harman
• 11:19: Corey Conners and Sepp Straka
• 11:30: Hideki Matsuyama and Wyndham Clark
• 11:41: Billy Horschel and Alex Noren
• 11:52: Sam Burns and J.J. Spaun
• 12:03: Justin Rose and Robert MacIntyre
• 12:14: Cameron Young and Keegan Bradley
• 12:25: Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth

Where to Watch the Hero World Challenge 2025

If you’re curious and want to follow this luxurious and thrilling tournament, don’t worry: you can watch the Hero World Challenge 2025 in Brazil. Stay tuned to ESPN’s programming on cable TV, and remember that Disney+ is the main streaming option (or Prime Video, if you prefer Amazon’s platform).

You can also tune in through Golf Channel, available via Pay-Per-View on select cable providers, or PGA TOUR LIVE, the official platform of the PGA Tour.

Favorites to Win the Hero World Challenge 2025

Before the tournament begins, you can visit the Hero World Challenge 2025 page on Blaze and see what other betting enthusiasts are expecting (both for the champion and for the first-round leader). Remember: odds shift as bets are placed and do not guarantee outcomes — after all, sports are unpredictable.

Scottie Scheffler is currently the top golfer in the world and starts as a heavy favorite, with odds of 2.75 to claim yet another title this year. His main challenger is seen as Robert MacIntyre, priced at 10.0, followed by Cameron Young at 12.0.

Keegan Bradley returns to competition after the frustration of the Ryder Cup and has odds of 15.0, followed by Sam Burns, Hideki Matsuyama, and Aaron Rai — all at 17.0. Akshay Bhatia and J.J. Spaun share the same 19.0, while Sepp Straka is listed at 21.0.

As for potential underdogs, the main one is Wyndham Clark: he has odds of 50.0 due to a disappointing season. Andrew Novak is another unlikely candidate at 40.0, alongside Billy Horschel, who returns from injury and is listed at 34.0.

Bet on Golf at Blaze!

Combining luxury, strategy, and some of the biggest names in golf, the 2025 Hero World Challenge is the perfect highlight for a month that is usually slower across most sports. And yes — MESP Ordinance No. 125/2024 allows betting on the Bahamas tournament.

Tiger Woods chose not to participate this year, understanding the importance of making responsible decisions, and you should follow that example. Bet only for fun and with money you can afford to lose — betting is not an investment or a source of income.

Study data, statistics, and rules to make informed decisions. Check out our Sports Betting Encyclopedia for more tips, but always keep in mind the importance of understanding all risks to your financial and mental well-being — losing can have serious consequences.

Ready to dive into the most exciting charity tournament of the month? Place your bets on the 2025 Hero World Challenge and good luck!