Hero World Challenge Betting Tips

The Hero World Challenge returns to Albany for the tenth straight renewal, giving a select group of 20 players a final chance to claim a trophy before the season closes.

It is a relaxed setting compared with a regular PGA Tour stop, yet there is still plenty at stake with ranking points on offer and a sizeable purse waiting at the end of the week. Tiger Woods again acts as host, although he remains on the sidelines following recent surgery, and his absence shifts much of the attention to the player who has made this event his own.

Scottie Scheffler arrives looking to add a third consecutive win at this venue. Albany’s wide fairways, smart bunkering and small greens reward accurate approach play, an area where the world number one continues to tower over most fields. His record here speaks for itself after back-to-back victories and a pair of runner-up finishes before that. Only Woods has collected more titles in the history of this event.

The field contains a mixture of proven winners and emerging talent, with several Ryder Cup players making the trip. Conditions look steady, so low scoring is likely once again around this modern Ernie Els layout.

Outlined below are four selections along with golf betting odds from QuinnBet - two outrights and two specials.

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Hideki Matsuyama to win (each-way 4 places) - 16/1

Many punters will simply side with Scheffler and move on, and it is hard to argue with that approach. In different circumstances, I might well have done the same. However, Hideki Matsuyama’s price is difficult to ignore, and his recent run of competitive golf sets him apart from several players who arrive with little match practice. That extra time on course, combined with a game that fits Albany, gives him enough appeal for me to take the chance on the Japanese star instead.

He has been active through the autumn schedule and has put together a series of steady finishes across Japan, Korea and Europe, showing a level of consistency that is often a reliable foundation in a small-field event like this.

Matsuyama won here in 2016 when his iron play was at its peak, and even though results in his later visits aren’t convincing on paper, we can overlook that as he hasn’t always arrived in good nick.

The course puts a premium on judging approach shots into tight targets, and that has always been one of the best parts of his game. His numbers in that area have been encouraging as of late.

The generous landing areas off the tee give him room to work with, which helps neutralise the occasional loose drive and allows him to rely on his precision into greens. That blend of tournament sharpness and course suitability makes him the one I prefer at the odds on offer.

Andrew Novak to win (each-way 4 places) - 40/1

Andrew Novak makes his Hero World Challenge debut this week and will be keen to finish an already impressive campaign on a positive note. The American put himself in the mix several times earlier in the year, coming close at Torrey Pines, TPC San Antonio and Harbour Town before finally securing his first PGA Tour win at the Zurich Classic pairs event.

His long game dipped noticeably after that breakthrough, but recent signs suggest he is moving back toward the level that produced those early-season results.

A tied seventh at the RSM Classic last month was a clear step forward, highlighted by his best approach play since May. If he continues to strike his irons with that level of control, he could make odds of 40/1 look generous in a field of this size.

Alex Noren: Top Continental European - 20/23

The top Continental European market is a straight shootout between Alex Noren and Sepp Straka. The golf betting sites have it priced as a pick ‘em, but I would have Noren clearly ahead.

He has gained strokes on approach in each of his last seven measured starts, winning twice in that spell, and he has carried the same level of reliability he showed last year pre-injury.

It is good to see Sepp Straka in the field after his Ryder Cup build-up was disrupted by personal matters, yet it is difficult to imagine he arrives with anything like the same level of preparation. On current evidence, Noren holds the edge by a fair margin.

Aaron Rai to beat Akshay Bhatia - 20/21

My final pick for the Hero World Challenge is another match-up, with Aaron Rai preferred to Akshay Bhatia. Bhatia’s missed cut at the Sanderson Farms is his only competitive start since mid-September, which leaves a fair question about how ready he is. Rai, on the other hand, stayed busy in the Middle East last month, producing a stunning week at Yas Links to win the Abu Dhabi Championship.

Over the last 36 rounds, only Scheffler ranks higher than Rai on approach. If he maintains anything close to that level, the Englishman should be well placed to come out on top in this head-to-head.

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