Fantasy Golf Picks, Odds, and Predictions – 2022 Hero World Challenge

Fantasy Golf Picks, Odds, and Predictions for the 2022 Hero World Challenge  

Hero World Challenge Fantasy Preview

It’s been a year of ups and downs for world golf, with the rise of LIV Golf only somewhat taking the shine off what has been a stellar 2022 for the sport.

New stars have emerged, old timers have rediscovered their best form, and in many ways the PGA TOUR – despite the many defectors – is in rude health, with more prize money and added prestige to more tournaments on the docket in 2023.

But first we say goodbye to the year, from a daily fantasy perspective, with the Hero World Challenge, Tiger Woods’ baby that brings together a carefully-selected field of 20 (or so) of the finest golfers on the planet.

There’s no place in that group for Adam Svensson, who defied logic to win the RSM Classic last time out despite recording a best finish of T39 in his prior five starts.

Rory McIlroy, fresh from winning the DP World Tour’s equivalent of the FedEx Cup, has also packed away his clubs until 2023, although Jon Rahm – winner of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai a couple of weeks ago – will tee it up and look to sign off his year on a high.

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Last Week’s Fantasy Results

Hero World Challenge Field

It looks like there will be a field of 20 that takes to the tee in the Bahamas, with tournament host Tiger Woods perhaps the most intriguing entry. How will he hold up physically?

Rahm, the 2018 winner, and Scottie Scheffler headline a field jampacked with Presidents Cup combatants and those high up in the OWGR. Viktor Hovland will return as defending champion, while the irrepressible Tom Kim will make his tournament debut.

Tony Finau will look to sign off on his incredible year with a fourth victory, while major champions Justin Thomas and Matt Fitzpatrick would love another win in the sun.

Schauffele, Im, Burns, Spieth, Morikawa, Lowry….this is the big cat’s annual love-in, so of course many of the leading names in world golf are here.

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This Week’s Course Preview

There’s a nice symmetry to the Hero World Challenge winner’s board at the Albany course, with four of the last five champions getting the job done with a score of -18.

That offers an insight into what to expect from this layout on New Providence Island in the Bahamas, because although this is windy, exposed and almost Links style golf, there’s still plenty of birdie to be made on a Par 72 layout (7,414 yards) that features five Par 5s.

There’s five Par 3s too to counter act that, but all you don’t have to wait too long for scoring opportunities to come along at Albany – 12 of the holes averaged under par last year, with the Par 5 fifteenth yielding 11 eagles and 47 birdies in just 80 attempts.

There’s only a few troublesome holes on the real estate, including the devilish eighteenth, for those who enjoy some late tournament misery. This 471-yard Par 4 saw eight birdies and seven scores of double bogey or worse last year, so it’s a hole to bunker down on and take par with a smile.

The Bahamas, ever popular with North American tourists, boast some sublime golf courses, and the Albany is right up there with the best of them. Super smooth greens will greet the players, although there’s plenty of sand around – not surprising given the layout was inspired by the great Australian sandbelt layouts.

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Weather Forecast for New Providence, BAH

There’s nothing like a 22mph wind to shake you out of any illusion of a pre-Christmas jolly in the sunshine.

That’s what awaits the players on New Providence Island on both Friday and Saturday, according to the forecast, and that is likely to have serious ramifications on how they approach this tournament.

Otherwise, the weather is set pretty fair with warm and humid temperatures – 82˚F is expected, and there’s only a slim chance of rain on the Friday according to the early forecasts.

NEW PROVIDENCE WEATHER

Last Year’s Results from the Hero World Challenge

The Hero World Challenge returned in 2021, and it weas Viktor Hovland who welcomed the event back with victory.

The Norwegian has plenty of form in windy, coastal conditions, and he franked that in the Bahamas with a one-shot victory over Scottie Scheffler.

The week started in solid fashion for Hovland with rounds of 68 and 69 getting him into the equation, while a third round of 67 saw him climb the leaderboard in blustery conditions.

But it was all about Sunday for the likable European, where a stunning round of golf – which saw back-to-back eagles no less on the back nine – afforded him the time and luxury of bogeys at seventeen and eighteen.

Scheffler made nine birdies and a triple bogey on Sunday, while Collin Morikawa – who led the way heading into the final round – succumbed to a horror show, with two bogeys and two doubles putting an end to his hopes.

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Where to Play Fantasy Golf for the Hero World Challenge this Week

With only 20 players in the field, it goes without saying that this isn’t the best avenue for DFS gaming. But with a number of single-entry contests available, there’s still a chance to end the year on a high.

• PGA $15k Dogleg: If you have a healthy bankroll to play with, this $33 single-entry contest could be the way to go. There’s $1,500 to the winner, and you’ll be up against just 529 other teams.

• PGA $10k Albatross: For the same reasons as above, you’ll have a single bullet here at a less expensive $12, but there’s still a $1,000 top prize to be won and a stack of other payouts to build your bankroll ahead of 2023.

This Week’s Fantasy Notes

There’s a long lineage of success for British Open champions in this event at its various homes, with Tom Lehman, Tiger, Padraig Harrington, Zach Johnson, Jordan Spieth, and Henrik Stenson all lifting this trophy since 2000.

So that’s as good a place as any to start, and clearly experience and success in the breeze and in Links conditions is vital – particularly so this week, given the forecast.

With five Par 5s, and three of the Par 3s close to 200 yards in length, clearly there’s an emphasis on length, but at the same time you’re not going to get away with hitting bombs on a layout that is exposed to the elements.

Breaking par is vital, too. Hovland made 21 birdies and four eagles last year, while Justin Thomas in T5 led the field with 25 birdies. Going low, and keeping bogeys off your card, is vital. 

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Our Top 5 (and Top 2 Sleeper) Fantasy Picks and Odds to Win the Hero World Challenge   

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Fantasy Golf Predictions Last Season (2021-2022)

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