2023 Hero World Challenge odds, picks and PGA Tour predictions

Cameron DaSilva | Staff Writer

After a break for Thanksgiving, many of the world's best players will be in the field for the 2023 Hero World Challenge this week, which is being hosted by Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas for the 8th time. The 1st round begins on Thursday as Viktor Hovland looks to make it 3 straight wins in this Tiger Woods-hosted event.

Below, we look at the 2023 Hero World Challenge odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions.

The biggest headline this week isn't Hovland's title defense. It's Woods' return to competition as he'll tee it up in the Bahamas for the 1st time since the Masters in April. He's tied with Lucas Glover for the longest odds in the 20-player field, but the simple fact he's even playing is exciting for all golf fans.

In terms of the latest Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, Scottie Scheffler is No. 1, followed by Hovland in the 2nd spot. The next-highest-ranked player in the field is Rickie Fowler at No. 7, followed closely by Max Homa at No. 9.

Albany Golf Club doesn't feature a traditional layout for a par-72 course. It features 5 par 3s, all over 180 yards, and 5 par 5s, to go along with 8 par 4s. Scoring is often low on this 7,449-yard venue, with the winning number being between 16-under and 20-under in the last 5 years.

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Hero World Challenge – Expert picks

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Justin Thomas (+1400)

Yes, Thomas' struggles in 2023 have been well-documented. But this isn't a normal event because it's a limited field with no cut. He seems to thrive in the Bahamas, too, finishing in the top 5 in each of the last 3 years at the Hero World Challenge. Even amid his poor play last season, he ranks 16th in par-5 scoring, so he'll be able to take advantage of scoring opportunities.

Collin Morikawa (+750)

With wide fairways, Morikawa's accuracy off the tee won't necessarily be an advantage, but he's excellent on par 5s (7th in scoring average) and seems to have figured out his iron game after some up-and-down play throughout the 2023 season. He's finished 6th and 5th in his 2 starts in this event.

Hero World Challenge picks – Contenders

Rickie Fowler (+2000)

Fowler hasn't played here since 2019, but he has a strong track record. He won it in 2017, finished 5th in 2018 and 9th in 2019. He ranks 23rd in par-5 scoring, which checks another box, and he's coming off one of the best seasons of his career.

Tony Finau (+2200)

Finau hasn't finished worse than 10th here in the last 4 years, with his best finish being a solo 2nd behind Jon Rahm in 2018. He won twice already in 2023 and while there were certainly some disappointing finishes, this is an event where he has plenty of experience and success – and his length will also be an advantage.

Hero World Challenge picks – Long shot

Will Zalatoris (+3300)

Zalatoris will make his long-anticipated return to the course after 8 months off following back surgery, and he's playing an event he's never played before. Keep expectations relatively low, but with so few long-shot options, let's take Zalatoris to return with a bang by winning in the Bahamas.

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