2023 Hero World Challenge prop bet picks and PGA Tour predictions
A star-studded 20-player field will descend upon the Bahamas this week for the 2023 Hero World Challenge, which is being hosted by Tiger Woods – who will also be playing for the 1st time since the Masters. The 1st round from Albany Golf Course begins on Thursday, with the no-cut event concluding on Sunday afternoon.
Below, we search for the best value prop bets among the 2023 Hero World Challenge odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions.
Viktor Hovland is going for the threepeat in the Hero World Challenge, winning this limited-field event in each of the last 2 years. He's the favorite at +400, followed by Scottie Scheffler (+450) and Collin Morikawa (+750). Former tournament champion Rickie Fowler is also in the field at +2000.
Albany Golf Course is a par 72 and plays at 7,449 yards, but it also ranks as one of the easiest courses on tour. The winning score has been between 16-under and 20-under par in each of the last 5 years. This is the 8th time Albany is hosting the Hero World Challenge.
Hero World Challenge – Top-5 picks
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 6:43 p.m. ET.
Justin Thomas (+150)
Thomas did not have a good 2023 season, failing to even make the FedExCup Playoffs. However, he loves this event, finishing 5th in each of the last 3 years after coming in 11th and 12th the prior two seasons. At plus money, he's a good bet for another top-5 finish.
Rickie Fowler (+188)
Fowler hasn't played here since 2020, but in his last 3 starts, he's won it, finished 5th and come in 9th. Coming off one of the best seasons of his career, this is a good time to bet Fowler to either win or at least come in the top 5.
Tony Finau (+200)
Finau has played this event in each of the last 4 years, finishing 2nd, 10th, 7th and 7th in that span. Top-5s are tough with a field this strong, but Finau nearly won this event back in 2019 and he can do it again this week.
Hero World Challenge – Matchups
Suggested play is golfer in bold.
Tony Finau (+110) vs. Wyndham Clark (+100) (tie +800)
This will be Clark's debut at the Hero World Challenge, a tournament Finau has played many times before. This is a 3-way bet where a tie makes this a loss for betting on Finau, but it's worth the risk to get him at +110.
Justin Thomas (-120) vs. Matt Fitzpatrick (-105)
Fitzpatrick hasn't finished better than 12th in this event, playing it in each of the last 2 years. We've already gone over Thomas' track record here, finishing 5th in each of his previous three starts. Take Thomas.
Hero World Challenge – Top European
Viktor Hovland (-150)
The only other Europeans in the field are Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose and Sepp Straka. Fitzpatrick doesn't have a great record here, Straka has never played this event and while Rose hasn't finished worse than 9th in his last 4 starts in this event, Hovland is a back-to-back champion. This bet is worth the juice.
Hero World Challenge – First-round leader
Viktor Hovland (+650)
Hovland was a great 1st-round leader bet last season, ranking 5th in Round 1 scoring average. He was often near the top of the leaderboard after Thursday's round in most majors, and he's won this event the last 2 years. This is a great way to get some value on a heavy favorite.
Keegan Bradley (+1800)
Bradley was 20th in Round 1 scoring average in 2023 and while his history at Albany Golf Course is limited (1 start in the last 5 years), he's a player who can catch fire thanks to his putter.
Group C winner: Justin Rose (+450)
Rose has finished 5th, 3rd, 5th and 9th here in his last 4 appearances, and though he's in the field as an exemption, he's been excellent here. Rose has the longest odds in this group, which consists of Jordan Spieth (+300), Sam Burns (+300), Bradley (+333) and Brian Harman (+450).
Top 10 finish including ties: Thomas and Fowler (+105)
This is a top-10 parlay where both Thomas and Fowler finish in the top 10, including ties. So all they have to do is come in the top half of the field and you win, even if they're tied for 10th.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
