2023 Hero World Challenge: Top picks, props, and long shots

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Tiger Woods will make his long awaited return this week when he hosts 20 of the world’s best golfers in Albany, Bahamas, for his foundation’s Hero World Challenge event.

The GOAT hasn’t played since the Masters in April, where he withdrew in the final round due to an ongoing plantar fasciitis injury. Does Tiger have any magic left for a tournament that he’s won five times since its inauguration in 2000?

Here are our Hero World Challenge best bets and prop picks for this week’s action:

Hero World Challenge best bets, including player props

All the stars will be basking in the Bahamas this week for the Tiger Woods Foundation benefit tournament. A field that now consists of 20 (formerly 16) features back-to-back champion and FedEx Cup winner Viktor Hovland at the top of the odds board. Let’s take a closer look at the Hero World Challenge best bets and prop picks for Albany:

Hero World Challenge picks: Viktor Hovland outright winner (+400 or better)

We’d be remiss not to back the hottest player on the planet and current FedEx Cup title holder, Viktor Hovland. The Norwegian had a spectacular season that saw him finish with three wins, nine top-10 finishes and the grand prize of $18 million for being crowned Tour Champion.

On top of that, he’s won the last two Hero World Challenge events with scores of 16-under and 18-under. In a tournament of just 20 golfers, you could do worse than +400 odds for Hovland.

Hero World Challenge props: Scottie Scheffler Top 5 finish (-140 or better)

The world’s No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler is coming off a banner year that saw him card a ridiculous 17 top-10 finishes, including seven straight T5s. He came up short in the Tour Championship and should be eager to get back to dominating at a tournament he’s played excellent at.

Scheffler finished runner-up to Hovland the past two events, falling short by a combined three strokes. We like the -140 odds for the world’s best golfer to finish in the top 25% of the field.

Hero World Challenge long shots, including player props

If you’re looking to spice things up with some longer odds, we’ve got you covered with our top Hero World Challenge long shots and player props.

Hero World Challenge long shots: Cameron Young outright winner (+1600 or better)

The long (7,449 yards) links-style Albany Golf Course features five par-5s and suits a bomber like Cameron Young nicely. Young was 7th in driving distance last season (315.7) and 12th in SG: OTT.

The Wake Forest alum last played at the RSM Classic, where he was in fine form, shooting a -12 (66, 68, 68, 68). Young finished second runner-up last year at the Hero World Challenge behind Hovland and Scheffler.

Hero World Challenge props bets: Player X to make a hole in one (+8000, DraftKings)

Every player in the field is listed at 80-1 at DraftKings to make an ace this week. What makes this bet intriguing is not just that the field is stacked with top-tier talent, but that the course in Albany is unique as it has five par 3s.

That’s essentially four more chances for each player to pop one on the short holes. The other nice thing is that there is no cut, so whichever player you choose will have a chance in all four rounds. Kevin Kisner pulled it off on the 189-yard 12th last year.

Hero World Challenge Tiger Woods odds: Outright winner (+9000)

It's hard to imagine Tiger Woods returning to knock off 19 of the world's best. But if you want to sprinkle a little on the best to ever do it, you'll get a $900 return for just a $10 wager.

Best Hero World Challenge and golf betting sites

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Ryan Hagen broke into the sports betting world early. As a 14-year-old, he sought out a kiosk clerk with relaxed gambling views and convinced him to sell him “Sport Select” tickets – which was the Canadian Lottery Corporation’s original sports betting program. He graduated from Royal Roads University in 2007 and has since combined his passion for sports and (legal) gambling into a career as a sports betting writer. He’s covered college sports, contributed to newspapers and magazines, and written for multiple sportsbooks and affiliates. Off the clock he can be found traveling, searching for noodles, or working on his golf swing.