PGA Picks: Hero World Challenge Predictions and Betting Odds

Don't close the book on 2023 for the PGA Tour just yet. We have one more week of golf. And even though the tournaments have been light on talent since the Tour Championship at the end of the Summer, we have quite an impressive field this week at the Hero World Challenge.

I guess a trip to the Bahamas in December is a lot more inviting than going down in the Fall. A chance to play at the Albany Golf Club, owned and created by Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, is something not many pros are turning down. We get to see 6 of the top 10 ranked PGA golfers.

Speaking of Woods, as of just a few hours ago, he pulled out of the event. That’s a bummer because it was supposed to be his return to action. We haven’t seen him on the Tour since he was forced to withdraw at The Masters.

Plantar fasciitis is what’s ailing him. and you have to respect it. I don’t think he minds losing as much as he does having to withdraw due to one or more of his awful ailments.

Fans of the legend will be able to see him throughout the tournament, however, as he is hosting the event.

Leading the field of just 19 golfers is 2021 and 2022’s Hero World Challenge winner, Norway’s Viktor Hovland. He is only a +400 favorite to win it. That is not a big number, especially considering guys like Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, and Justin Thomas would love to head to the holidays with an extra 3.5 million in their pockets.

Windy conditions are forecasted for the entire weekend at Albany Golf Club. The ocean breeze will be quite gusty, with winds upwards of 20 mph. The tree-lined fairways can be unforgiving under calm conditions.

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Hero World Challenge Betting Predictions

Will Zalatoris: +4000

Will Zalatoris will be making his return to action after the young man had back surgery at the ripe age of just 27. I am willing to bet he is back at 100%, because if he wasn't, why would he be playing this week?

We don't have another official PGA Tournament until the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the first week of the new year.

The surgery was minor. It's called a microdisectomy, and it's used to treat a herniated disk. We are getting a great price here on the Wake Forest Demon Deacon because he has been out for so long.

I don't mind it, though. He's incredibly talented, and most of this field has only played once or been off since the end of August.

Rickie Fowler: +2200

“The Pastel Pompadour” has some sexy odds here. The often colorfully dressed California native holds the single-round course record with an 11 under round of 61.

We have several sleeper bets this week, and I couldn’t leave off Fowler. He was a winner here in the past. So, he can do it again. Fowler has a sweet stroke and doesn’t try too hard off the tee.

Those are the types of golfers I like at this week's Hero World Challenge, with the wind whipping as hard as it will be. He is also a top 20 putter on the PGA Tour.

Viktor Hovland: +400

I had to do it. The value doesn’t appear to be there, but there isn’t a golfer swinging a hotter club right now than the Norweigan.

Just look at the results of his last four tournaments: 1st, 1st, 5th, and 2nd. These were huge tournaments, too!

Oh, and did we mention that the 26-year-old is a perfect 2-for-2, playing at the Hero World Challenge?

Collin Morikawa: +800

I remember when Morikawa and Hovland were rookies together. I wrote an article on who would be better. I had the former, and lately, that prediction hasn’t been panning out.

However, it isn’t because Morikawa is stinking it up. His driving accuracy is far better than anyone else in this week’s field. He has nerves of steal as well. I remember him being colder and calmer than the older Justin Thomas in a few playoffs over the years.