‘All Eyes’ to be on The Bahamas for Hero World Challenge

16 of top 28 players to come to The Bahamas to compete

Millions of golf fans across the world will be watching the Hero World Challenge in The Bahamas this weekend to see how golf legend Tiger Woods stacks up against some of the best golfers in the game.

The challenge, which will run from December 1 to 4, will see Woods return to competitive golf after a 16-month hiatus. After pulling out of the PGA Tour 2016-17 season opener last month, Woods is now preparing to make his official comeback at the Albany golf course. The anticipation surrounding his return is mounting.

Woods will tee off against golfers from the United States, Japan, Scotland, Sweden, Argentina, England and South Africa. The 18-man field includes 16 of the top 28 players in the world and the 2016 Olympic gold, silver and bronze medalists.

Participating in the 5th annual Hero World Challenge are: Dustin Johnson who is ranked third as on November 27, Henrik Stenson (4), Jordan Spieth (5), Hideki Matsuyama (6), Patrick Reed (8), Bubba Watson (10), Rickie Fowler (12), Justin Rose (14), Brooks Koepka (17), Russell Knox (19), Jimmy Walker (20), Matt Kuchar (22), Emiliano Grillo (25), Louis Oosthuizen (26), J.B. Holmes (27), Brandt Snedeker (28), and Zach Johnson.

The question for many is: ‘will Woods return to dominance’. That question will be answered in The Bahamas in a matter of days.

The tournament is a challenge event in the PGA Tour, and will be broadcast to more than one billion households in 227 countries and territories.

The Hero World Challenge is a four-round, 72-hole stroke play event with a $3.5 million purse, a $1 million winner's prize and Official World Golf Ranking points awarded

Marketing Director of Sports Tourism Virgina Kelly said the return of Woods at the Hero World Challenges is “great news”.

“Tiger Woods is making his [return] to competitive golf in The Bahamas right here in Nassau down at the Albany golf course [this] weekend,” Kelly said. “What that means for us, the eyes of pretty much the golfing world will be looking at The Bahamas… It is certainly a game changer for us.”

“…If Tiger Woods is playing on Sunday, the world belongs to The Bahamas on that day. Even folks who don’t golf are going to tune in to see what Tiger is going because he’s been one of the biggest names in golf over many years. 

Touching on the other golf classics that will take place in The Bahamas, Kelly added that “golf for us is certainly is on the move.” The Bahamas will host the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic, the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic and the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic in January. All of those are a part of the PGA Tour.