All three players have endured something of disappointing campaigns on the PGA Tour<\/a> this season.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the start of the year, you could argue all three Americans were very much in the mix to make Keegan Bradley’s 2025 Ryder Cup team.<\/p>\n But none of them would make Bethpage.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Spieth won the Hero World Challenge in 2014, which was the last time the event was staged before moving across to Albany.<\/p>\n The three-time major champion landed a tournament record 10-stroke victory over Henrik Stenson at at Isleworth Golf & Country Club in Windermere, Florida.<\/p>\n Horschel recently made his long-awaited return to the game with a title defence at the BMW PGA, but he unfortunately missed the cut at Wentworth.<\/p>\n Bhatia started the season brightly with a T3 at The Players but the left-hander has somewhat treaded water for the remainder of the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n Spieth, Horschel and Bhatia will therefore all be keen to end their season on a high note as they look to build some form and confidence into 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Scottie Scheffler will be the man to beat once again<\/p>\n Scottie Scheffler going for history at Hero World Challenge<\/p>\n Runaway World No.1 Scottie Scheffler<\/a> will once again headline the field – and he’ll start a red-hot favourite in The Bahamas.\u00a0<\/p>\n Scheffler, 29, has taken a real liking to Albany Resort having won the last two renewals of the Hero World Challenge.<\/p>\n The four-time major champion romped the field last season with a six-stroke victory over Tom Kim.<\/p>\n That was the largest margin of victory since the Hero World Challenge has been staged at Albany.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Nine of the 2025 Ryder Cup<\/a> players along with Team USA captain Keegan Bradley and European vice-captain Alex Noren are in the field, which you can check out at the bottom of this page.<\/p>\n Scheffler will attempt to become the first player to win the Hero World Challenge three times in a row.<\/p>\n Only Scheffler, Woods and Viktor Hovland have won the tournament twice in a row.<\/p>\n Woods is a record five-time winner of the Hero World Challenge.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hero World Challenge confirms field<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n What is the Hero World Challenge?<\/p>\n The Hero World Challenge has been running since 2000 but Hero took up title sponsorship in 2014, the year Spieth etched his name on the trophy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hero then moved the tournament over to the famous Albany in The Bahamas starting in 2015 where it remains today.<\/p>\n The Hero World Challenge benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation.<\/p>\n While the tournament is on the PGA Tour schedule, it is not an official PGA Tour event.<\/p>\n The prize fund for the Hero World Challenge is $5m.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n The winner takes home $1m.\u00a0<\/p>\n Woods will miss out on the Hero World Challenge<\/p>\n Why is Tiger Woods not playing in the Hero World Challenge?<\/p>\n Woods is currently out of competitive action as he recovers from the seventh back surgery of his career earlier this month.\u00a0<\/p>\n Prior to that, Woods was also recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon.\u00a0<\/p>\n It’s highly likely that Woods will also now miss out on competing in the PNC Championship alongside his son Charlie Woods – a 36-hole Scramble event that takes place just before Christmas.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Medical experts have told GolfMagic that Woods will likely need to spend the next three months away from the game – before hopefully looking at returning to competition in less than six months time at The Masters.\u00a0<\/p>\n Woods has not played in a competitive PGA Tour event since missing the cut at The Open in July 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n That marked his third straight missed cut in a row in the majors.\u00a0<\/p>\n GolfMagic has listed the field as it stands for the 2025 Hero World Challenge below.<\/p>\n Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele have now been replaced in the Hero World Challenge field by Andrew Novak and Alex Noren. <\/p>\n Jordan Spieth, Billy Horschel and Akshay Bhatia have been named as the final three exemptions. pic.twitter.com\/ixDniaxo59<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Scottie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-07-20t141253z_517698470_mt1usatoday26674199_rtrmadp_3_pga-the-153rd-open-final-round-1.JPG\")
<\/p>\n![\"Hero](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/g4cexmzw8aawhuz.jpg\")
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