PGA Tour
HERO WORLD CHALLENGE
Location: Nassau, Bahamas.
Course: Albany Golf Club. Yardage: 7,449. Par: 72.
Total Prize Money: $5 million. Winner’s Share: $1 million.
Broadcast Schedule: Thursday-Friday, 1:30-4:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, noon to 2:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 2:30-5 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 1:30-4:30 p.m. (NBC).
Defending Champion: Scottie Scheffler.
Most Recent Tournament: Maverick McNealy triumphed at the RSM Classic.
Highlights: Tournament host Tiger Woods will not be participating as he recovers from a sixth surgery on his lower back; he has only played in the World Challenge once since 2019. Scottie Scheffler is competing for the first time after the Presidents Cup and already boasts eight victories this year, including an Olympic gold medal. Among the 20-player field, only eight have secured tournament wins this year. This year’s event features a relatively weaker lineup, with only four players ranked in the top 10 globally: Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay, Ludvig Aberg, and Wyndham Clark. Notably absent are Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa. Aberg is making his debut in this tournament, while Nick Dunlap, who was competing in college at Alabama last year, has now notched two PGA Tour wins. It’s important to note that while sanctioned by the PGA Tour, the results of this tournament do not affect any standings except for world rankings.
Upcoming Tournament: The Sentry, scheduled for January 2-5.
European Tour and Sunshine Tour
NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE
Location: Sun City, South Africa.
Course: Gary Player Country Club. Yardage: 7,819. Par: 72.
Total Prize Money: $6 million. Winner’s Share: $1 million.
Broadcast Schedule: Thursday-Sunday, 4-9:30 a.m. (Golf Channel).
Defending Champion: Max Homa.
Race to Dubai Leader: Elvis Smylie.
Most Recent Tournament: Ryggs Johnston won the ISPS Handa Australian Open.
Highlights: Traditionally, this tournament was held just before the European Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship, but it is now positioned at the start of the wraparound season. Max Homa is back to defend his title instead of participating in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. He is among three players from the top 50 in the world, along with Corey Conners and Thriston Lawrence. The field includes 10 players from the world’s top 75, including Canadian Mackenzie Hughes, who is striving to finish in the top 50 for a Masters invitation—he currently sits at No. 57. Lawrence, ranked No. 47, secured his Masters spot with a fourth-place finish at the British Open. Historically, this tournament began as the Million Dollar Challenge in 1981, where Johnny Miller bested Seve Ballesteros in a nine-hole playoff. Notably, Tiger Woods lost his first professional playoff to Nick Price at this venue in 1998.
Next Week’s Event: Alfred Dunhill Championship.
Asian Tour
SAUDI INTERNATIONAL
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Course: Riyadh Golf Club. Yardage: 7,246. Par: 71.
Total Prize Money: $5 million. Winner’s Share: $900,000.
Broadcast Schedule: Wednesday-Thursday, 3:30-8:30 a.m. (NBC Sports app), 9:30 a.m. to noon (Golf Channel); Friday, 3:30-8 a.m. (NBC Sports app), 9:30 a.m. to noon (Golf Channel); Saturday, 3:30-8 a.m. (NBC Sports app), 9:30-11 a.m. (Golf Channel).
Defending Champion: Abraham Ancer.
Order of Merit Leader: John Catlin.
Most Recent Tournament: Peter Uihlein clinched victory at the International Series Qatar.
Highlights: Serving as the final tournament of the year for the Asian Tour, the event resembles what could be seen at a LIV Golf competition, featuring 42 of the 57 players from this year’s LIV circuit in attendance. Dustin Johnson will participate, marking his first chance to earn world ranking points outside the majors since the Byron Nelson in May 2022; he is currently ranked No. 486. Notably absent among LIV players are stars like Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, and Jon Rahm. The Saudi International originated in 2019, with Johnson claiming victory in both the inaugural event and again in 2021. The tournament was included in the European Tour schedule until 2021. John Catlin has already secured the Order of Merit on the Asian Tour, while Peter Uihlein leads the separate rankings for the International Series, having won two events this season, including last week’s in Qatar.
Upcoming Tournament: Conclusion of the season.
Other Tours
PGA Tour of Australasia: Victoria PGA Championship, Moonah Links (Open and Legends), Fingal, Australia. Defending Champion: David Micheluzzi.
European Legends Tour: MCB Tour Championship, Constance Belle Mare Plage, Poste de Flacq, Mauritius. Defending Champion: Peter Baker.
