Tiger Woods leads the world’s elite at the 2023 Hero World Challenge

Tiger Woods teed off in his first semi-competitive round at the Pro-Am ahead of the 2023 Hero World Challenge at Albany in the Bahamas. The field of 20 elite stars includes World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who wants to end his run of two successive second places behind the Norwegian star, Viktor Hovland, who bids to become the first player to win the Hero World Challenge three times in a row.Woods returns to action for the first time since he withdrew after the second round of the Masters in Augusta this April. 

Playing without a limp, that has often been seen in Woods’ walk, the 15-time Major winning legend, played his Pro-Am round with Dr. Pawan Munjal, the Executive Chairman of Hero MotoCorp. It was clearly a moment to cherish as Woods plagued by injuries was teeing off at his own event for the first time since 2019. Woods is a five-time winner of the tournament.

Jordan Spieth recalling his debut at the HWC in 2014 and how well he played that week for 26-under, admitted that it was the “best week of his career”. He said, “That was fun. I was 21, so I don't think flying across the world and playing a few days later was that big of a deal to be honest. But it was a cool two-week stretch of Australia and then at the Hero World Challenge at Isleworth,” he recalled. 

There are three debutants, including two major winners. They are the 2023 US Open champion Wyndham Clark and The Open champion, Brian Harman. Then there is Will Zalatoris, who will also be making his first competitive start, since being forced to pull out 30 minutes before teeing off at Augusta this year.The 2017 winner Rickie Fowler is another one looking to get set for 2024 after this week, as he resumes his walk to Top-10 in the world.