Tiger Woods reveals Hero World Challenge field: 4 things we noticed

Just as a result of it’s golf’s foolish season doesn’t imply there aren’t any big-time occasions to dissect.

With lower than two months till his personal Hero World Challenge within the Bahamas, Tiger Woods has introduced the sector for the elite, 18-man occasion.

Err… Well, a minimum of 17 of the 18 gamers. We’ll get to that down under.

Aside from being one wanting a full spherical, the sector listing, which largely consists of gamers on the prime of the Official World Golf Ranking (13 of the highest 20), has loads of things to notice.

Here are the highest 4 things we noticed in regards to the subject.

Where are the massive 3?

The first title on prime of the sector listing is not any shock: World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

Scheffler had one other spectacular yr in 2022-23. It was so unbelievable statistically, many take into account it a slight disappointment he gained solely two occasions, together with the Players Championship. In 23 occasions, he recorded 21 prime 25s, however even that doesn’t do his yr justice as 20 of them have been prime 12s.

However, there have been two different gamers, Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy, who held the world’s prime rating sooner or later within the PGA Tour season. Neither shall be at Albany the primary week of December.

McIlroy’s absence isn’t all that surprising as he’s solely performed the occasion as soon as because it moved to the Bahamas in 2014. When he did tee it up in 2021 at Albany, he completed final within the 18-player subject and opted to skip final yr.

Rahm not enjoying is extra stunning provided that he gained the occasion in his first strive in 2018 and completed second the next yr. He took off the 2021 version earlier than returning to complete T8 in 2022.

The Spaniard and World No. 3 simply accomplished his most spectacular season on the PGA Tour, racking up 4 wins, together with the Masters, all earlier than May. However, he publicly fearful about balancing enjoying each a full PGA Tour and DP World Tour schedule given the PGA Tour’s structural modifications, so his absence is likely to be the results of not eager to interrupt his time without work.

No Ryder Cup Rematch

With no Rahm and no McIlroy, there are simply three gamers from Europe’s successful Ryder Cup crew within the subject.

Viktor Hovland is again because the occasion’s two-time defending champion, so no shock there. Joining him are Matthew Fitzpatrick, who has performed the occasion the previous two years, and Sepp Straka, who made his Hero debut final yr.

Meanwhile, those that wish to get a glimpse of the U.S. crew are in luck as 11 of the 12 golfers who donned the Red, White and Blue in Rome will head to the Bahamas. Only LIV Golfer Brooks Koepka is lacking.

Will Zalatoris Comeback 2.0

After initially injuring himself on the 2022 BMW Championship, Will Zalatoris was set to make his return on the Hero World Challenge final yr. However, he finally determined he wanted slightly extra time to recuperate from two herniated disks and made his return on the Sentry Tournament of Champions the next month as an alternative.

Unfortunately, Zalatoris was nonetheless enjoying with ache and finally withdrew from the Masters and underwent a microdiscectomy to alleviate the ache.

Now, Zalatoris’ inclusion within the subject means he thinks he has an opportunity of coming again within the Bahamas or a minimum of desires to have a spot there. He might find yourself quietly WDing once more, however being included within the subject means it’s there if he desires it.

The 18th man

You’re kidding your self should you assume the “TBA Tournament Exemption” within the preliminary subject listing is something apart from a placeholder for the event host himself.

In truth, Woods made this similar transfer a yr in the past when he was uncertain he’d be able to return after enjoying simply three occasions in 2022 within the wake of his February 2021 automobile accident.

Woods later inserted himself within the subject, however, a case of plantar fasciitis flared up and compelled him to withdraw on Monday of event week. He returned to play the Genesis Invitational in February, one other occasion he hosts.

Like Zalatoris, Woods had surgical procedure in April, though Woods’ was for a subtalar fusion, which severely restricted the mobility of his proper foot, however ought to have helped the ache he was clearly experiencing when he withdrew throughout the third spherical of the Masters.

Since then, we’ve solely simply begun to see new movies of Woods on the golf course, the primary coming simply over every week in the past at Pebble Beach’s par-3 course he redesigned.

Is Woods able to go after his newest process? The door is actually ajar for him.