Scheffler caps year with win at Hero World Challenge | The Sunday Swing

The Sunday Swing 
December 8th, 2024 

Welcome back to another edition of the Sunday Swing presented by 2nd Swing Golf. This week was a fun one for golf fans, as 20 of the PGA Tour’s best gathered in the Bahamas for the Hero World Challenge hosted by Tiger Woods. 

Hero World Challenge - Tournament History 

Debuting in 2000, the Hero World Challenge is one of the most unique events in golf. While the tournament is on the PGA Tour schedule, it does not offer FedEx Cup points or official money. Instead, it is played as a benefit for the Tiger Woods Foundation. The field is also very small (currently 20 players) and the only way in is to receive an invite from Tiger himself. As you can imagine, the quality of player in this field is what most would consider to be elite. This year, world #1 and defending champion Scottie Scheffler was in the field, along with Justin Thomas, Wyndham Clark, and Cameron Young. Also in the field were some younger players who have proven they can play with the big boys, such as Tom Kim, Akshay Bhatia, Nick Dunlap, and Ludvig Aberg. The Hero has been hosted by many different title sponsors until 2015 when Hero took over and the tournament moved to The Bahamas. The event is held at Albany Golf Club and it measures over 7,400 yards. Even with its relatively long yardage, players have still been able to tear the place up with the worst winning score being 16-under since Albany became the host venue. While Tiger didn’t compete this week, he has won the event five times throughout his career with the most recent coming in 2011. The most recent five winners of the Hero World Challenge are as follows: 

2024 - Scottie Scheffler (-25)
2023 - Scottie Scheffler (-20)
2022 - Viktor Hovland (-16)
2021 - Viktor Hovland (-18)
2019 - Henrik Stenson (-18) 

The Big Swing 

This week the big swing belongs to Scottie Scheffler. If you thought Scheffler would show any signs of rust after not playing since the Tour Championship, you would be mistaken. Scheffler was also trying out a new putting grip this week, one known as “the claw” method – but only on shorter putts. Normally it may have also been cause for minor concern when a player is trying something like that in competition for the first time. It has been well documented that Scheffler has had his share of issues on the greens throughout the past couple of seasons. 

Scheffler opened with rounds of 67 and 64 on Thursday and Friday, putting himself in a familiar position at the top of the leaderboard at the halfway point. Thomas was also playing well, opening with 66 and 67. Thomas was using a new, 46 inch driver this week and it was noticeable. Thomas ended up leading the field in strokes gained: off the tee, and was second in average driving distance. 

On Saturday, Tom Kim made a massive move up the leaderboard thanks to his 12 birdies. The round could’ve been even better, but Kim made an unfortunate double bogey at the par-3 17th. By the time Saturday came to a close, it was actually Thomas who had the lead heading into the final round. Thomas posted a bogey-free 66 on Saturday, while Scheffler only managed a 69. Even so, he still only trailed by one when the pair of Americans teed off on Sunday. 

Many were anticipating a high excitement match between Scheffler and Thomas on Sunday, especially after both players hit impressive approaches on the first hole and made opening birdies. After the first hole, that exciting match never really came to fruition. Thomas gave one back at the second, and then ended up playing the front nine in even par. Scheffler, on the other hand, made four birdies and had turned a one shot deficit into a two-shot lead at the turn. From that point on, Scottie didn’t look back. He picked up five more birdies on his way to a six shot victory that looked almost effortless. Kim ended up giving him the most fight, shooting a final round 68 to get to 19-under. Justin Thomas struggled coming in and could only shoot 71, finishing solo third. Akshay Bhatia and Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley rounded out the top-5. 

Winner’s Bag - Scottie Scheffler 

Scottie Scheffler went back to back and picked up his 9th victory on Sunday at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. Since he last played his bag hasn’t really changed, the biggest change being the grip with the putter. Off the tee Scottie games the Taylormade Qi10 (8 degrees), which he pairs with his only fairway wood which is also a Qi10 (15 degrees). Scheffler still carries a pair of Srixon ZU85 utility irons (3,4), and fittingly, plays the Taylormade P7TWs (5-PW). Powering his wedge game are three Vokeys, two of which are SM8s (50 and 56 degrees) and one WedgeWorks SM9 Proto lob wedge (60 degrees). On the greens, Scottie is still rolling with the Taylormade Spider Tour X that he employed earlier in 2024.

Key Stats

Strokes gained: Off the tee- 3rd
Strokes gained: Approach to green- 1st 
Strokes gained: Around the green- 7th 
Strokes gained: Putting- 3rd 
Strokes gained: Total- 1st