Scheffler Eyes Third Straight Win at Prestigious Event

Hero World Challenge: Scheffler Surges with 6-Under
Spaun, Straka, Clark, and Bhatia Share the Lead
Conners and Bradley Tied for Sixth, Matsuyama in Eighth

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (USA) has laid the foundation for a third consecutive victory.

On December 4 (local time), at the Albany Golf Course (par 72, 7,449 yards) in New Providence, Bahamas, Scheffler carded seven birdies and one bogey in the first round of the Hero World Challenge (total prize money: $5 million). Shooting a 6-under-par 66, Scheffler climbed to the top of the leaderboard alongside J.J. Spaun, Wyndham Clark, Akshay Bhatia (all USA), and Sepp Straka (Austria).

Scottie Scheffler is teeing off at the 4th hole during the first round of the Hero World Challenge. Bahamas=AP Yonhap News

This tournament is a special event hosted by "golf emperor" Tiger Woods (USA). Although it is not an official PGA Tour event, world ranking points are at stake. Twenty of the world’s top players are competing. The winner receives $1 million (approximately 1.47 billion won), and even the last-place finisher in 20th place takes home $150,000 (approximately 220 million won).

Scheffler got off to a strong start with back-to-back birdies on holes 2 and 3, then added two more birdies on holes 6 and 7. On the back nine, he seized the lead by making three consecutive birdies from holes 13 to 15. However, a blemish came at the final 18th hole (par 4), where he failed to reach the green in regulation and made a bogey. He averaged an impressive 321.80 yards off the tee, with a fairway accuracy rate of 84.62% and a greens-in-regulation rate of 83.33%. His average number of putts per green in regulation was 1.73.

Corey Conners (Canada) and Keegan Bradley (USA) are in joint sixth place, just one shot behind at 5-under-par 67. Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), Justin Rose (England), and others are tied for eighth at 4-under-par 68. No Korean players are participating in this tournament. The host, Tiger Woods, is also absent as he continues rehabilitation following back surgery.