The Hero World Challenge is hosted by Tiger Woods and will be played at Albany Golf Course (par 72, 7,449 yards, Bermuda greens) in New Providence, Bahamas, which has been the host of this tournament since 2016. Scottie Scheffler (-25) won last year’s Hero World Challenge by six shots, and he will be seeking his third consecutive win at this event this week. The Hero World Challenge’s field consists of just 20 golfers, and there will be no cut this week.
The PGA DFS Breakdown offers data-driven analysis for each week’s slate, using the FantasyLabs Tools and metrics to highlight notable golfers.
I’ll be highlighting the best cash game/single-entry plays on the DraftKings main slate, but these players are often great options in any contest.
My analysis will frequently reference Strokes Gained, a set of proprietary metrics generated by the PGA TOUR using millions of data points to calculate how many shots, on average, it takes a player to get the ball in the hole from every distance and situation.
Strokes Gained is now available in the FantasyLabs PGA Models.
There are a variety of Strokes Gained-related metrics, but the six main categories you need to know include:
- Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee (SG: Off-the-Tee)
- Strokes Gained: Approach (SG: Approach)
- Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green (SG: Around-the-Green)
- Strokes Gained: Putting (SG: Putting)
- Strokes Gained: Ball-Striking (SG: Ball-Striking), which is SG: Off-the-Tee + SG: Approach
- Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green (SG: Tee-to-Green), which is SG: Ball-Striking + SG: Around-the-Green
Don’t forget to check out two key metrics in our models — Perfect% and SimLeverage. You can find an explainer on those metrics here.
The Cliffs Notes version is that you can use SimLeverage to quickly find leverage plays in tournaments, while Perfect% is great for finding the best price-considered plays for cash games.
And don’t forget to utilize our various PGA DFS tools like our Lineup Optimizer, Lineup Builder, PGA Correlation Dashboard, and our Trends tool.
The following players listed are based on DraftKings scoring and pricing.
PGA DFS Cash Game Thoughts
Note: FantasyLabs has partnered with Betsperts Golf and the Rabbit Hole! Sign up for the biggest database of golf stats available on the internet and get 25% off a yearly sub with our link!
Unless otherwise noted, all Strokes Gained metrics referenced in this article come via the Rabbit Hole.
Tool Highlights
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Studs
Scottie Scheffler ($14,900)
While Scheffler is very expensive, fading him in cash games would be foolish and building around him is a must for the Hero World Challenge. Scheffler’s resume at the Ernie Els designed Albany Golf Course is simply incredible. Scheffler has finished second, second, first and first at this venue, in that order, and his two wins have come by three and six strokes.
Given his success at Albany and that there are only 20 players competing this week, Scheffler carries +150 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook to win the Hero World Challenge, giving him a ridiculous 40% implied probability of winning.
Scheffler has won six times in his last 12 starts – most recently with a victory at the Procore Championship in September – and him not securing his 20th career win this week would be a surprise.
Now available: our PGA DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.
Values
Sepp Straka ($7,800)
While it doesn’t compare to Scheffler’s resume at Albany, Straka’s history at this track is also impressive. The Austrian has finished T10th, second and T9th at Albany, in that order, giving him a seventh place average finish at the par 72, which is the second-best in the field of the players who have competed at Albany more than once.
Straka hasn’t competed since August, but he is coming off a great season on the PGA TOUR, making 18-of-22 cuts with 13 top-25 finishes, including wins at the American Express and the Truist Championship.
Straka was one of only six players with multiple wins in 2025 and he ranks seventh in SG: Approach on the PGA TOUR, putting him in prime position for his return to Albany. This tropical course features tiny putting surfaces and during his six-shot win at Albany a year ago, Scheffler led his field in SG: Approach.
Updated on 12/14/25
Jordan Spieth ($7,500)
Spieth has been in the mix for a win at Albany many times. The veteran has carded four top-six finishes in six starts at the par 72 and Spieth was the leader following the second round in two of these starts.
While he didn’t win this past season, Spieth was consistent, making 17-of-19 cuts and recording eight top-25 finishes, despite having wrist surgery before the season.
Now, Spieth heads to Albany with a full offseason under his belt, as this week will be his first start since early August. Spieth should be well prepared for this event, and he ranks sixth in SG: Tee-to-Green when we compare this field’s last 24 rounds. A top-five finish is within reach for Spieth this week, and he is a terrific bargain at only $7,500.
Andrew Novak ($6,000)
While Novak has never competed at Albany before, there is no way he should be priced at the minimum, and rostering him is a necessary move to afford Scheffler this week. Novak made 19 of 27 cuts with 12 top-25 finishes this past season on the PGA TOUR, most notably with a runner-up finish at the RBC Heritage and a win at the team-based Zurich Classic with Ben Griffin as his partner.
Making his first start since August, Novak just finished T7th at the RSM Classic two weeks ago. During this finish, the 30-year-old gained strokes on approach and with his putter, and he carded a career-low 9-under 61 in the first round.
Despite being the cheapest player in the field, Novak is the 15th highest-ranked golfer of this 20-man field, and he ranks 23rd in par-5 performance this season, setting him up well for Albany, which is a rare par 72 that features five par 5s.
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Pictured: Scottie Scheffler
Photo credit: Imagn
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