Viktor Hovland enters the 2023 Hero World Challenge as the back-to-back defending champion, but Tiger Woods is drawing a majority of the headlines this week. Woods is set to return to the course after last teeing it up at the Masters seven months ago. The 15-time major champion will play alongside Justin Thomas on Thursday with the duo set to tee off at 11:52 a.m. ET. The Hero World Challenge 2023 field will also feature big names like Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa.
Hovland is the 4-1 favorite according to the latest 2023 Hero World Challenge odds, followed by Scheffler (9-2), Max Homa (8-1) and Morikawa (8-1). Woods, a five-time champion of this event, is among the intriguing longshots at 80-1. Before locking in your 2023 Hero World Challenge picks, be sure to see the latest 2023 Hero World Challenge predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, has been red-hot since the PGA Tour resumed in June 2020. In fact, the model is up more than $9,000 on its best bets since the restart, nailing tournament after tournament.
McClure's model predicted Jon Rahm would finish on top of the leaderboard at the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions and The American Express. And at the 2023 Masters, the model was all over Rahm's second career major victory heading into the weekend. Rahm was two strokes off the lead heading into the third round, but the model still projected him as the winner. It was the second straight Masters win for the model, which also nailed Scottie Scheffler winning in 2022.
In addition, the model included Nick Taylor in its best bets to win the 2023 RBC Canadian Open. That bet hit at +7000, and for the entire tournament, McClure's best bets returned nearly $1,900. McClure's best bets also included Jason Day (17-1) winning outright at the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson and Rickie Fowler (14-1) finishing on top of the leaderboard at the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic.
This same model has also nailed a whopping 10 majors entering the weekend. Anyone who has followed it has seen massive returns.
Now that the 2023 Hero World Challenge field is set, SportsLine simulated the tournament 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard.
Top 2023 Hero World Challenge predictions
One major surprise the model is calling for at the 2023 Hero World Challenge: Collin Morikawa, a two-time major champion and one of the top favorites, struggles this week and doesn't even crack the top five. Morikawa racked up seven top-10 finishes last season, which included his lone victory at the Zozo Championship in October.
However, Morikawa struggled mightily with a wedge or putter in his hand last season. In fact, the 26-year-old ranked 96th in strokes gained: around-the-green (0.047) and 114th in strokes gained: putting (-0.109). He also finished the 2022-23 season ranked 97th in putts per round and 102nd in one-putt percentage (39.23%). He's not a strong pick to win it all and there are far better values in the 2023 Hero World Challenge field.
The model has also revealed where Woods will finish at the 2023 Hero World Challenge. Woods has dealt with numerous injuries in the later stages of his career but he's ready to return to competitive golf after not playing since the Masters in April. Woods made the cut at the 2023 Masters before having to withdraw due to plantar fasciitis in the third round.
The 47-year-old underwent surgery in April and his last victory came at the 2019 Zozo Championship. Woods is a massive 80-1 longshot this week, but given his ability to rise to the occasion, as well as his past success at this event, you can't rule him out as an X-factor. The model just locked in its surprising Tiger Woods Hero World Challenge picks here.
How to make 2023 Hero World Challenge picks
The model is also targeting three golfers with odds of 20-1 or longer to make a strong run at the title. Anyone who backs these longshots could hit it big. You can only see the model's picks here.
Who will win the Hero World Challenge 2023, which longshots will stun the golfing world, and where will Tiger Woods finish? Check out the 2023 Hero World Challenge odds below and then visit SportsLine to see the projected 2023 Hero World Challenge leaderboard, all from the model that's nailed 10 golf majors, including this year's Masters and Open Championship.
2023 Hero World Challenge odds, field
See the full Hero World Challenge 2023 picks, best bets, and predictions here.
Viktor Hovland +400
Scottie Scheffler +450
Collin Morikawa +800
Max Homa +800
Matt Fitzpatrick +1600
Justin Thomas +1600
Cameron Young +1600
Sam Burns +2000
Jordan Spieth +2000
Rickie Fowler +2200
Tony Finau +2200
Wyndham Clark +2200
Brian Harman +3000
Will Zalatoris +3300
Keegan Bradley +3500
Jason Day +3500
Sepp Straka +3500
Justin Rose +3500
Lucas Glover +5500
Tiger Woods +8000
