02 August 2021: The Hero World Challenge field will increase from 18 to 20 players beginning in 2021. The tournament, hosted by Tiger Woods, will return to Albany, Bahamas November 29 – December 5.
“The enthusiasm among the world’s best golfers to compete in the Hero World Challenge is at an all-time high,” Tournament Director Mike Antolini said. “We are excited for the tournament’s return to Albany, Bahamas and adding two more players to one of the strongest fields in golf.”
The increased field size becomes a permanent feature of the Hero World Challenge in 2021 with the winner of THE PLAYERS Championship receiving an automatic invitation, joining the defending champion and the current year’s major winners. Justin Thomas won the PLAYERS in 2021. Hideki Matsuyama, the 2016 HWC winner is the reigning Masters Champion. Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship. Jon Rahm birdied the last two holes to win the US Open and Collin Morikawa took the last of the majors when he won the Open last month.
Since the 2020 tournament was not held, major winners from 2020 also will receive invitations into this year’s tournament. The remainder of the field is comprised of players ranked in the top-50 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
The event was first held in January 2000, held annually on the West Coast of the United States. The 2014 event happened in Florida, before moving to its current base at Albany in the Bahamas.
In 2019, Henrik Stenson soared to victory on an eagle on the par-5 15th hole. It helped him clinch a one shot victory over Jon Rahm, the winner in 2018. Only Tiger Woods and Davis Love III have won the event on multiple occasions. Woods won the event five times between 2001 and 2011 while Love is a two time winner of the event.
