| -16 V Hovland (Nor); -14 S Scheffler (USA); -12 C Young (USA); -11 X Schauele (United States); -ten J Thomas (USA); -9 C Morikawa (USA); -6 T Finau (USA); -5 J Rahm (Spa), Sung-Jae Im (Kor) |
| Others selected: -1 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); +5 S Lowry (Ire); +7 T Fleetwood (Eng) |
| Full ranking |
Norway’s Viktor Hovland held on to take on a spirited challenge from Scottie Scheffler and retain the Hero World Challenge title in the Bahamas.
Hovland was in danger of losing a two-stroke lead on the final hole, but recovered an unlikely bogey.
Scheffler also bogeyed on the 18 after his chip from a waste bunker grabbed the edge of the hole and passed 15 feet.
That left Hovland celebrating a surprisingly spectacular two-for-16-under victory after closing 69.
The 25-year-old Ryder Cup player had a three-shot lead over Scheffler on the night but put up a nervous finish on Sunday’s final hole, firing his second shot from an awkward lie at the edge of a bunker in the water before managing to get up and down for a bogey.
“It’s nerve-wracking,” Hovland said. “I was leading by five I think after the turn and didn’t play very well on the back nine, but it was pretty good. That made things a bit exciting I guess.”
Scheffler, who needed to win to retake the top spot in the world rankings from Rory McIlroy, momentarily held a share of the lead when the Masters champion called birdies at second and fourth while contributing for the eagle at sixth.
However, playing partner Hovland drilled 20 feet on the same hole to get back in front and Scheffler’s hopes seemed to have vanished with a bogey at the seventh and a double bogey at the par-five ninth.
Scheffler then kept the pressure on with four birdies on the back nine, which almost paid off on the 18.
Hovland joins tournament host Tiger Woods (2006-07) as the only players to win back-to-back titles in the limited field event.
“I’m just glad he hasn’t played for the past two years!” Hovland added. “Winning your tournament is something very special.”
Woods was expected to return to fighting in Albany for the first time since miss the cut in the Open Championship in July, but withdrawn monday because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
