Jordan Spieth, Akshay Bhatia, and Billy Horschel were announced Wednesday as the final three players rounding out the 20-player field for this year’s Hero World Challenge, set to take place in the Bahamas.
As expected, tournament host Tiger Woods will not compete after undergoing back surgery on October 10. The procedure will keep him out of the event at Albany Golf Course in Nassau, scheduled for December 4–7. Woods, who turns 50 on December 30, has not provided a timeline for his return to competition.
His last appearance came at the Open Championship in July 2024, where he missed the cut. Earlier this year, in March, Woods also underwent surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, further delaying his comeback.
This year’s field will feature an impressive lineup, led by two-time defending champion and current World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Other notable players include Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, Hideki Matsuyama, and Wyndham Clark.
2026 Hero World Challenge Field:
Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, J.J. Spaun, Robert MacIntyre, Harris English, Keegan Bradley, Justin Rose, Sepp Straka, Hideki Matsuyama, Cameron Young, Sam Burns, Corey Conners, Chris Gotterup, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Andrew Novak, Alex Noren, Akshay Bhatia, Billy Horschel, and Jordan Spieth.
The Hero World Challenge remains one of the most exclusive events on the golf calendar, bringing together elite players for a competitive yet relaxed end-of-season showcase in paradise. For more information on the tournament visit https://heroworldchallenge.com/
