Hero World Challenge: Steve Palmer's preview, best bets, free golf tips

Steve Palmer's free golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the Hero World Challenge at Albany on the PGA Tour.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Golf from 6pm Wednesday

Best bets

Jon Rahm
5pts each-way 4-1 Betfair, BoyleSports, Paddy Power
Bryson DeChambeau
2pts each-way 20-1 Sky Bet

Dustin Johnson pulled out of the Hero World Challenge to get more physiotherapy on his knee before next week's Presidents Cup, but the other 11 members of the American team are competing at Albany and looking to sharpen their games for Australia.

The Presidents Cup is on the mind of most of the field, not least USA captain Tiger Woods, who picked the first-round twoball pairings for this event. Woods is hoping this week can be a strong bonding session for his troops, with any close-season rust worked off, and the Wednesday start is designed to give those heading to Royal Melbourne afterwards more time to recover from jet lag.

Woods, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Webb Simpson, Rickie Fowler, Bryson DeChambeau, Gary Woodland, Patrick Reed, Tony Finau and Matt Kuchar fly direct to Australia straight after the event.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Jon Rahm 4-1

The Presidents Cup is a significant distraction for 11 of the 18 runners, who will be tackling a much contrasting course in Melbourne next week, and the Albany stage may become clear for Jon Rahm to continue his charge at world number one status.

With Brooks Koepka sidelined by a knee issue and Dustin Johnson tentatively returning from knee surgery of his own, Rahm and Rory McIlroy know they have a golden chance to usurp Koepka as top dog over the coming months.

For Rahm, who has never reached the rankings summit, that incentive is particularly strong, so punters should expect this raging bull to carry his Dubai form to the Bahamas. The Hero favourite looks a fantastic each-way investment.

Rahm surprised even himself with the way he performed in the DP World Tour Championship after a six-week break. He had hardly touched a club in his time off, expecting plenty of rust at the Earth Course, but rounds of 66, 69, 66 and 68 meant he won the tournament and the Race to Dubai, banking $5 million in the process.

Rahm overcame a Sunday wobble after leading by six shots at one stage, bravely making birdie at the 18th hole to get the job done, and he must be feeling invincible. The Dubai heroics followed a five-shot Spanish Open victory in his preceding start and he has returned to a course this week that he destroyed 12 months ago.

Rahm carded a 20-under-par 72-hole total at Albany on his Hero debut last year, overcoming an understandably slow start and an opening 71, following up with rounds of 63, 69 and 65 to complete a cosy four-shot success.

The 25-year-old remains underrated given what he has achieved in the game so quickly. Hardly anyone in the history of the sport has made such an explosive start to their career and Rahm is well on his way to becoming one of the greatest players of all time.

In his past 25 events – from the 2018 Hero onwards – he has won four times, twice been runner-up, twice finished third, and posted 17 top-ten finishes.

Many in the field are teeing off after long breaks and will probably lack sharpness, but Rahm had his A-game the week before last and can keep his foot down. He won his last event of the year in 2017 and 2018, and can complete a hat-trick this week, before concentrating on his impending wedding.

Next best bet

Bryson DeChambeau 20-1

The best-value alternative to Rahm is DeChambeau, who seems overpriced given his high comfort levels at Albany. DeChambeau has used Albany as his close-season practice base since 2016 and he has spent most of his time there since his last Tour event in the first week of October.

DeChambeau has been splitting his time between the gym, the range and the course – he has been in the process of bulking up in a bid for extra driving distance – and the Tour's new Hulk-like figure will be looking forward to unleashing his power on an Albany track featuring five par-five holes.

DeChambeau made an eagle and 22 birdies on his Hero debut last year, but too many mistakes meant he finished 12th. Expect better in this edition, following 13th place in the Safeway Open and fourth spot in the Shriners.

He signed off with a 63 in the Shriners and can return to action with a bang. The Presidents Cup is on his agenda, but he is a single-minded and determined individual who is never bothered about upsetting anyone, and his focus will be entirely on the Hero trophy for the next four days.

Players to note

Rickie Fowler
Albany form figures of 3-3-1-5 mean Fowler deserves plenty of respect this week, but he has not competed since August 25. He has since got married, before falling ill on his honeymoon. Recent practice has reportedly been positive, but he probably needs time to rediscover his A-game.

Justin Thomas
The world number five, who won the CJ Cup in October, has the tools to tame Albany, but his previous two visits have brought disappointing finishes of 11th and 12th after he took November off. Will history repeat itself?

Xander Schauffele
The Kapalua champion clearly enjoys island golf and brings an attractive mixture of freshness and form after a light schedule and second place in the WGC-HSBC last time out. He represents the USA for the first time next week, though, so the Presidents Cup may be weighing more heavily on his mind than some others'.

Justin Rose
The Bahamas resident has used local knowledge to finish fifth and third in the last two editions, and he must be shortlisted, but recent outings, including a pair of weekend 73s for 20th place in Dubai last time out, have shown a player drained of long-game confidence.

Tony Finau
The powerhouse should be licking his lips at the five par-fives at Albany, where he finished runner-up on his debut last year, but form figures this season of 9-59-53-MC indicate that he has lost his swing at an unfortunate time.

Gary Woodland
The US Open champion, like Schauffele, is making his USA team debut next week, so will be doing all he can to make sure he peaks for Melbourne. He tied for eighth on his Hero debut last year, though, and has just had a strong Asian Swing.

Albany course guide

Course Albany, New Providence, The Bahamas
Prize money $3.5m ($1m to the winner)
Length 7,302 yards
Par 72
Field 18

Course records- 72 holes 263 Bubba Watson (2015) 18 holes 61 Rickie Fowler (2017)

Course winners taking part Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Jon Rahm

When to bet By 3.40pm Wednesday

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Golf from 6pm Wednesday

Time difference The Bahamas is five hours behind the UK and Ireland

Course overview The World Challenge's traditional home was Sherwood Country Club, California, where it was staged from 2000 to 2013, but it moved to Isleworth Country Club, Florida, in 2014, then to Albany in 2015. Albany is a luxury resort on the island of New Providence, which opened in December, 2010. Ernie Els designed the course and is a member there, along with Tiger Woods and Justin Rose. The straightforward and open desert links-style track has five par-five holes, five par threes and eight par fours, encouraging aggressive golf

The story of last year Jon Rahm reached 20 under par and cruised to a four-shot victory, with Tony Finau taking the runner-up spot

Weather forecast Clear and pleasant for the most part, but strong breezes are forecast for the opening round, before a calm round two and three, then moderate breezes for the final round

Type of player suited to the challenge Bubba Watson overpowered Albany in 2015, going 13 under par for the five par-fives and 12 under par for the rest of the course. Big-hitters carrying hot putters can destroy this track

Key attribute Power

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