Tiger Woods not in field as Jordan Spieth joins Hero World Challenge

Field Level Media|published: Wed 29th October, 16:32 2025

Aug 7, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Jordan Spieth during the fist round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Jordan Spieth, Akshay Bhatia and Billy Horschel were announced Wednesday as the three players who will fill out the 20-player field at this year's Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

As expected, tournament host Tiger Woods will not play after undergoing back surgery on Oct. 10 that will prevent him from playing in the event at the Albany Golf Course in Nassau from Dec. 4-7.

The field is set ??
Jordan Spieth, Billy Horschel, and Akshay Bhatia join the field for the 2025 Hero World Challenge, December 4-7 at Albany.

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— TGR Live (@TGRLiveEvents) October 29, 2025

It is unknown what the potential timeline for a return to competition is for Woods, who will turn 50 on Dec. 30.

The most recent tournament for the 15-time major champion was the Open Championship in July 2024, where he missed the cut. Woods also had surgery in March to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Meanwhile, two-time defending champion and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler highlights this year's Hero World Challenge field.

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